Sunnin.adj.
/ˈsʊni/, /ˈsʌni/, U.S. /ˈsʊ(ˌ)ni/ Islam.
A. n.
In plural (originally used collectively). The Muslims who collectively form the larger of the two main branches of Islam, which differs from Shia in its understanding of the Sunnah, its conception of religious leadership, and its acceptance of the first three caliphs. Also in singular: a Muslim who follows this branch of Islam.From the 18th cent. the original collective use of Sunni has become increasingly indistinct from unchanged plural use of the count noun (cf., e.g., quots. 1897, 2003).
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Islam > Islamic sects and groups > [noun] > Sunni > person
Sunni1595
Islam1613
Maliki1704
Sunnite1718
traditionist1718
Shafiite1838
Malikite1839
Hanafite1880
Hanbalite1886
1595 A. Hartwell tr. G. T. Minadoi Hist. Warres Turkes & Persians ii. 46 The Turkes in the meane tyme.., thinking themselues to be of a sound and sincere opinion, did alwayes call themselues Sunni [It. Sunni], (that is to say, men of a good faith).
1626 Methold in S. Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 4) 995 Who openly professed hee could not finde in his heart to pray for a Sunnee.
1693 tr. P. Avril Trav. Europe & Asia iii. 190 He was no less glad of the opportunity to testify to the Ottoman Sultan, the Devotion, which he had for the Religion of the Sunni, as much a Persian as he was.
1753 J. Hanway Hist. Acct. Brit. Trade Caspian Sea III. xii. 77 I am a Sunni, as my ancestors were.
1797 C. Fox in tr. A. Ahmad Aks-i partaw: Series of Poems Introd. p, ix The Sunnis, though they term themselves orthodox, are divided into sects, who follow the different opinions of their four great doctors.
1836 C. F. Partington Brit. Cycl. Lit., Hist., Geogr., Law, & Politics III. 769/2 The Mohammedans [in Sinde] are all Soonees, and most of them of the sect of Haneefee.
1885 E. Balfour Cycl. India (ed. 3) II. 790/1 The six bodies of sectarians who oppose the Sunni are classed by them as Rafziah, Kharjiah, Jabriah, Kadriah, Jahmiah, and Marjiah.
1897 Contemp. Rev. Feb. 284 The Shiahs and Sunni treat each other as schismatics and heretics.
1913 19th Cent. May 1157 Both Shiahs and Sunnis have been known to lend at usury.
1963 H. Malik Moslem Nationalism in India & Pakistan iii. 43 A reveller in spiritual experiences, Shaikh Mubarak was in turn a Sunni, a Shia, a Sufi, a Mahdist, and probably many other things.
2003 Church Times 17 Apr. 9/4 Many Sunni have been alienated by a government that feels threatened by Islamic extremism.
2012 Middle East Jrnl. 66 658 While the increased sectarianism in the country has worked as a legitimizing tool for the Saudi regime, it has deepened mistrust between Sunni and Shi'a.
B. adj.
Of or relating to this branch of Islam or its followers.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Islam > Islamic sects and groups > [adjective] > Sunni
Sunni1686
Sunnite1704
Maliki1875
Malikite1957
1686 tr. J. Chardin Coronation Solyman 119 in Trav. Persia The deceas'd King of Orquenge..was a Shia Mahumetan, according to the Persian Worship, and not a Sunni Mahumetan [Fr. Sunni Mahometan] according to the Worship both of the Turks and Tartars.
1742 J. Fraser Hist. Nadir Shah 122 He then published an Edict..ordering all his Subjects to conform to the Sunni Religion on Pain of his Royal Displeasure.
1833 A. Crichton Hist. Arabia I. vii. 334 Pillars of the Sonnee faith.
1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. xii. iii. 651 The Sunni religion.
1922 Edinb. Rev. July 74 The Caliph..has had ascribed to him an authority and an ecclesiastical status such as are incompatible with Sunni theology.
1973 Middle Eastern Stud. 9 272 The Iranian population..was divided into a Shi'i majority; a significant Sunni minority..; and small urban concentrations of non-Muslims.
2015 Church Times 30 Oct. 24/1 Modern Egypt is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, January 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.adj.1595