Sunni Islam

Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam , also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah ( "people of the tradition [of Muhammad] and the community") or Ahl as-Sunnah ( ) for short. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Orthodox Islam . The word "Sunni" comes from the term Sunnah ( ), which refers to the words and actions or example of the Islamic prophet Muhammad . The Sunni branch of Islam has four legal schools of thought or madh'hab .

Arabic text Sunni Islam ( / ˈ s uː n i / or / ˈ s ʊ n i / ) is the largest branch of Islam ; As of 2009 Sunni Muslims constituted 87-90% of the world's Muslim population. Its adherents are referred to in Arabic as ahl as-sunnah wa l-jamāʻah ( ), "people of the tradition of Muhammad and the consensus of the Ummah " or ahl as-sunnah ( أهل السنة ) for short. In English, its theological study or doctrine is called Sunnism , while adherents are known as Sunni Muslims , Sunnis , and Sunnites . Sunni Islam is the world's second largest religious body (after Christianity) and the largest religious denomination for any religion in the world. Sunni Islam is sometimes referred to as the orthodox version of the religion. The word "Sunni" is believed to come from the term Sunnah ( ), which refers to the sayings and actions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as recorded in the hadith . The primary collections consisting of Kutub al-Sittah accepted by Sunni orthodoxy, in conjunction with the Quran and binding consensus , form the basis of all jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Laws are derived from these basic sources; in addition, Sunni Islam's juristic schools recognize differing methods to derive legal verdicts such as analogical reason , consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion . Gale Encyclopedia of the Mideast & N. The largest branch in Islam, sometimes referred to as "orthodox Islam"; its full name is ahl al-Sunna wa aljamaʿa (the people of Sunna and consensus[??]), and it represents about 90 percent of the world Muslim population. Library of Congress Country Studies .

Denomination of Islam Sunni Islam ( / ˈ s uː n i , ˈ s ʊ n i / ) is the largest denomination of Islam , followed by 87–90% of the world's Muslims , characterized by a greater emphasis upon the prophet , the sahabah (in particular the Rashidun ), and customs deduced thereof. Its name comes from the word Sunnah , referring to the behaviour of the Islamic prophet Muhammad . The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagreement over the succession to Muhammad and subsequently acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions. According to Sunni traditions, Muhammad did not clearly designate a successor and the Muslim community acted according to his Sunnah in electing his father-in-law Abu Bakr as the first caliph . This contrasts with the Shia view , which holds that Muhammad announced his son-in-law and cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor, most notably at Ghadir Khumm . Political tensions between Sunnis and Shias continued with varying intensity throughout Islamic history and have been exacerbated in recent times by ethnic conflicts and the rise of Wahhabism . The adherents of Sunni Islam are referred to in Arabic as ahl as-sunnah wa l-jamāʻah ("the people of the Sunnah and the community") or ahl as-Sunnah for short. In English, its doctrines and practices are sometimes called Sunnism , while adherents are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis, Sunnites and Ahlus Sunnah. Sunni Islam is sometimes referred to as "orthodox Islam", though some scholars view this translation as inappropriate. The Quran , together with hadith (especially those collected in Kutub al-Sittah ) and binding juristic consensus , form the basis of all traditional jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Sharia rulings are derived from these basic sources, in conjunction with analogical reasoning , consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion , using the principles of jurisprudence developed by the traditional legal schools . In matters of creed , the Sunni tradition upholds the six pillars of iman (faith) and comprises the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of rationalistic theology as well as the textualist school known as traditionalist theology . Sunni Islam is not a coherent line of tradition, but a consolidation of doctrines and positions worked out over time in discussions and writings. "Parable and politics in early Islamic history: the Rashidun caliphs." (2011): 224-225. * "Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population" . Pew Research Center . 7 October 2009 . Of the total Muslim population, 10–13% are Shia Muslims and 87–90% are Sunni Muslims. Sunni Islam: Oxford Bibliographies Online Research Guide "Sunni Islam is the dominant division of the global Muslim community and throughout history it has made up a substantial majority (85 to 90 percent) of that community." "Sunni" . Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam, comprising about 85% of the world's over 1.5 billion Muslims. Sunni Islam accounts for over 85% of the world's Muslim population... The Oxford Dictionary of Islam . In Philip Mattar (ed.). The Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa (Second ed.). The Origins and Early Development of Shi'a Islam (Millennium (Series)) (The Millennium (Series).) . The Shi'a unequivocally take the word in the meaning of leader, master and patron and therefore the explicitly nominated successor of the Prophet. The Sunnis, on the other hand, interpret the word mawla in the meaning of a friend or the nearest kin and confidant. Imam Ali (a.s.) Foundation, an affiliate website of the Grand Ayatullah al-Sayyid Ali al-Hussani al-Sistani. Appointing the heir was done when the Prophet [P] returned from the (Departure Pilgrimage); he [p] gathered all the pilgrims in a place called (Ghadeer khum) addressing them with a lengthy speech through which he asked: (Do not I own thy souls more that thou do, they said: aye). Then he [p] took Imam Ali [p] by the shoulder, holding him in front of the people and said: (He whom I am his guardian, Ali be his guardian). Thus he [p] certified Imam Ali's [p] heavenly guardianship; so everybody who was present then paid tribute to him, including the second Caliph (i. e Omar Ben Al-Khattab), who congratulated Ali [p] saying: (Blassed be thee O! Ali, thou became my guardian and the guardian of every Mo'men.) "Beliefs: Did the Prophet (s) Appoint a Successor" . The Shi'ah believe that the proclamation mentioned by the Qur'anic verse was fulfilled by the Prophet (s) when he appointed Imam 'Ali bin Abi Talib (a) as his successor on the day of Ghadir Khumm. As you know, the Shi'a divided from the Sunni after the death of Prophet Muhammad. Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, was in Shia belief, named by the Prophet to be the Legitimate Authority for the interpretation of the faith. The New York Times . Dictionary of Terrorism (2, revised ed.). The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Modern Islamic Legislation (revised ed.). What You Need to Know about Islam & Muslims (illustrated ed.). Cite: "Sunni: Of or pertaining sunna , especially the Sunna of the Prophet. Used in conscious opposition to Shi'a, Shi'í. There being no ecclesia or centralized magisterium, the translation 'orthodox' is inappropriate.

Sunni Islam ( / ˈ s uː n i , ˈ s ʊ n i / ) is the largest branch of Islam , followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims . Its name comes from the word Sunnah , referring to the tradition of Muhammad . The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagreement over the succession to Muhammad and subsequently acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions. According to Sunni traditions, Muhammad left no successor and the participants of the Saqifah event appointed Abu Bakr as the next-in-line (the first caliph ). This contrasts with the Shia view , which holds that Muhammad appointed his son-in-law and cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. The adherents of Sunni Islam are referred to in Arabic as ahl as-sunnah wa l-jamāʻah ("the people of the Sunnah and the community") or ahl as-Sunnah for short. In English, its doctrines and practices are sometimes called Sunnism , while adherents are known as Sunni Muslims , Sunnis , Sunnites and Ahlus Sunnah . Sunni Islam is sometimes referred to as " orthodox Islam ", though some scholars view this translation as inappropriate. The Quran , together with hadith (especially those collected in Kutub al-Sittah ) and binding juristic consensus , form the basis of all traditional jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Sharia rulings are derived from these basic sources, in conjunction with analogical reasoning , consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion , using the principles of jurisprudence developed by the traditional legal schools . In matters of creed , the Sunni tradition upholds the six pillars of imān (faith) and comprises the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of Kalam (theology) as well as the textualist school known as traditionalist theology . The Oxford Dictionary of Islam . In Philip Mattar (ed.). The Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa (Second ed.). Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God [2 volumes] . The Succession to Muhammad . The Origins and Early Development of Shi'a Islam (Millennium (Series)) (The Millennium (Series).) . The Shi'a unequivocally take the word in the meaning of leader, master and patron and therefore the explicitly nominated successor of the Prophet. The Sunnis, on the other hand, interpret the word mawla in the meaning of a friend or the nearest kin and confidant. Dictionary of Terrorism (2, revised ed.). The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Modern Islamic Legislation (revised ed.). What You Need to Know about Islam & Muslims (illustrated ed.). Cite: "Sunni: Of or pertaining sunna , especially the Sunna of the Prophet. Used in conscious opposition to Shi'a, Shi'í. There being no ecclesia or centralized magisterium, the translation 'orthodox' is inappropriate. To the Muslim 'unorthodox' implies heretical, mubtadi , from bid'a , the contrary of sunna and so 'innovation'."

Largest branch of Islam Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr ( r. 632–634 ) rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Muslim community, being appointed at the meeting of Saqifa . This contrasts with the Shia view , which holds that Muhammad appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib ( r. 656–661 ) as his successor. Nevertheless, Sunnis revere Ali, along with Abu Bakr, Umar ( r. 634–644 ) and Uthman ( r. 644–656 ) as ' rightly-guided caliphs '. The term Sunni means those who observe the sunna , the practices of Muhammad. The Quran , together with hadith (especially the Six Books ) and ijma (scholarly consensus), form the basis of all traditional jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Sharia legal rulings are derived from these basic sources, in conjunction with consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion , using the principles of jurisprudence developed by the four legal schools : Hanafi , Hanbali , Maliki and Shafi'i . In matters of creed , the Sunni tradition upholds the six pillars of iman (faith) and comprises the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of kalam (theology) as well as the textualist Athari school. Sunnis regard the first four caliphs Abu Bakr ( r. 632–634 ), Umar ( r. 634–644 ), Uthman ( r. 644–656 ) and Ali ( r. 656–661 ) as rashidun (rightly-guided) and revere the sahaba , tabi'in , and tabi al-tabi'in as the salaf (predecessors). Dictionary of Terrorism (2, revised ed.). The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Modern Islamic Legislation (revised ed.). What You Need to Know about Islam & Muslims (illustrated ed.). An Introduction to the Hadith .