What is the significance of Sunnis?

noun Islam. Also called Sunnite. a member of one of the two great religious divisions of Islam, regarding the first four caliphs as legitimate successors of Muhammad and stressing the importance of Sunna as a basis for law.

What did Sunnis believe about leadership?

The Sunnis believe that Muhammad had no rightful heir and that a religious leader should be elected through a vote among the Islamic community’s people. They believe that Muhammad’s followers chose Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s close friend and advisor, as his successor.

What are the top 3 religions of Iraq?

Islam

• Islam (95.7\%)
• Christianity (2.5\%)
• Yazidism (1.5\%)
• others (incl.Yarsanism, Zoroastrianism, Baha’i, Mandaeanism, Irreligion) (0.3\%)

What are the differences between Sunni law and Shia law of inheritance?

According to Sunni law, the daughter will get one half and the rest will be inherited by the father as a residuary. In Shia law, a father is not regarded as a residuary in presence of deceased’s daughter as the both are placed in the same class.

Who are the Sunnis in Iraq?

Sunni Arabs make up some 15 percent to 20 percent of Iraq’s population, but they dominated the country’s government and economy throughout the 20th century. If the new Iraq is a representative democracy–as is planned–power will shift to the Shiites, who comprise 60 percent of Iraqis.

How important is the Shia/Sunni conflict in Iraq?

Not as important as some press reports make it out to be, many Iraq experts say. There has been considerable intermarriage between the two groups among the urban middle class. Some Iraqi tribes have both Sunni and Shiite branches. In addition, experts say Iraqi nationalism is very important to both groups.

How do Sunnis choose their leaders?

Sunnis say leaders should be chosen through ijma, or consensus. Shiites revere Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law, who was killed while serving as the top leader, or Caliph, of Islam in the 7th century. His tomb is in Najaf, Iraq’s holiest Shiite city.

What is the difference between Sunnis and Shiites?

Shiites believe Islam’s leader should be a descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. Sunnis say leaders should be chosen through ijma, or consensus. Shiites revere Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law, who was killed while serving as the top leader, or Caliph, of Islam in the 7th century.