One of the two main groups of
Muslims. Sunnis represent approximately 90 per cent of the Muslim population, the other major group being the
Shiites. The Shiites broke away from the Sunnis over a political issue concerning the leadership of the community after
Muhammad's death.They both agree on the primary source of the religion - the
Qur'an. There are some
differences between Sunnis and Shiites, but the differences between individuals belonging to the same group can be wider than the differences between the groups. For example, both Sunnis and Shia can be either strict or liberal in their adherence to the faith.
(Correction to Pseudo_Intellectual: It has nothing to do with Abbas, who was the uncle of Muhammad).