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Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jam’aah
August 28, 2007 on 8:00 am | In Aqeeda, Islam| By Ilm Seeker
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!
Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.
Related Posts:- The Status of the Sunnah
- Tafseer by the Sunnah: Uloom ul-Quran
- Conquest: History of the Khulafa
- Understanding Fiqh: Sources of Islamic Law (Pt. 6)
- Following vs. Obeying
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[…] 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 […]
Pingback by QABEELAT HAYL » Blog Archive » Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah — August 28, 2007 #
Please correct this line:
“Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) “
Comment by SJ — August 28, 2007 #
Jazakumullahu khayran, fixed!
Comment by Ilm Seeker — August 29, 2007 #
Assalaamu ‘alykum wa Rahmatullaah
Jazakum Allaahu khayran for your efforts in putting up very beneficial posts mashaaa Allaah.
The definition of Ahl us-sunnah is comprehendable but when you mention about the jamaa’ah, I understand that the one sect that will enter jannah is the one that is the ‘jamaa’ah’ so how do we know which one that is? is it the sect that holds fast the the Qur’aan and sunnah? Does it refer to At-taaifah wal mansoorah?
barak Allaahu feekum
wassalaam
Comment by amatullah51 — August 31, 2007 #
W.salam Wr. Wb.
Yes, you are correct that the term “Jama’ah” refers to ‘At Taifah Al Mansoorah’. At Taifah Al Mansoorah are from the “Al-Firqah an-Naajiyah”.
Briefly the meaning of the two phrases are given below:
Al-Firqah an-Naajiyah: the Saved Sect; all the Muslims fall into this due to the CORRECT I’tiqad (belief/aqeedah) of the Prophet (PBUH) as opposed to all the other religions.
At-Taa’ifah al-Mansoorah: the Victorious Group (Ahl Sunnah Wal Jam’ah); they fall under Al Firqah An-Naajiyah. Insha-Allah, this is the group who won’t be touched by fire (in general except those who are the sinners). This is the VICTORIOUS GROUPS among all those who claim to be Muslims.
For more info, please visit: http://islamlecture.com/attaaifah.htm
also here are the notes for the lecture series: http://islamlecture.com/documents/attaifah.doc
(The beautiful thing about this lecture series is that the speaker gives references from the late Imam of Sunnah, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Salih Al ‘Uthaymeen (RA).
If I made any mistake that is from me and the accursed Shaytaan, and if I said anything correct, that is from the Guidance of Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH).
Wassalamu ‘Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
Comment by Clear Guidance — September 1, 2007 #
[…] 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 […]
Pingback by Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jam’aah « Seeker’s Digest — February 4, 2008 #