Sunnism: Difference between revisions

'''Sunni Islam''' or ''Sunnism'' is the largest branch of [[Islam]]. It is also the orthodox version of the religion.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+af0060) Sunni and Shia Islam] - Library of Congress Country Studies, accessed September 4, 2011</ref> The word "Sunni" comes from the term ''[[sunnah]]'', meaning the words and actions or example of Prophet [[Muhammad]]. Sunnis (which include the [[Salaf|Salafis]] or "Wahhabis") account for up to 90% of all Muslims.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/295507/Islam Islām] - Encyclopædia Britannica (2010)</ref><ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/574006/Sunnite Sunnite] - Encyclopædia Britannica (2010)</ref><ref>[http://pewforum.org/Muslim/Mapping-the-Global-Muslim-Population%286%29.aspx Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 7, 2009</ref><ref>Tracy Miller - [http://pewforum.org/newassets/images/reports/Muslimpopulation/Muslimpopulation.pdf Mapping the Global Muslim Population: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Muslim Population] - Pew Research Center, October 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/comparison_charts/islamic_sects.htm Comparison of Sunni and Shia Islam] - ReligionFacts</ref>

Sunnis, as with the [[Shi'ite]]s, follow the [[Qur'an]] and Sunnah. They consider ''Sahih Muslim'' and ''Sahih Bukhari'' as the two most authentic [[hadith]]s, hence the term ''[[sahih]]'' which means "authentic" in [[Arabic]]. Within Sunni Islam, there are also four mainstream schools of [[fiqh]] (known as [[Madh'hab]]s) which are accepted by one another.

*[[Shi'ite]]

 

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