Sunni Islam

Adherents of Sunni Islam are Sunnis or Sunnites. The word Sunni comes from the word sunna (), which means the tradition of the prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Sunnis are also called ahl as-Sunnah wa l-Jamāʻah (), which means people of tradition and congregation and means that the Sunnis are united.

Definition
In the Meeting of the Aqidah Expert Panel of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) held on 28 December 2010 at the Malaysian Islamic Training Institute (ILIM), Bangi, the panel decided that the definition of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah is:  

“A group who understands and adheres to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet through the Companions, the Tabi‘in, and the Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in, who remained steadfast with them in the principles of creed (aqidah), law (shari‘ah), and ethics (akhlaq).”Meeting of the Aqidah Expert Panel, Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), 28 December 2010, Malaysian Islamic Training Institute (ILIM), Bangi. page 19   ﷺ  

 Explanation of the definition   

a) They are a group who understands and adheres to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet  according to the methodology and approach of the salaf and khalaf (the Atharites).   ﷺ 

b) They are a group with a balanced (wasatiyyah) understanding — neither extreme nor overly lax. This excludes the Khawarij, Shi‘ah Rafidah, Qadariyyah, Jabariyyah, Mu‘tazilah, anti-hadith groups, liberal Islam, religious pluralism, and the like.  

c) They are a group who prioritizes Islamic unity and brotherhood over enmity, peace over conflict, and uphold the principle of not idolizing leaders, not being fanatical to the extent of declaring other Muslims as disbelievers (takfir) or deviants.

 Related pages 
 Shia Islam
 Uthmaniyya
 Sunnah
 Non-denominational Muslims

 References 

 Other websites 

Category:Sunni Islam