Soennitische

Soennitische Islam, or Sunni Islam, is the largest branch of Islam. It comprises the majority of Muslims worldwide. The name derives from ahl as-sunna wa l-jama’a, meaning people of the tradition and community. Sunnis regard Muhammad's successors as political leaders chosen by the Muslim community rather than divinely appointed imams; they recognize the first four caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali—as rightful leaders.

Central beliefs include the Qur'an and the Sunnah (the Prophet Muhammad's practices). Sunni theology is commonly organized around six articles of faith: belief in God, angels, revealed scriptures, prophets, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. Jurisprudence is traditionally based on four major legal schools of law (madhahib): Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali, each with its own methods of interpreting the Qur'an and Hadith. The sources of law also include ijma (consensus) and qiyas (analogical reasoning).

Practice centers on the Five Pillars: confession of faith, daily prayer, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca. Festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are observed regionally.

Historically, Sunnism formed in the early Islamic centuries and spread widely under various dynasties. Today it is predominant in most Muslim-majority countries, with large populations in Indonesia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Within Sunnism there is diversity, including reformist movements such as Salafism as well as various Sufi and traditionalist currents.