Sunni

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Images

Geographical distribution of the religions of the world in the early 1980s.

Moldova: religious affiliation

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Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

Remains of the ancient fortress of Masyaf, Syria. (Masyaf Castle, Assassins)

Who Were the Assassins?

Government officials are erasing graffiti of Islamic State (ISIS) banner in Solo, Java, Indonesia.

Is It ISIS or ISIL?

Polar bear leaping among ice floes at Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago, Norway, the Arctic. Sea ice climate change mammal jump global warming

All 81 References in Fall Out Boy’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Discover

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)

New Seven Wonders of the World

Queen Elizabeth II addresses at opening of Parliament. (Date unknown on photo, but may be 1958, the first time the opening of Parliament was filmed.)

All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

Space race (1957-1969) infographic between United States (U.S.) and Russia. America, Soviet Union, U.S.S.R., space exploration

Timeline of the Space Race, 1957–69

July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.

Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?

Sunni: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Baghdad invites new Syrian president to a summit, sparking political division in Iraq • Apr. 23, 2025, 2:09 AM ET (AP)

Francis changed church policy on the death penalty and nuclear weapons but upheld it on abortion • Apr. 21, 2025, 4:56 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Sunnism • Sunnite • Ahl as-Sunnah • Sunnī

Photos

Geographical distribution of the religions of the world in the early 1980s.

See All Images and Interactives →

Topics

Ashʿariyyah Māturīdiyyah Sunnah Islam Sufism Khārijite Shiʿi Islamic fundamentalism Ahl-e Ḥaqq millet Islamic arts Islamic world sharia qawwali

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Key People

Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindī

Indian mystic and theologian

al-Ṭabarī

Muslim scholar

Quiz

indonesia bee country map

Islam

Demystified

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?