Re: Sunni??
If you're not religous then you shouldn't comment on this topic. The only sect of islam that believes the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was not the last prophet are teh ahmadis and they have been declared non muslims. The rest of the sects do believe that the last prophet was the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The dispute starts when we start talking about the Caliphs and the Imams that have followed.
Further, Ismailies have not been declared non-muslims by any of the Islamic countries.
Re: Sunni??
Visiting graves were not allowed(for women) in early days of Islam as a precaution to remove idolatry.........but afterwards Prophet(pbuh) allowed it.......
Aisha(ra) used to visit her brother's grave.
The purpose of visitng grave is to remember our death and akhira........We can pray for them(dead) as wherever we are.........
(am I right.........can anyone comment)
Re: Sunni??
^ i dont think he allowed women to visit graves....
plz provide references for what u stated above....
Re: Sunni??
not religious in the sense of not knowing other specific names of scets.
p.s: someone already clearified whtever u summarized on the top 
p.p.s: u just wanted a beef with me here as i always pick on u, i will comment on whtever i like
Re: Sunni??
I am sure the following will be useful info.
[QUOTE]
*The Meaning of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah *
-Translated and Prepared by Dr. Abu 'Iyaad
Sunnah
In the language: "a path/way or a course" [1]
Its usage in the Sharee'ah: "the guidance which the Messenger and his Companions were upon in terms of knowledge, belief, speech and action. This is the Sunnah, the following of which is obligatory, whose adherents have been praised, and whose abandoners have been rebuked [2]. The term ‘Sunnah’ is also used for the various acts of worship and beliefs, just as everything which is contrary to it is termed 'bid'ah' (innovation)" [3]
Jamaa'ah
In the language: "is from Ijtimaa' (a gathering, where people come together, i.e. a unification) and this is the opposite of separation, dispersal. The Jamaa'ah are a people who have united together on a certain matter/affair". [4]
Its usage in the Sharee'ah: "They are the Pious Predecessors of this Ummah, from among the Sahaabahs (companions) and the Taabi'een (successors of the Companions) and whoever follows them in goodness till the Day of Judgment.
They are those who unite themselves upon the Book and the Sunnah and upon their leaders (i.e. their scholars) and those who travel upon that which the Messenger, His Companions and those who followed them in goodness were upon". [5]
Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah
"They are those who hold on to the Sunnah of the Messenger, the ones who unite themselves upon that and they are the Companions of the Messenger, the Scholars of Guidance, who follow the Companions and whoever travels upon their path in terms of belief, speech and action until the Day of Judgement [6], while remaining steadfast upon this adherence. They avoid innovating and innovations in whatever place or age/era they may be. They are the ones who will remain uppermost, aided (by Allaah) until the Day of Judgement."
So Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah have been described with sticking to the Sunnah and [in all circumstances] avoiding/disregarding the invented matters and innovations in the Deen (religion) [7].
By the word Jamaa'ah the totality of Muslims is not meant, nor those who are largest in number or the great majority [8]. This is because the Messenger mentioned that the Taa'ifat ul-Mansoorah [9] is a single group from among the seventy-three groups.
Other Terms for the Ahl us-Sunnah
The Ahl us-Sunnah have also been named with other terms and descriptions which have been reported from the Messenger or from the scholars who guide themselves by the Ahl us-Sunnah. So they have been called Ahl us-Sunnah without the annexation of Jamaa'ah. They have also been called Al-Jamaa'ah alone which has been reported from the Prophet by Mu'aawiyyah who said: The Messenger said: "Indeed this Ummah will split into seventy three sects and all of them are in the Fire except for one and that is the Jamaa'ah" [10]
Ahl ul-Hadeeth
They have also been named 'Ahl ul-Hadeeth (the People of Hadeeth) as they take from the Sunnah of the Messenger that which has been reported, and what is contained therein of knowledge/cognizance, and are the followers of his guidance outwardly and inwardly. The Ahl us-Sunnah, therefore are the Ahl ul-Hadeeth with respect to this meaning.
The naming of the Ahl us-Sunnah, At-Taaifatul Mansoorah, and Al-Firqat un-Naajiyyah with Ahl ul-Hadeeth is a matter which is elaborate and extensive in the view of the Pious Predecessors of this Ummah because it is a requirement of the various texts, of the description of the actual state of affairs and of factual evidence. This has been established from Ibn Al-Mubaarak, Ibn Madeenee, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imaam Bukhaaree, Ahmad ibn Sinaan and others besides them (radiallaahu-anhum)[11].
Many of the scholars have named them (the Ahl us-Sunnah) in a similar manner and have introduced their books, compositions and compilations with this name.
Al-Firqat un-Naajiyyah
And also: the 'Firqat un-Naajiyah (The Saved Sect) ': this is the one which is rescued from the Fire due to its adherence to the Sunnah of the Messenger. This (term) has been taken from the hadeeth: "And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise and that is the Jamaa'ah"[12]
At-Taa'ifat ul-Mansoorah
And this is why many amongst the Pious Predecessors and the Scholars of the Deen name the Ahl us-Sunnah with 'Al-Firqat un-Naajiyyah' and those who are clearly upon the Truth with 'At-Taa'ifat ul-Mansoorah' (the Aided Group) .
These are the ones whom the Messenger himself has named due to his saying:
"There will never cease to be a small group (Taai'fah) from my Ummah clearly upon the Truth until the Hour is established"[13]
Al-Jamaa'ah
They are also called 'The Jamaa'ah' and sometimes 'Ahl ul-Jamaa'ah'as has preceded.
The (word) Jamaa'ah, which is the Jamaa'ah of the Ahl us-Sunnah, those who come together and unite themselves upon the Truth, is taken from the word Ijtimaa' (an assembly, gathering) and that is the opposite of Furqa (separateness, disunity). The word Jamaa'ah contains the meaning of 'Ijmaa' which is 'Ittifaaq' (unanimous agreement) the opposite of which is 'Ikhtilaaf' (disagreement). The Ahl us-Sunnah have been described as those who have united themselves upon the Usool ud-Deen [14], have agreed upon them and have united upon the scholars of the Deen.
Ahl ul-Ittibaa'
They have also been described with 'Ahl ul-Ittibaa'' (The People of Adherence and Imitation) because it is from their way: to follow the Aathaar (tracks) of the Messenger outwardly and inwardly, to follow the path of the first and foremost of this Ummah from among the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar [17] and to follow the advice of the Messenger when he said: "You must follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto it (my Sunnah) and bite onto it with your molars. Beware of the newly invented matters for every bid'ah is misguidance... "[15]
*Footnotes:
See [Mukhtaar us-Suhhaah] p. 317 and Ibn Mandhoor's [Lisaan ul-Arab]
13/220 -228
See [Al-Wasiyyat ul-Kubraa Fee Aqeedatu Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah] p23,
[Sharh Aqeedat ul-Waasitiyyah] by Muhammad Khaleel Kharraas p.16, and [Sharh
Aqeedat ut-Tahaawiyyah] p.33.
See [Al-Amr bil-Ma'roof wan-Nahee anil-Munkar] by Ibn Taymiyah p.77.
See [Lisaan ul-Arab] 8/53-60.
See [Al-I'tisaam] by Ash-Shaatibee 1/23 and [Sharh Aqeedatil-Waasitiyyah] by Haras p.16-17 and [Sharh Aqeedat it-Tahaawiyyah] p.33
See [Sharh ul-Aqeedat il-Tahaawiyyah] by Abi Izz al-Hanafee p.330 and [Risaa'il fil-Aqeedah] p.53.
The term Bid'ah is meant for every belief, speech, action, which is not from the Messenger and His companions and has no precedence from them. This term is relevant in every age and era and will remain so until the Day of Judgement. Allaah has provided every generation with trustworthy ones who will preserve His Deen
Abu Umaamah reports that the Prophet "My Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects, seventy-two in the Fire and one in Paradise" We said. Describe them to us. He said: "As-Suwaad al-A'dham (the Great Majority)"
Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee in [Sharh Usool il-I'tiqaad] and Ibn Abee Aasim in [as-Sunnah]. The Great Majority here does not refer to the great majority of people in every age and era. Rather this is specific for the era of the Companions and the Taabi'een.
Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood said: "The Jamaa'ah is whatever (agrees) with the Truth. Even if it is only one person”. Ishaaq ibn Raahawaayah (d.238) said: "If you were to ask the ignorant people about the Great Majority they would say: The majority of people. They do not know that al-Jamaa'ah is the Scholar who clings to the narrations from the Prophet and his way. So whoever is with him (the scholar) and follows him, then he is al-Jamaa'ah" Reported by Abu Nu'aym in [Hilyat ul-Awliyaah].
In the era of the Companions and their Followers the Taabi'een the Great Majority in that time were upon the Truth. This was due to the fact that people were in nearness to the time of the Messenger and the Messenger attested to the credibility of the best of generations. As for those who came after them then the fact that they are many is not to be considered due to the generality of the texts which give evidence that evil will increase and spread amongst the people, the Ummah will split into seventy-three sects and that Islaam will return as something strange.
The Aided Group: a synonymous term for Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah.
Reported by Ibn Abee Aasim in Al-Kitaab was-Sunnah. Al-Albaanee said: Hadeeth Saheeh.
The addition 'As-Saalih' means 'righteous'. See footnote 5 which has preceded for an explanation of this point.
Ibn Al Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) said: "According to me, they are the Ashaab ul-hadeeth" Imaam Bukhaaree said: Ibn al-Madini said: "They are the Ashaab ul-Hadeeth (People of Hadeeth)" Ahmad ibn Hanbal said: "If the Aided Group is not the Ashaab ul-Hadeeth then I have no idea who it is!" Shaikh Abdul Qaadir al-Jilaani said: "As for the Saved Sect it is the Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah and there is no name for the Ahl us-Sunnah except one and that is the Ashaab ul-Hadeeth"
Reported by Abu Daawood in his [Sunan] in the 'Book of Sunnah' no. 4597
Reported by Muslim, Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah and Al-Haakim - Saheeh
Usool ud-Deen: The Fundamentals of the Religion. This refers to the matters of belief (Aqeedah), including the manner of belief in Allaah Azzawajall and all that is due to him from the meanings of Tawheed regarding His Essence, His Names and His Attributes
Muhaajireen: Those who emigrated from Makkah to Medinah with the Messenger. Ansaar. Those who received the emigrants in Medinah and aided them.
Reported by Ibn Aasim in his [Book of Sunnah] Al-Albaanee said: Its isnaad is Saheeh and its narrators, all of them, are trustworthy.*
[/QUOTE]
Re: Sunni??
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
Fiqh 4.85
Can Women Visit Graves
Imam Malik and some Hanafi scholars, and, according to one report from Ahmad, most of the scholars hold it permissible for women to visit graves. This is based on the following hadith from 'Aishah, "What should I say to them, O Messenger of Allah when visiting graves?" As mentioned above Abdallah ibn Abi Mulaikah is also reported to have said, "Once 'Aishah returned after visiting the graveyard. I asked, 'O Mother of the Believers, where have you been?' She said: 'I went out to visit the grave of my brother Abd ar-Rahman.' I asked her: 'Didn't the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prohibit visiting graves?' She said, 'Yes, he did forbid visiting graves during the early days, but later on he ordered us to visit them'." This is reported by Al-Hakim and Al-Baihaqi, who also remarked that this hadith was narrated only by Bistam bin Muslim al-Basri. Adh-Dhahabi said that it is a sound hadith.
Anas reported: "The Prophet, peace be upon him, saw a woman crying by the grave of her son, and said to her, 'Fear Allah, and be patient.' She replied, 'What do you care about my tragedy?' When he went away, someone told her, 'Indeed, that was the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. ' The woman felt extremely sorry and she immediately went to the Prophet's house, where she did not find any guards. She called out: 'O Messenger of Allah! I did not recognize you.' The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, 'Verily patience is needed at the time of the first affiction'.'' (Bukhari and Muslim) This supports the argument in favor of the permissibility of women visiting graves, for the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw her at the grave and did not show his disapproval of it.
The purpose of visiting graves is to remember the Hereafter, which is something that both men and women need. Men are by no means more in need of this reminder than women. Some scholars disliked it for women to visit graves as they are less patient and too emotional. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "May Allah curse the women who are frequent visitors of the graves." (Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi, who said that it is a sound hadith)
Al-Qurtubi said: "The curse mentioned in this hadith applies only to those women who visit graves frequently. The reason for this curse lies perhaps in the fact that it involves infringement of the rights of the husband, and leads to adornment and exhibition of their beauty to strangers, and shouting, yelling, and other similar things." It may be said that, "If no such harm is feared from women visiting graves, then there is no valid reason for preventing them from visiting graves, for indeed remembrance of death is something that both men and women equally need." Commenting on Al-Qurtubi's view, Ash-Shawkani said, "This statement may form the basis for reconciling apparently contradictory hadith
Re: Sunni??
Musicmaniac Sahiba, I don’t want a “beef” with you; its just that in your previous post you were being presumptious with out knowing all the facts.
I always promote healthy debate and I don’t hold any ill feelings from our previous discussions.
Khair, looking forward to more of our interactions.
Allah Nigheban
Re: Sunni??
Further, Ismailies have not been declared non-muslims by any of the Islamic countries.
Do you have to be religious to post on religion forum...
Re: Sunni??
^ atleast have basic knowledge of islam
Re: Sunni??
I normally avoid threads which are purely dedicated to Islamic thought, though may be if somebody can elaborate on What's the difference between Shias and Sunnis and other groups within Islam. This may get answered.........
Re: Sunni??
The main difference
Shias believe that Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) was the succesor of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and that he was chosen by Allah (SWT) to lead the Muslims.
Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr was the succesor of the Holy Prophet (SAW) because he was elected by the Muslims to be the Prophet's succesor. (if I am mistaken - someone please correct me)
WaSalaam
Re: Sunni??
hey i just found out i am a sunni, dont really know whats the difference 
Re: Sunni??
In that case how would we(i) learn to share and share to learn. I am trying to learn the basics and find it difficult to know: what to learn where to learn, what are the right questions I am suppose to ask? and the possible right answers.
people say Islam is simple may be it is simple ..... I guess its just me
Re: Sunni??
Can i ask questions regarding your post???
Re: Sunni??
The Shias believe in 12 Imams after the Prophet (saw), Sunnis believe in 4 caliphs as successors.
Re: Sunni??
Good point.....
Re: Sunni??
These are such minor differences between shia and sunni and yet there is fighting over such issues.
Re: Sunni??
I agree.
It is quite sad that such large differences have errupted between sects in Islam, but there is not much we can do now except try and understand the other party's story.
It is also interesting that we have difference when it comes to the Prophet's life when all the Muslims were united. For example, we can't even agree on the Prophet's birthdate!
WaSalaam
Re: Sunni??
I think (s)he means in life, not in this thread, but I may be wrong
WaSalaam