[addifttiest]

You're talking about Islamic forums in English, right? Because the most successful Arabic Islamic forums out there are controlled by Salafis.

I think Sunniforum is succesful because there aren't many Islamic forums in English on the web in the first place.

And what do you mean there are balanced views and respect for ikhtiliaf madhabi in this forum? If there is any thread that is threatening any ruling of one of the four madhhabs, they simply delete it, or make it inaccessible or uneditable (like it happened to my thread).

And "many knowledgeable people"? When I want to ask difficult questions I have to ask them in Arabic forums.

And yet you're still here, aren't you?

I think the main reason for its success is the humility (and wisdom!) of the moderators and old-timers. People follow their example, and ask with humility and answer with humility. People don't come to SF to arrogantly impose their own views and beliefs, or to attack other people's views. If somebody's nafs momentarily gets the better of them and they get arrogant or agressive, the moderators gently and politely warn them.

People coming with the intention of arguing and attacking either get bored and go away again, or they get restricted or banned by the moderators. So the Sunni peace and good-mannered discussion are maintained =)