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Sunni

Sunni

What is Sunni Islam?

In simple terms, Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam, followed by about 85-90% of Muslims worldwide. The word "Sunni" comes from the word "Sunnah," which means the teachings, actions, and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

So, a Sunni is someone who:

  1. Follows the Quran as the final word of God.

  2. Follows the Sunnah (example) of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the best human interpreter of the Quran.

  3. Believes in the leadership of the Muslim community after the Prophet as it happened historically.

The Six Pillars of Faith (Iman) in Sunni Islam

The core beliefs of a Sunni Muslim are summarized in Six Pillars of Faith. You must believe in all of them.

1. Belief in Allah (God)
This is the most important belief. It means believing that:

  • Allah is One and has no partners.

  • He is the Creator of everything.

  • He has the most perfect qualities (All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Merciful).

Quranic Proof:

"Say, 'He is Allah, [Who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'" (Surah Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-4)

2. Belief in His Angels
Angels are created from light and always obey Allah. They have specific jobs, like delivering revelations (Angel Jibril/Gabriel) or recording our deeds.

Quranic Proof:

"The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers..." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:285)

3. Belief in His Revealed Books
Allah sent divine books to various prophets as guidance. Sunni Muslims believe in all the original scriptures, including the Torah (given to Moses), the Psalms (given to David), the Gospel (given to Jesus), and finally, the Quran, which is the final, preserved, and unchanged word of God.

Quranic Proof (Allah speaks about the Quran):

"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:9)

4. Belief in His Messengers
Allah sent prophets and messengers to guide humanity, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad (peace be upon all of them). Sunni Muslims love and respect all of them, believing Muhammad (pbuh) was the final prophet.

Hadith Proof:
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, when asked about the pillars of faith:

"Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the Divine Decree (Qadr), both the good and the bad of it." (Sahih Muslim)

5. Belief in the Last Day
This means believing in the Day of Judgment, when all people will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds in this life. They will be sent to Paradise (Jannah) or Hellfire (Jahannam) based on their faith and actions.

Quranic Proof:

"And every soul will be fully compensated [for] what it did; and He is most knowing of what they do." (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:70)

6. Belief in Divine Decree (Al-Qadr)
This is a unique and central belief. It means believing that everything—good and bad—happens by the will and knowledge of Allah. However, this does not mean humans have no free will. We have the free will to choose our actions, but Allah already knows what we will choose, and His plan is ultimate.

Hadith Proof:
This is also included in the Hadith from Sahih Muslim mentioned above.

How Do Sunnis Practice? (The Five Pillars of Islam)

These are the main actions a Sunni Muslim must perform. They are the framework of a Muslim's life.

  1. Shahadah (Declaration of Faith): Saying "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

  2. Salah (Prayer): Praying five times a day at specific times.

  3. Zakat (Charity): Giving a small portion (2.5%) of your saved wealth to the poor each year.

  4. Sawm (Fasting): Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset.

  5. Hajj (Pilgrimage): Performing the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if physically and financially able.

Who Leads the Muslims? The Sunni View

This is one of the main historical differences between Sunni and other branches of Islam.

  • After Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) passed away, the community needed a leader (called a "Caliph").

  • Sunnis believe that the community rightfully chose the most qualified companions of the Prophet to lead them.

  • The first four caliphs—Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them)—are known as the "Rightly Guided Caliphs" (Al-Khulafa ar-Rashidun). Sunnis hold them in the highest esteem and see their leadership as legitimate and guided.

Hadith Proof (Respect for the Companions):
The Prophet (pbuh) said:

"Hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Bite onto it with your molar teeth." (Sunan Abi Dawud) This Hadith shows the importance Sunnis place on following the way of the first caliphs.

Summary: What Makes a Person "Sunni"?

To be a Sunni Muslim means:

  • You follow the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as your primary guides.

  • You believe in the Six Pillars of Faith.

  • You practice the Five Pillars of Islam.

  • You respect and love all the companions of the Prophet and believe the first four caliphs were the rightful leaders.

  • You belong to the larger, mainstream community of Islam that has continued the Prophet's message generation after generation.

It is a path focused on following the established tradition (Sunnah) of the Prophet and the consensus of the early Muslim community, with a strong emphasis on Allah's mercy, justice, and ultimate decree.