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Sunnis (from Ahl As Sunnah W'l Jama'h) form the largest group in the [[Islamic]] [[faith]], accounting for approximately 85% of all [[Muslims]] globally, the Shia accounting for the majority of the remainder.
'''Sunnis''' (from Ahl As Sunnah W'l Jama'h) form the largest group in the [[Islamic]] [[faith]], accounting for approximately 85% of all [[Muslims]] globally, the Shia accounting for the majority of the remainder.
== Schools of Thought ==
== Schools of Thought ==
Sunni Muslims have four schools of [[jurisprudence]] (Madhab), which are not shared with the [[Shia]] sect. Though they have different interpretations of specific points of detail, such as particular aspects of [[Syariah]], there is agreement on the major aspects of the faith. Sunni’s generally regard as schools as equally valid, and it is not generally a matter of friction between believers as to which school they follow.
Sunni Muslims have four schools of [[jurisprudence]] (Madhab), which are not shared with the [[Shia]] sect. Though they have different interpretations of specific points of detail, such as particular aspects of [[Syariah]], there is agreement on the major aspects of the faith. Sunni’s generally regard as schools as equally valid, and it is not generally a matter of friction between believers as to which school they follow.
=== Maliki ===
=== Maliki ===
* Prayer is begun by starting directly with [[Al Fatiha]] (the opening chapter of the [[Qu’ran]]), without any initial supplications, as is done by almost all other Muslims.
* Prayer is begun by starting directly with [[Al Fatiha]] (the opening chapter of the [[Qu’ran]]), without any initial supplications, as is done by almost all other Muslims.
=== Hanafi ===
=== Hanafi ===
* It is permissible to recite verses from the Qu’ran during prayer in languages other than [[Arabic]], provided one does not know the Arabic language.
* It is permissible to recite verses from the Qu’ran during prayer in languages other than [[Arabic]], provided one does not know the Arabic language.
=== Hanbali ===
=== Hanbali ===
Founded by Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (767 – 820 AD), who taught initially in what is now modern-day Iraq, but mostly in Egypt, and whom had Ahmad Bin Hanbal as one of his students. The Shafi’ite school is the second youngest of the Madhab, and is most widely followed in Egypt, the Levant, Yemen, the Horn of Africa and South East Asia, including Indonesia, the world’s most populous Islamic nation, with 0.25 billion people. This also makes it the second largest school.
Founded by Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i (767 – 820 AD), who taught initially in what is now modern-day Iraq, but mostly in Egypt, and whom had Ahmad Bin Hanbal as one of his students. The Shafi’ite school is the second youngest of the Madhab, and is most widely followed in Egypt, the Levant, Yemen, the Horn of Africa and South East Asia, including Indonesia, the world’s most populous Islamic nation, with 0.25 billion people. This also makes it the second largest school.
The Shafi’i school is considered to be one of the most moderate and tolerant of schools, particularly in Egypt and South East Asia where Islamic beliefs have been adopted without the destruction of underlying cultural and pre-existing religious customs and traditions.
The Shafi’i school is considered to be one of the most moderate and tolerant of schools, particularly in Egypt and South East Asia where Islamic beliefs have been adopted without the destruction of underlying cultural and pre-existing religious customs and traditions.
== Use of Hadeeth ==
== Use of Hadeeth ==
* Sunan al-Tirmidhi
* Sunan al-Tirmidhi
* Sunan Ibn Maja / Al-Muwatta
* Sunan Ibn Maja / Al-Muwatta
== Differences With Shia Beliefs ==
== Differences With Shia Beliefs ==
Shia beliefs permit the elevation of certain mortals to a quasi-divine plane, such as the 12th Imam and other people who hold a role similar to saints in Christianity or [[Akhu]] in Egyptian religion. Sunni religion technically has no equivalent of this, though in many regions (particularly in South East Asia and North Africa) the distinctions much less clear, and indeed shrines and celebrations to such people exist throughout Sunni areas of North Africa and South East Asia, and often attract enthusiastic crowds.
Shia beliefs permit the elevation of certain mortals to a quasi-divine plane, such as the 12th Imam and other people who hold a role similar to saints in Christianity or [[Akhu]] in Egyptian religion. Sunni religion technically has no equivalent of this, though in many regions (particularly in South East Asia and North Africa) the distinctions much less clear, and indeed shrines and celebrations to such people exist throughout Sunni areas of North Africa and South East Asia, and often attract enthusiastic crowds.
== Current Sunni – Shia Relations ==
== Current Sunni – Shia Relations ==
The sectarian bloodletting in Iraq that followed the invasion has greatly strained Sunni – Shia relations in general. However, for much of the 20th century, relations between the two were stable, as both Sunni states in the Middle East / North Africa and Shia Iran, but particularly Turkey, were undergoing rapid secularisation. Religious conservatives of both Sunni and Shia loyalties therefore had a “common enemy”, and many Sunnis celebrated the 1979 overthrow of the secular Shah of [[Iran]] by the religious establishment, and the founding of a Shia [[Islamic Republic]]. However, underlying tensions already existed.
The sectarian bloodletting in Iraq that followed the invasion has greatly strained Sunni – Shia relations in general. However, for much of the 20th century, relations between the two were stable, as both Sunni states in the Middle East / North Africa and Shia Iran, but particularly Turkey, were undergoing rapid secularisation. Religious conservatives of both Sunni and Shia loyalties therefore had a “common enemy”, and many Sunnis celebrated the 1979 overthrow of the secular Shah of [[Iran]] by the religious establishment, and the founding of a Shia [[Islamic Republic]]. However, underlying tensions already existed.
Underlying tensions also exist in other areas, particularly [[Lebanon]] and [[Saudi Arabia]], where an estimated 15% of the population are Shia, overwhelmingly in the east of the nation, leading the Saudi government to be cautious concerning Iranian political influence, so near it’s own sensitive regions.
Underlying tensions also exist in other areas, particularly [[Lebanon]] and [[Saudi Arabia]], where an estimated 15% of the population are Shia, overwhelmingly in the east of the nation, leading the Saudi government to be cautious concerning Iranian political influence, so near it’s own sensitive regions.
== References ==
== References ==