Sunnites

Sunnites constitute the largest branch of Islam, comprising approximately 85-90% of the world's Muslim population. The name "Sunni" is derived from "Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah," meaning "people of the tradition and the community." This designation emphasizes their adherence to the Sunnah, which refers to the practices and teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, as well as the consensus of the Muslim community.

Sunnis believe that the succession of leadership after Muhammad was determined by consensus and the choice of the community, leading to the caliphate. They recognize the first four caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—as the Rashidun, or "rightly guided" caliphs. Their theological framework is based on the Quran and the authenticated Hadith, which are narrations of Muhammad's sayings and actions.

The jurisprudence of Sunni Islam is divided into several major schools of thought, including Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali. These schools interpret Islamic law based on the Quran, Sunnah, analogical reasoning (qiyas), and consensus (ijma). While there are differences in legal interpretation, these schools are considered orthodox within Sunni Islam. Sunnites are found in almost all Muslim-majority countries, with significant populations in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, and Iran.