A member of the largest branch of Islam, which follows the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and his successors as understood through orthodox Islamic tradition.
From Arabic 'سنّة' (sunnah), meaning custom, tradition, or the example of the Prophet. Sunni Islam developed as the majority denomination emphasizing adherence to the Prophet's recorded practices and sayings.
The Sunni-Shia split happened in the 7th century over a question of leadership, but it shaped Islamic civilization for 1,400 years—similar to how Catholic-Protestant differences reshaped European history, showing how early religious disagreements create lasting global diversity.
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