Sunni

/ˈsʊni/

Other forms: Sunnis

A Sunni is a member of the largest branch of Islam. A Sunni is a Muslim who believes that the caliph Abu Bakr was the rightful successor to Muhammad after his death.

There are several different traditions within the Sunni branch of Islam, but Sunnis are often described as orthodox Muslims. Since the death of Muhammad in the year 632, there has been conflict between the Sunnis and the other main Muslim group, the Shiites, although both branches share a belief in the teachings of the Qur'an. In Arabic, the word Sunni means "lawful," and its root can be found in Sunna, "the traditional teachings of Muhammad," or "way, course, or teachings."

Definitions of Sunni

1. noun

   a member of the branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful successors to Muhammad
   synonyms: Sunni Muslim, Sunnite

   type of:

   Moslem, Muslim

   a believer in or follower of Islam
2. noun

   one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam
   synonyms: Sunni Islam

   type of:

   religious order, religious sect, sect

   a subdivision of a larger religious group