Explanation: This statement is False. The belief that Muhammad designated Ali as his immediate successor is a foundational principle of Shia Islam. Sunni Islam, conversely, holds that Muhammad did not designate a specific successor, and Abu Bakr was chosen as the first rightful caliph through consultation.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni Muslims revere Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib as the four "rightly-guided caliphs" (*rashidun*), recognizing their significant roles in the early leadership of the Muslim community.

Explanation: This statement is False. Unlike some other religious traditions, Sunni Islam generally lacks a formal, centralized hierarchy. Leadership is typically derived from scholarly authority and influence in law and theology, rather than through appointed positions or hereditary succession.

Explanation: The primary distinguishing characteristic is the Sunni adherence to the principle that Muhammad did not designate a specific successor, leading to the acceptance of Abu Bakr as the first rightful caliph. This contrasts with the Shia belief in Ali's designated succession.

Explanation: Sunnis recognize Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib as the four "rightly-guided caliphs" (*rashidun*).

Explanation: Leadership in Sunni Islam is typically structured through scholarly influence in Islamic law (*sharia*) or theology (*Kalam*), rather than a formal, centralized hierarchy. Religious and political authority are theoretically open to qualified individuals.

Explanation: True. These three elements—the Quran, the authenticated traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (*hadith*), and the consensus of Islamic scholars (*ijma*)—form the foundational pillars upon which Sunni legal theory and practice are built.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni Muslims hold a high regard for the *Sahabah*, considering them to be exceptionally reliable transmitters of Islamic teachings. Their integrity is widely accepted, and their accounts are considered foundational for understanding the Quran and Hadith.

Explanation: This statement is False. The hadith collections compiled by Muhammad al-Bukhari and Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj are universally regarded within Sunni Islam as the two most authentic (*sahih*) and authoritative compilations of prophetic traditions, holding the highest status after the Quran.

Explanation: True. Sunni Muslims hold the *Sahabah* in high esteem, viewing them as the most reliable witnesses and transmitters of the Prophet's teachings and the Quranic text. Their integrity and direct connection to the Prophet are considered indispensable for authentic Islamic knowledge.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni jurisprudence is founded upon the Quran, the *hadith* (authenticated traditions of the Prophet Muhammad), and *ijma* (scholarly consensus), along with other principles like analogical reasoning (*qiyas*).

Explanation: This statement is False. The *Kutub al-Sittah* (The Six Books) are considered the six major and most authoritative collections of hadith in Sunni Islam, forming a cornerstone of secondary religious texts after the Quran.

Explanation: This statement is False. The *Ahl al-Ra'y* (people of reason) emphasized rational interpretation and scholarly judgment in legal reasoning. This contrasted with the *Ahl al-Hadith* (people of tradition), who prioritized strict adherence to the literal text of the Quran and Hadith.

Explanation: Analogical reasoning (*qiyas*) based on pre-Islamic traditions is not listed as a primary foundational source. The core sources are the Quran, *hadith*, and *ijma* (scholarly consensus).

Explanation: Sunnis consider the *Sahabah* to be reliable transmitters of Islam whose integrity is accepted by God and Muhammad. Their accounts are considered foundational for understanding Islamic teachings.

Explanation: The *Kutub al-Sittah* are significant because they represent the six major, highly authoritative collections of hadith, forming a core part of Sunni secondary sources for Islamic law and theology.

Explanation: The *Sahaba* are considered foundational by Sunnis because they are reliable transmitters of Islamic teachings and played a crucial role in the compilation of the Quran.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni Islam recognizes four main legal schools (*madhhabs*): the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools. While variations exist, these four are widely acknowledged and respected.

Explanation: True. Ash'arism and Maturidism represent the dominant schools of systematic theology within Sunni Islam, offering distinct yet broadly compatible frameworks for understanding divine attributes, reason, and revelation.

Explanation: This statement is False. The Athari school is known for its strict textualist approach, emphasizing literal interpretation of scripture and generally eschewing rationalist speculation or allegorical interpretation in theological matters.

Explanation: This statement is False. The *madhhabs* (schools of law) represent diverse methodologies and interpretations of Islamic law (*Sharia*) developed by different scholars. While respected, they are not universally accepted as singular, definitive interpretations but rather as valid approaches within the Sunni tradition.

Explanation: There are four main legal schools (*madhhabs*) generally recognized within Sunni Islam: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.

Explanation: The Athari school is known for its strict textualist approach, prioritizing the literal meaning of scripture and generally avoiding allegorical interpretation or extensive rational discourse in theological matters.

Explanation: True. A core tenet of Sunni Islam is the belief in the finality of Muhammad's prophethood (*khatam al-anbiya*). His message is considered the ultimate and complete divine guidance, abrogating earlier revelations.

Explanation: True. Sunni eschatology includes the belief that upon burial, the deceased are questioned by two angels, Munkar and Nakir, about their creed and deeds. This is considered the first trial after death.

Explanation: True. The emergence of the Dajjal is a prominent sign of the end times in Sunni eschatology, alongside other events such as the return of Jesus, the appearance of Gog and Magog, and the sun rising from the west.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni theology posits that righteous believers will be granted the vision of God in Paradise (*Jannah*). This doctrine distinguishes Sunni theology from certain rationalist schools that deny the possibility of divine vision.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni theology holds that while monotheists (*muwahhidun*) who commit grave sins may be punished in hell, they are not destined for eternal residence there. Divine mercy and the intercession of the Prophet Muhammad and other righteous individuals are believed to facilitate their eventual release.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni doctrine reconciles divine predestination (*Qadar*) with human agency by positing that God determines all events, and human choices, while real, operate within the framework of this divine decree. Free will is understood not as independent of God's plan, but as aligned with it.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni theology firmly asserts that God's speech (*kalam*), as revealed in the Quran, is eternal and uncreated, an attribute inherent to God's divine essence. The doctrine of the createdness of the Quran is considered heretical by mainstream Sunnism.

Explanation: This statement is False. *Tafwid* is a principle in Athari theology that emphasizes accepting the literal meaning of scriptural descriptions of God's attributes without defining their exact nature or modality ('how'). It involves consigning the precise understanding of these attributes to God alone, rather than metaphorical interpretation.

Explanation: This statement is False. Major Sunni theological schools emphasize that divine revelation, as found in the Quran and Sunna, is the primary and indispensable source for understanding creedal matters. Human reason is considered a tool for understanding revelation, not a substitute for it.

Explanation: True. This is a foundational tenet of Sunni Islam, affirming the Quran's divine origin and status as the verbatim word of God, transmitted through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad.

Explanation: True. Sunni theology affirms divine predestination (*Qadar*), asserting that God's knowledge encompasses all events, and He has decreed the ultimate fate of individuals for Paradise or Hell. This determination is considered immutable and based on divine wisdom and justice.

Explanation: True. This rejection of the Quran's createdness is a core Sunni theological position, affirming its status as the uncreated, eternal word of God. Holding the opposite view is considered a deviation from orthodox Sunni belief.

Explanation: This statement is False. Sunni accounts of the *mi'raj* typically describe it as a miraculous event involving both spiritual and physical elements, during which the Prophet ascended through the heavens, received divine revelations, and experienced profound spiritual encounters. It is not considered purely spiritual in the sense of lacking physical manifestation.

Explanation: True. The concept of intercession (*shafa'a*) is an accepted tenet in Sunni Islam, with the Prophet Muhammad believed to intercede for his followers, especially those who have sinned but maintained their faith.

Explanation: The emergence of the Dajjal is a prominent sign of the end times in Sunni eschatology, alongside other eschatological markers.

Explanation: Sunni belief holds that monotheists who commit serious sins may be punished in hell but will eventually be released through God's mercy and intercession, meaning they are not destined for eternal damnation.

Explanation: Sunnis believe the Quran is the literal, uncreated speech of God, revealed to Muhammad. It is considered the ultimate source of divine guidance.

Explanation: The Sunni view on predestination (*Qadar*) posits that God determines all events, and human actions align with this divine plan, integrating human agency within God's decree.

Explanation: Sunni belief holds that righteous believers will be granted the vision of God in the hereafter. This is a key aspect of their eschatological understanding.

Explanation: The principle of *tafwid* relates to the understanding of God's attributes, specifically the practice of accepting their literal meaning without defining their modality or 'how'.

Explanation: Sunnis believe Muhammad is the "seal of the prophets" (*khatam al-anbiya*), signifying he is the last prophet sent by God.

Explanation: Sunni belief holds that angels Munkar and Nakir question the deceased in their graves about their faith and deeds, serving as a preliminary trial.

Explanation: This statement is False. Muhammad Ibn Siri indicated that the critical scrutiny of hadith narrators and the distinction between "Sunnah people" and "Innovators" (*Bid'ah*) emerged *after* the onset of the first major civil strife (*fitna*), as a means to authenticate traditions.

Explanation: True. The historical development of Islam involved diverse interpretations and political movements from its inception. Both Sunni and Shia Islam evolved over centuries, defining themselves in relation to each other and other emerging groups.

Explanation: True. The events surrounding the Battle of Karbala and the subsequent death of Husain marked a critical turning point, paving the way for the Umayyad dynasty to consolidate power and establish hereditary rule.

Explanation: This statement is False. While the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) was significant, the period most widely considered formative for Sunni Islam, marked by the flourishing of its major legal schools and theological discourse, is the subsequent Abbasid Caliphate (from the 8th century onwards).

Explanation: This statement is False. The abolition of the Ottoman caliphate in 1924 by the Turkish Republic generated significant controversy and led to protests in various Muslim regions, such as the Khilafat Movement in British India, reflecting a desire to preserve the institution.

Explanation: True. The Hanbali scholar Taqi Al-Din Ibn Taymiyyah (1263–1328 CE), known for his rigorous textualism and reformist ideas, has profoundly influenced various modern Islamic movements seeking to return to what they perceive as pristine Islamic principles.

Explanation: Muhammad Ibn Siri suggested that the critical examination of hadith narrators began after the onset of the first major civil strife (*fitna*) in early Islamic history.

Explanation: The Abbasid Caliphate, particularly from the 8th century onwards, is considered the formative period for Sunni Islam, during which the founders of the four major legal schools practiced and their methodologies were consolidated.

Explanation: The establishment of dynastic rule by the Banu Umayya is linked to the death of Husain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala, which marked a shift from the earlier caliphal model.

Explanation: The doctrines of the theologian Ibn Taymiyyah have been revived by contemporary movements like Wahhabism, Salafism, and various Islamist and Jihadist groups.

Explanation: The transition to dynastic monarchy for the Banu Umayya is cited as occurring after the death of Husain, son of Ali, at the Battle of Karbala.

Explanation: True. The term "Sunni" signifies adherence to the *sunna*, which serves as a primary source of guidance for Muslims, encompassing the Prophet Muhammad's teachings, actions, and tacit approvals.

Explanation: This statement is False. While the *sunna* gained political significance during the period of early Islamic strife (*fitna*), its political importance became particularly pronounced after the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman, and during the subsequent caliphate of Ali and the conflicts that ensued, such as the Battle of Siffin, rather than solely after Ali's death.

Explanation: This statement is False. Historically, *ahl as-sunna* referred to adherents who rigorously adhered to the Prophet's traditions (*sunna*) and consciously abstained from heterodox beliefs and divisive political affiliations.

Explanation: This statement is False. In academic discourse, *Ahl as-Sunna wa l-Jama'ah* (meaning "people of the Sunnah and the community") is commonly translated as "orthodox," signifying adherence to established religious norms and traditions.

Explanation: This statement is False. *Firqa najiya* translates to "the saved sect." Sunnis often identify with this term, drawing from prophetic traditions that foretold divisions within the Muslim community and posited a group that would remain on the true path.

Explanation: The term "Sunni" is derived from *sunna*, which refers to the traditions, practices, and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad. Adherence to the *sunna* is a defining characteristic of Sunni Islam.

Explanation: The term "sunna" acquired significant political importance following the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman, and during the subsequent period of civil strife (*fitna*), particularly during the caliphate of Ali and conflicts like the Battle of Siffin.

Explanation: Historically, *ahl as-sunna* referred to believers who adhered strictly to the Prophet's traditions and avoided heretical teachings and political factions.

Explanation: Academics often translate *Ahl as-Sunna wa l-Jama'ah* as "orthodox," signifying adherence to established religious traditions and community norms.

Explanation: *Firqa najiya* translates to "the saved sect." Sunnis often identify with this term, believing they represent the authentic path of Islam preserved from the time of the Prophet and his companions.

Explanation: True. The modern state of Saudi Arabia, established in the early 20th century, became closely associated with the reformist and puritanical doctrines of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, influencing its religious and political identity.

Explanation: This statement is False. The 2010 Pew Research Center study estimated that over 85% to 90% of the global Muslim population adheres to Sunni Islam, making it the predominant branch.

Explanation: True. Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest continuously operating universities in the world and a leading center for Islamic learning, particularly for Sunni jurisprudence and theology.

Explanation: This statement is False. The *Diyanet* is the official state institution responsible for religious affairs in Turkey, and its interpretations and administration of religious matters are firmly rooted in the Sunni tradition.

Explanation: Saudi Arabia emerged as a significant political entity in the post-Ottoman caliphate era, notably championing the reformist and puritanical doctrines of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab.

Explanation: The 2010 Pew Research Center study estimated that over 85% to 90% of the global Muslim population adheres to Sunni Islam.

Explanation: Al-Azhar University is located in Cairo, Egypt.

Explanation: The *Diyanet* provides interpretations based on Sunni Islam, managing religious affairs and education within that framework in Turkey.