Sünnîlik

Sünnîlik is the largest denomination of Islam. The name derives from "Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah," meaning "People of the Tradition and the Community." Sunnis believe that the Quran and the Sunnah, the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, are the primary sources of Islamic law and guidance. They consider the first four caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali—as the rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad. The legitimacy of the caliphate is a key distinction between Sunni and Shia Islam.

Sunni jurisprudence is based on interpretations of the Quran and Sunnah, with various schools of thought (madhhabs) developing over centuries. The four major Sunni madhhabs are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali. These schools offer different methodologies for deriving legal rulings from the foundational texts. Sunnis also adhere to a specific set of theological doctrines, often associated with the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of theology.

The vast majority of Muslims worldwide identify as Sunni. They are found in countries across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe and the Americas. The practice of Islam among Sunnis encompasses a wide range of cultural expressions and traditions, while fundamentally adhering to the core tenets of their faith.