Sunnism

Sunnism refers to the largest branch of Islam, followed by roughly 85-90% of the world's Muslims. The term "Sunni" derives from "Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah," meaning "people of the tradition and the community." This emphasizes their adherence to the traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad as well as the consensus of the Muslim community.

Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, were the rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad. They consider the Quran to be the literal word of God and the Sunnah, which includes the sayings and actions of the Prophet, as the authoritative interpretation and practical application of the Quran. This includes Hadith collections, which are narrations of the Prophet's life and teachings.

The theological framework of Sunnism is often described by the "Six Articles of Faith," which include belief in God (Allah), His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and divine decree (Qadar). In terms of religious law, Sunni jurisprudence is organized into several major schools of thought, including Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali, which interpret Islamic law based on the Quran and Sunnah. While these schools have differences in legal interpretation, they are all considered valid within Sunni Islam.