Sunni Islam
Proper noun
Meaning
Sunni Islam
(Islam) The largest branch of Islam, followed by around 1.7 billion people, whose adherents believe that Muhammad died without appointing a successor, leading to the election of Abu Bakr as the legitimate leader of the Muslim community.
Synonyms: Sunnism, Sunnitism
Coordinate term: Shi'a Islam
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
At present Sunni Islam is the official religion of the entire population, as adherence to it is required for citizenship.
Concerning this region, Huntington departs from Kitsikis contending that a civilizational fault line exists between the two dominant yet differing religions ( Eastern Orthodoxy and Sunni Islam ), hence a dynamic of external conflict.
Once in power, the Abbasids embraced Sunni Islam and disavowed any support for Shi'a beliefs.
Historically, Sunni Islam has derived religious authority from the caliphate, who was in turn appointed by the companions of Muhammad at his death.
Islam, in general, tends to be more iconoclastic than Christianity, with Sunni Islam being more iconoclastic than Shia Islam.
"From Saudi Arabia, Wahhabi mosques are financed throughout the world," said Gabriel, referring to the austere version of Sunni Islam of 18th century preacher Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahhab, who co-founded the Saudi state.