Sunni Main article: Sunni Islam The largest denomination in Islam is Sunni Islam, which makes up 75%–90% of all Muslims.[7] Sunni Muslims also go by the name Ahl as-Sunnah which means people of the tradition [of Muhammad].[204][205] These hadiths (reports), recounting Muhammads words, actions, and personal characteristics, are preserved in traditions known as Al-Kutub Al-Sittah (six major books). Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs were the rightful successors to Muhammad; since God did not specify any particular leaders to succeed him and those leaders were elected. Sunnis believe that anyone who is righteous and just could be a caliph but they have to act according to the Quran and the Hadith, the example of Muhammad and give the people their rights. The Sunnis follow the Quran, then the Hadith. Then for legal matters not found in the Quran or the Hadith, they follow four madhhabs (schools of thought): Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki and Shafii, established around the teachings of Abū Ḥanīfa, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Malik ibn Anas and al-Shafii respectively. All four accept the validity of the others and a Muslim may choose any one that he or she finds agreeable.[206] The Salafi (also known as Ahl al-Hadith (Arabic: أهل الحديث; The people of hadith), or the pejorative term Wahhabi by its adversaries) is an ultra-orthodox Islamic movement which takes the first generation of Muslims as exemplary models.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 10:54:25 +0000
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