Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jam’aah
We hear this phrase thrown around a lot these days– “ahlul sunnah wal jam’aah” (literally, “the people of the sunnah and the jam’ah/group”). But what does it really mean, and who are the people who are TRULY ahlul sunnah wal jam’aah?
To find out the answer, we must ask those who defined those terms. Not your friendly neighborhood shaykh or imam; not your mom, your dad, your grandfather, or his grandfather; not even the tabi’oon, or the companions. Rather, Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) was the first person to define this term.
In one hadith, the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “After my death, you will see many differences (in Islam); so I command you to follow my sunnah and the sunnah of the khulafa rashideen (Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali, (رضالله عنهم)) [Abu Dawud]
So, that defines ahlul sunnah, the people of the sunnah; what about the people of the jam’aah?
In one hadith, the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “My ummah will split into 73 groups, and all will guide to Hellfire, EXCEPT one.” The companions asked, who is that one group? He (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “The Jam’aah.” [Ibn Majah]
So put it together–sunnah + jam’aah = ahlul sunnah wal jam’aah!
Because the first group to deviate, deviated after the death of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)–the ones who killed ‘Uthman (رضالله عنه). The companions, the BEST generation of humankind, called that group the Khawarij, and called themselves Ahlul Sunnah.
May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) make us among that ONE group of Muslims that enters Jannah, ameen ya rabbal ‘alameen!
References
Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.
From: IlmFruits
AA,
I am requesting a reference to the hadith “Follow my sunnah and the sunnah of the Khulafa Rashideen.”
Which collection can I find it in and where?
Thank you.
WS
Walaikumsalaah warahmatullah,
Here is some more info in this regard:
Basis and Importance of Unity by Sh. Yasir Qadhi
http://islamqa.com/en/ref/604
Al-’Irbaad ibn Saariyah, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Would any of you think, reclining on his couch, that Allaah would only describe what is forbidden in the Qur’aan? I tell you, by Allaah, that I have warned and commanded and prohibited things that are as important as what is in the Qur’aan, if not more so.” (Reported by Abu Dawud, Kitaab al-Khiraj wa’l-imaarah wa’l-fay’).
(b) Abu Dawud also reported from al-’Irbaad ibn Saariyah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that “the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) led us in prayer one day, then he turned to us and exhorted us strongly . . . (he said), ‘Pay attention to my sunnah (way) and the way of the Rightly-guided Khaleefahs after me, adhere to it and hold fast to it.’” (Saheeh Abi Dawud, Kitaab al-Sunnah).
(3) The scholars’ consensus (ijmaa’) affirming the importance of the Sunnah.
Al-Shaafi’i, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: “I do not know of anyone among the Sahaabah and Taabi’een who narrated a report from the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) without accepting it, adhering to it and affirming that this was sunnah. Those who came after the Taabi’een, and those whom we met did likewise: they all accepted the reports and took them to be sunnah, praising those who followed them and criticizing those who went against them. Whoever deviated from this path would be regarded by us as having deviated from the way of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the scholars who followed them, and would be considered as one of the ignorant.
Jazakum Allah.