Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam, making up approximately 85-90% of Muslims worldwide. The word “Sunni” comes from the Arabic phrase “Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah”, meaning “people of the tradition and the community.” Sunnis base their religious authority on the Quran and the sunnah (teachings and practices) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Here are some key beliefs and practices of Sunni Islam:
Core Beliefs
- Belief in the oneness of God (Tawhid)
- Belief in the prophethood of Muhammad as the final messenger of God
- Belief in the authority of the Quran as the revealed word of God
- Belief in the sunnah (traditions) of Prophet Muhammad as an important source of guidance second only to the Quran
- Belief in the legitimacy of the rightly guided Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) as successors to Prophet Muhammad
Sunnis uphold the core tenets of Islamic monotheism outlined in the shahadah (declaration of faith): “There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” They believe God is indivisible, eternal, and absolute, and worship is reserved for Him alone. Polytheism, atheism, trinitarianism and pantheism are all rejected. Sunnis also believe in the existence of angels, jinn, Heaven and Hell.
Schools of Islamic Law
Sunni Islam is guided by four major schools of Islamic law (madhhabs):
- Hanafi
- Maliki
- Shafi’i
- Hanbali
These schools developed methodologies for deriving sharia rulings from the Quran and hadith. They differ in the techniques used in jurisprudence, with varying approaches to literalism vs rationalism. However, Sunnis believe that true differences in the four madhhabs are minor and they can be followed interchangeably.
The Five Pillars
Sunni Islam upholds the Five Pillars as core practices and obligations binding on all Muslims:
- Shahadah – Declaration of faith in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad
- Salat – 5 daily ritual prayers facing the Kaaba in Mecca at fixed times
- Zakat – Annual almsgiving as religious tax (2.5% of wealth)
- Sawm – Fasting during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan
- Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in lifetime if able
These pillars encompass the major acts of worship and spiritual devotion in Islam. Fulfilling them is considered essential to living a righteous life in submission to God.
View of the Caliphate
Sunnis believe leadership of the Muslim community after Muhammad belongs to the Caliphate. They see the early Caliphs as following rightly guided principles of governance in accordance with the Quran and sunnah. Later caliphates like the Umayyads, Abbasids and Ottomans derived legitimacy from the original Rashidun Caliphate.
Modern Islamic revival movements and groups like the Muslim Brotherhood advocate re-establishing the Caliphate to unite Muslims politically under Islamic law. However, there is debate among Sunnis on the necessity of a centralized Caliphate versus nation states.
Differences with Shia Islam
The main points of contention between Sunni and Shia Islam include:
- Rejection of the Imamate – Sunnis do not place religious leadership in Imams descended from Ali and Fatima.
- Rejection of infallibility for Imams – Sunnis do not believe in the sinless authority of Imams like Shias.
- Cursing of caliphs – Sunnis accept the early caliphate while Shias curse some caliphs as usurpers.
- Temporary vs permanent marriages – Sunnis only allow regular marriages while Shias recognize temporary marriage (nikah mut’ah).
- Inheritance shares for women – Sunnis grant women half the share of men while Shias grant completely equal shares.
- Combining prayers – Shias often combine the 5 daily prayers while Sunnis pray them separately.
However, Sunnis and Shias share foundational beliefs like monotheism and prophethood of Muhammad. They recognize each other as Muslims but have theological and historical disputes.
Important Figures in Sunni Islam
- Abu Bakr – First Caliph after Muhammad, one of the closest companions
- Umar ibn Al-Khattab – Second Caliph, important political and religious leader
- Uthman ibn Affan – Third Caliph, standardized the Quranic text
- Ali ibn Abi Talib – Fourth Caliph and cousin/son-in-law of Muhammad
- Aisha – Influential wife of Muhammad who narrated over 2000 hadiths
- Abu Hanifa – Founder of the Hanafi school of law
- Malik ibn Anas – Founder of the Maliki school of law
- Al-Shafi’i – Founder of the Shafi’i school of law
- Ahmad ibn Hanbal – Founder of the Hanbali school of law
- Al-Ghazali – Influential 11th century theologian and jurist
- Ibn Taymiyyah – 14th century scholar who influenced Salafism and Wahhabism
- Ibn Abd al-Wahhab – 18th century founder of the Wahhabi movement
- Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab – Founder of the modern Salafi movement
These individuals helped shape the development of Sunni theology, jurisprudence and movements over the centuries. Their influence continues today in Sunni religious thought and practice.
Major Branches
There are several major ideological branches within Sunni Islam:
- Traditionalist Sunnism – Following established schools of law and Sufi orders, largest mainstream group
- Salafism – Reform movement calling for return to the traditions of early Islam
- Wahhabism – Puritanical form of Salafism dominant in Saudi Arabia
- Deobandism – South Asian reformist movement founded in 19th century India
- Barelvi – Sufi-influenced South Asian Sunnism that venerates Muhammad
- Jamaat-e-Islami – Modern Islamic party that advocates establishing an Islamic state
- Muslim Brotherhood – Pan-Islamic group founded in Egypt that combines politics and religion
There is a diversity of religious interpretation and approaches to Islamic law within these branches. However, they all identify as belonging to Sunni Islam.
Important Texts
In addition to the Quran, Sunnis derive guidance from various key texts:
- Hadith collections like Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim – Records of sayings and deeds of Muhammad
- Sirat Rasul Allah by Ibn Ishaq – Early biography of Muhammad’s life
- Risala by Al-Shafi’i – Foundational text on usul al-fiqh (principles of jurisprudence)
- Al-Muwatta by Malik ibn Anas – First compilation of hadiths organized by jurisprudence
- The Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun – 14th century text on historiography and sociology
- Tafsir works like Tafsir al-Tabari – Quranic exegesis and commentary
- Books of fiqh (jurisprudence) from the different madhhabs
Studying these and other classical texts is an important part of traditional Islamic education for Sunnis.
Important Mosques and Holy Sites
Sunnis consider certain mosques and sites particularly sacred for historical and religious reasons:
- Masjid al-Haram in Mecca – Site of the Kaaba, destination of Hajj pilgrimage
- Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina – Mosque built by Muhammad housing his tomb
- Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem – Third holiest site in Islam where Muhammad ascended to heaven
- Great Mosque of Damascus – Oldest continually operating mosque founded in Umayyad era
- Zaytuna Mosque in Tunisia – Prestigious early center of Islamic learning in North Africa
- Badshahi Mosque in Pakistan – Grand Mughal era mosque that could accommodate over 100,000 worshippers
- Sheikh Zayed Mosque in United Arab Emirates – Ultra-modern architectural marvel and one of the world’s largest mosques
- Hagia Sophia in Istanbul – Formerly largest cathedral in Christendom, converted into imperial mosque after Ottoman conquest
These sites draw millions of Sunni pilgrims annually to worship and reconnect with Islamic history. The Grand Mosques in Mecca and Medina in particular are focal points for the global Sunni community.
Important Practices and Rituals
In addition to the Five Pillars, some other notable Sunni religious practices include:
- Salat – Precise ritual prayers offered five times daily towards Mecca
- Dhikr – Devotional act involving the invocation of God or Islamic phrases
- Dua – Making supplications or prayers addressed directly to God
- Sawm – Fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, involving no food, drink or sex
- Eid prayers – Special congregational prayers offered at the end of Ramadan (Eid al-Fitr) and the Hajj (Eid al-Adha)
- Wudu – Ritual ablution before prayers involving washing of face, hands, arms, head and feet
- Funerary rites – Islamic rituals associated with honoring and burying the dead
- Mawlid – Celebrating the birth of Muhammad through stories, prayers, and hymns (sometimes controversial)
- Visiting graves of saints/martyrs – Seeking baraka (blessings) from proximity to holy graves (sometimes controversial)
These rituals and practices enrich the spiritual lives of Sunni Muslims worldwide. They are seen as ways of purifying the soul, remembering God at all times and celebrating Islam.
Important Holidays and Events
The Islamic calendar revolves around lunar months so the dates of holidays shift annually on the Gregorian calendar. Major Sunni holidays include:
- Eid al-Fitr – Festival marking the end of Ramadan fasting, involving celebrations and feasts
- Eid al-Adha – Festival commemorating Ibrahim’s sacrifice, involving ritual animal slaughter
- Islamic New Year – First day of the month of Muharram, considered sacred by many Sunnis
- Day of Ashura – Tenth day of Muharram and a voluntary fast day for Sunnis
- Mawlid al-Nabi – Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, celebrated by most Sunnis (some disapprove)
- Isra and Miraj – Commemorates the Prophet’s miraculous Night Journey to Jerusalem and ascension to Heaven
- Ramadan – Ninth month of fasting marking the first Quranic revelation, involving increased acts of worship
- Laylat al-Qadr – “Night of Power” when the Quran first descended, the holiest night of Ramadan
These religious occasions provide opportunities for Sunnis to strengthen their faith through community, prayer, charity and reflection on Islamic history. They represent touchpoints marking the passage of time and reminding Muslims of their relationship with God.
Conclusion
Sunni Islam encompasses a wide spectrum of religious interpretations united by core Islamic beliefs and practices. As the largest denomination within Islam, Sunnis emphasize following the Quran and Prophet Muhammad’s example as the most authoritative guides to righteous living. While disputes exist over aspects of theology and law, Sunnis share a common historical tradition tracing back to the early Muslim community. The richness and diversity within Sunnism reflects the flexibility of Islam’s foundational texts and its deep roots across various global cultures over 14 centuries.