Sunni Islam facts for kids
Sunni Islam is the largest group within the religion of Islam. About 75% of all Muslims around the world are Sunni. This means there are about 1.8 billion Sunni Muslims, making it the biggest religious group in the world.
The word Sunni comes from the Arabic word sunna. This word means the traditions and teachings of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Sunni Muslims follow these traditions very closely. They are also known as ahl as-sunnah wa l-jamāʻah, which means "people of tradition and community." This name shows that Sunnis aim to be united in their beliefs.
Contents
What Sunnis Believe
Sunni Muslims base their beliefs on two main sources. The first is the Quran, which they believe is the word of God. The second is the Kutub al-Sittah, which are collections of sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad. These collections help guide how Sunnis live their lives.
History of Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam grew from the early Islamic empire known as the Rashidun Empire. This empire began after Prophet Muhammad passed away. The first leader of this empire was Abu Bakr. The last leader was Ali ibn Abi Talib. Sunni Muslims believe that these early leaders were the rightful successors to Prophet Muhammad.
Different Groups of Sunnis
Within Sunni Islam, there are four main schools of thought or sub-groups. These groups are called Malikis, Hanafis, Hanbalis, and Shafi'is. They mostly agree on the main beliefs but have slightly different ways of understanding Islamic law.
Related pages
Images for kids
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The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
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The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia was a major center for Islamic learning.
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The Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
See also
In Spanish: Sunismo para niños
