Sunni

Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam, followed by the majority of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word sunnah, referring to the behaviour of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagreement over the succession to Muhammad and subsequently acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions.

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Maghrib . Sunni . Salah (Prayers) . Shi'a

Why is the Maghrib prayer time not exactly the same for Sunni and Shi'a?

Zeinab Donati, Zeinab Donati has been studying books about various Islamic subjects for more than 19 years. She is deeply interested in history and politics as well as social issues in particular those pertaining... Answered 1 week ago

I think that it could be useful for you to read the book "Prayer (Salat), According to the Five Islamic Schools of Law", in particular the section concerning Maghrib since it analyzes the various opinions in details: https://www.al-islam.org/shiite-encyclopedia/prayer-salat-according-five-islamic-schools-law-part-1#time-maghrib-and-%E2%80%98isha%E2%80%99-prayers

Maghrib . Sunni . Salah (Prayers) . Shi'a

Why is the Maghrib prayer time not exactly the same for Sunni and Shi'a?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 2 weeks ago

as salam alaikum

the time of Maghrib prayer starts at sunset. There is a disagreement among Shia scholars on when sunset starts. There are three major opinions in this regard:

1) Maghrib time start when the redness of the eastern sky disappears which is usually about 10-15 minutes after Sunni Maghrib time.

2) Maghrib time start at the disappearance of the sun in the western sky which is the same as Sunni Maghrib time.

3) Maghrib time starts at the disappearance of the sun in the western sky but as precaution we should wait until the redness in the eastern sky is disappeared.

The ahadith in support of the second opinion are accepted by all Islamic schools and are stronger in term of authenticity and numbers of isnads. However we find also ahadith stating the beginning of Maghrib time at the time of the disappearance of the redness in the eastern sky and that is why many scholars gave preference to that, at least as precautionary measure.

With prayers for your success.

60845

Sunni . Family . Death . Ghusl . Shi'a

I am the only Shiah male in my Sunni family. In the event of my death, will their act of Ghusl and Kafan for me be considered correct and sufficient?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 month ago

Yes, the Ghusl and Kafan of any Muslim is considered as sufficient.

Wassalam.

53709

Sunni . Mankind . Shi'a

Is there any difference between the Sunni and Shi'a perspective on the purpose of the creation of mankind?

as salam alaikum

the holy Qur'an is the final word of Allah and all Muslims believe in it. Therein Allah says: "I have not created the jinn and the men except to serve Me" (51:56).

Serving Allah is therefore the purpose of mankind as Allah says in his Book which both Sunnis and Shi'as believe in.

With prayers for your success.

59976

Sunni . Woman . Father . Mother . Marriage . Shi'a

As a Sunni woman am I allowed to get married to someone born of a Shi'a father and a Sunni mother and who considers himself to be a Sunni?

Yes you are allowed to get married to him because he is a Muslim like you and all Muslims are allowed to marry with Muslims as far as the marriage does not cause harm to religion.

Wassalam.

Sunni . Woman . Father . Mother . Marriage . Shi'a

As a Sunni woman am I allowed to get married to someone born of a Shi'a father and a Sunni mother and who considers himself to be a Sunni?

as salam alaikum

a Sunni woman can marry a Sunni man with a Shia father.

It is worth to note in this regard that three of the four major Sunni schools - the Maliki, Hanbali and Shaf'i schools - require the consent of the wali/father for marrying the woman; the Hanafi school however does not deem it necessary.

With prayers for your success.

58267

Sunni . Qur'anic Verse . Imam Ali

Was the Qur'anic verse 5:55 revealed in connection with Hazrat Ali? If so, is it confirmed in any Sunni commentaries of the Qur'an?

The verse ( Surely, your only masters are Allah, His messenger, and Those who establish prayers and give Zakat during Rokoo’) (5:55) was revealed when Ali (AS) gave his ring to a poor person during Rokoo’.

This fact is mentioned in many Sunni books like:

1. Al-Majma’ Al-Awsat by al-Tabaraani , Hadeeth number 6414.

2. Al-Majma’ Al-Kabeer by al-Tabaraani, Hadeeth number 948.

3. Tafseer al-Tabari, Vol 6, page 389 ( Arabic).

4. Tafseer al-Dorr al-Manthour by Al-Soyooti, 2: 293.

5. Tafseer ibn Katheer, 7:394.

6. Tafseer al-Qurtobi , 6:221.

7. Tafseer ibn Abi Haatam , Hadeeths 6583, 6585 and 6587.

8. Ma’rifat al-Sahabah by Abi Na’eem, Hadeeth 815.

9. Ma’rifat Oloom Al-Hadeeth by Al- Hakim, Hadeeth 210.

10. Hilyat al-Awliyaa’ , Hadeeth 3835.

11. Tafseer al-Baidhaawi in Tasfeer of 5:55.

12. Tafseer al-Fakhrudin Al-Raazi, 12: 25 to 31.

13. Noor al-Absaar by Shiblanji , page 86 and 87.

14. Tafseer al-Kashshaaf by Al-Zamakhshari, 1: 624.

15. Kanz al-Ommal, 13:108

and many other books.

Wassalam.

58850

Sunni . Hadith . Ilm al-Rijal . Shi'a

It has been suggested that Sunni hadith collections seem to have many politically motivated fabrications and problematic narrators classed as reliable. Are Shi'a scholars stricter than Sunni scholars when it comes to grading of hadith?

Our Shia scholars are always very strict in assessing every narration by studying and assessing every narrator
of every Hadeeth. There is no scope in our books of Hadeeth to accept
any narration or consider any narration which is politically motivated
as our leading scholars in our history stood against every tyrant
ruler whether he was a Sunni or a Shia. So no narration is accepted if
there is s slightest doubt that it is fabricated for the sake of
pleasing the rulers or justifying their wrong deeds.

Wassalaam.

58192

Maghrib . Sunni . Shi'a

What is the correct timing for the Shi'a Maghrib prayer and is it permissible to pray at the Sunni timing?

Seyed Ali Musawi, Seyed Ali Musawi studied religion and history at the University of California, San Diego and subsequently he studied for more than 8 years at the Islamic Seminary in Qum, Iran, focusing on Islamic... Answered 3 months ago

Salaam Allaikum,

There may be some slight differences between the marajah, so it is important to check this with your specific Marja, but in general, the time of maghrib begins when the redness in the Eastern sky has dissipated.

Oftentimes, people think maghrib is when the redness of the western sky (where the sun sets) has dissipated but this is actually not the case and Maghrib occurs a bit earlier than this....

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Sunni . Family . Taqiyya (Dissimulation) . Salah (Prayers)

While performing Salaah with Sunni family members can I fold my arms in Qiyam, as per Taqiyyah?

If Taqqyah is really required in your circumstances, then yes. It
means that if you don’t fold your arms during prayer with your Sunni
family members, it can cause you real risk and harm.

So Taqayyah will be applicable to avoid such expected harm. It is good
to inform your Sunni family members that folding arms is not in the
Salaah of the many Sunnis who are followers of the Maaliki sect. So
many millions of Maaliki Sunnis do not fold their arms during Salaah.
This is the practice of the Maaliki Sunnis. But if you want to search
the evidence of folding hands during Salaah ,you will never find an
authentic Hadith that te Holy Prophet (SAWA) folded hands during
Salaah. Folding hands during Salaah was ordered by Umar ibn Khattab
during his government time. None of the leading Sunni scholars could
claim that folding hands during Salaah is obligatory.

Leading Sunni scholar Sheikh Sayyed Sabiq in his book Fiqh al Sunnah
stated that there is not a single authentic Hadith suggesting that the
Holy Prophet (SAWA) folded his hands during even one Salaah

Wassalaam.

57251

Sunni . Hadith . Muwaththaq

How do we know which narrations in the Sunni hadith books are muwathaq (reliable)?

Every narration is studied assessed by our scholars through :

1. Studying all its narrators one by one to see up to what extend they are honest and truthful.

2. Also up to what extend the narration can be confirmed from him and before and after him. This is a specialized process in Elm Al-Hadeeth and Elm Al-Rijal.

3. Studying the content of the narration to be sure that it does not contradict with Quran or authentic Hadeeths.

55341

Ahl al-Bayt . Shi'a . Sunni . Abu Talib b. Abd al-Muttalib

What line of argument do the Ahlul Sunnah use to support the belief that Abu Talib (ra) died as a disbeliever? How do the Shi'a respond to it?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 3 months ago

Sunni view:
(a) He never openly converted
(b) Some quotations from Sunni hadith and history books and interpretations of Qur'an.

Shi'i view:

(a) He was obviously a clear supporter of the Prophet and couldn't have done that if he were openly a Muslim.

(b) Hadith and quotations such as the marriage khutbah he is said to have recited for the Prophet (S) and Khadijah

In my view, the important thing is to maintain respect for him as a human being and not make this into a purely sectarian issue. Often, certain issues are hotly debated between Sunnis and Shi'is not for their own sake, but because they are closet debates aiming to prove "I'm right and you're wrong", which is more about ego or group identity than the actual issue at hand.

Further details can found rather copiously online!