Definition

1. Noun:
   • A follower of Sunni Islam: A Sunni Muslim is an adherent of the largest branch of Islam, which holds that the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) were the rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad.

Usage

• The term "Sunni Muslim" is used to specify a person's religious affiliation within Islam, distinguishing them from Shia Muslims and other Islamic sects. It functions as a compound noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The majority of the country's population are Sunni Muslims.
  • As a Sunni Muslim, she follows the teachings of the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in sociological, political, and theological contexts to discuss demographics, historical developments, or doctrinal positions within Islam.

Variants and Related Words

• Sunni (noun/adjective): Often used as a shorter form. As a noun: "He is a Sunni." As an adjective: "Sunni theology."
• Sunni Islam (noun): The branch of Islam itself.
• Sunnism (noun): The collective body of Sunni doctrine and practice.

Synonyms

• Sunni: The most direct synonym.
• Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah: The traditional Arabic term for Sunni Muslims, meaning "People of the Sunnah and the Community."

Notes on Meaning

• The definition is specifically religious and historical. It is based on the acceptance of the historical succession (caliphate) after Prophet Muhammad and the authority of the recorded traditions (Sunnah).

Noun

1. a member of the branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad