sect - (SOON-nee) The Sunni Muslims were those who supported Muawiyah rather than Hussein to succeed Ali as Caliph. The Sunni believed that the Caliphate could be held by any righteous individual, who did not necessarily have to be descended from Muhammad or his family.
Muslim distinguished from Shi'ites in the belief that the first four successors to Mohammed are the rightful leaders. Sunnis do not recognize Ali as legitimate. They are often referred to as "orthodox" due to their strict adherence to the line of successors descending from Mohammed himself.
The Muslim majority who believe that the community should select its own leadership instead of only looking to direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
The second largest Muslim sect in Lebanon. After Muhammad's death, those followers who supported a traditional method of election based on community agreement became known as Sunnis; those who supported Ali as successor became known as Shias ( q.v.). Sunnis primarily inhabit parts of West Beirut, the south-central coast, and the north. By custom, the prime minister is a Sunni.
Muslim sect that adheres to the orthodox tradition and acknowledges the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammed.
Muslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (May Allah be pleased with them) after the Prophet Muhammad pbuh.
The majority sect of Muslims.
the largest tradition within Islam.
The larger of the two great divisions of Islam. The Sunni, who rejected the claims of Ali's line, believe that they are the true followers of the sunna, the guide to proper behavior set forth by Muhammad's personal deeds and utterances.
One who believes leadership of Islam should come from among the Quraish Arabs, Muhammad’s tribe. Nearly 90 percent of the world’s Muslims, Sunnis follow the traditions of Islam, rather than a charismatic leader, and are considered the “orthodox” of Islam. They emphasize the individual’s direct relationship with Allah without any human mediation, are culturally and religiously diverse and do not insist on uniformity in every question of faith or practice. Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt and Indonesia are among countries where Sunni Islam is dominant. Both Sunnis and Shiites believe Islam is destined for world domination. Osama bin Laden is Sunni.
follow the way to the prophet Muhammad, sunna; the largest Islamic community
Followers of Orthodox Islam who believe and recognize the first four Caliphs of Medina as the ultimate leaders of the Islamic community. A major difference between the Sunni and Shiite sects is that the Sunnis do not esteem Ali and his immediate family as highly as the Shiites do.
a member of the branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad
one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam
a follower of the Sunna, the accepted practice and beliefs of the Islamic community, based on the precedents of the Prophet, his Companions, and his accredited successors, as established and interpreted by the consensus of the learned
A follower of the larger of the principal branches within Islam. The Sunnis differ from the minority Shiia sect in doctrine, ritual law, theology, and religious organization.
A sect of Islam that recognizes the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad.
In Islam, a major faith group (not Shiite).
the main body of Muslims who recognize and accept the first four Khalifs.
Unlike Shii Muslims, Sunni Muslims believe that Islamic leadership is vested in the consensus of the community, not in religious and political authorities. Their name comes from the word sunna, which is thought to mean "middle of the road." The religious scholar Karen Armstrong emphasizes that, despite their differences, Sunnis and Shiites alike observe the five pillars of Islam. "Like Judaism, Islam is a religion that requires people to live a certain way, rather than to accept certain credal propositions," she writes. "It stresses orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy."
(from sunna, orthodox) A member of the larger of the two great divisions of Islam. (from Source: A Country Study: Philippines - The Library of Congress.)
most Muslims would call themselves Sunni Muslims, as opposed to Shi'ite Muslims. The Muslim nation split shortly after the death of the Prophet, when a successor could not be agreed on. However, apart from a few differences in holidays and salat times, both groups follow Islam, the Qur'an and Allah in much the same way.
soon-nee]: A term designating those Muslims who recognize the first four successors of Prophet Muhammad as the "Rightly-Guided" caliphs, and who attribute no special religious or political function to the descendants of the Prophetâ€(tm)s son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib. Sunnis hold that any pious, just, and qualified Muslim may be elected Caliph. Sunnis comprise the majority of Muslims, numbering about 90% of the total.
(from sunna, meaning orthodox) A member of the larger of the two great divisions of Islam. The Sunnis supported the traditional method of election to the caliphate and accepted the Umayyad line. On this issue they divided from the Shias (q.v.) in the first great schism within Islam.
The branch of Islam practised by the majority of Muslims. Talaq Divorce.
(or - Sunna) - The mainstream Muslim religious sect.
those who accept the sunna, the custom and practice of Muhammad.
The larger of the two great divisions of Islam. The Sunni consider themselves the orthodox adherents of the sunna ( q.v.).
the largest of the schools of Islam, composing 90% of all Muslims
The main rite of Islam who compose majority of Moslems in the World. Ar. UP
The larger of the two great divisions of Islam. The Sunnis, who rejected the claims of Ali's line, believe that they are the true followers of the sunna, the guide to proper behavior composed of the Quran and the hadith ( q.v.).
the larger of the two primary sects of Islam, comprising eighty percent of all Muslims. Sometimes referred to as "the community of concensus," Sunnis have historically selected their Koranic interpretors, or caliphs, through community election. The role of caliph was transnational. In 1924, however, the caliphate was abolished. Since then, the interpretation of Sunni Islamic law has been placed in the hands of the governments of the respective Islamic states. See also Shi'a.