Sunni Muslims deny the existence of a supreme leader, or an Imam who must be descended from Mohammed. Instead any pious Muslim can hold that role. There must be an 'ijma' (conscensus) of religious authority. Sunni Islam is uncompromisingly conservative, monotheistic and legalistic in its adherence to the sharia law. It is also highly practical and rejects the kind of mysticism to be found in certain of the Shi'ite sects.
