Sunnism

It is the first broad branch of Islam. Those, who are the followers of Sunnism, believe that one who has an appropriate education is allowed to be a caliph. Unlike Shiahs they are not anxious about issues of Mohammed, though they believe that one who is going to become a caliph has to be skilful and educated at religion of Islam. Other words caliph has to be wise and healthy one.

The religious attention of Sunnits is concentrated on following the Sunnahs. Those Sunnahs are expression and regulations provided for people by Mohammed the prophet. This branch of Islam appeared in IXth century as a result of face off to Shiism. Though, unlike Shiism the term Sunnism has no strict definition, and so different scientists explain it on their own way.

At first it was the Sunnah about expressions an deeds of Mohammed that was recognized as cornerstone of Sunnism, though with the lapse of time all other Sunnahs of Koran were recognized as so. Sunnah is set of different rules provided for Muslims by Koran. There are norms of behavior for Muslims at any sphere of their lives.

As you can see there is a lot of different between Sunnism and Shiism. Sunnits recognize no imams. Well, they do recognize issues of Mohammed though they don't take them as the only people who are allowed to become caliphs. They believe that caliph has to be provided with a number of abilities but not also be an issue of Mohammed.