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Who are Ahl As-Sunnah wa Al-Jama’ah?
Alawi bin Abdul Qadir Al-Saqqaf
General Supervisor of Aldorar Alsanyah
www. d o ra r. n e t
Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be on the Prophet and upon his
family, his Companions, and those who followed him on their guidance.
It is well-known that salvation and prosperity in the worldly life and in the Hereafter
are dependent upon following the truth and treading upon the path of Ahl as-Sunnah
wa al-Jama’ah. However, the situation has become such that every person claims to be
a part of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah, while (other) people seek to reclaim this noble
title – alleging that it was taken from them centuries ago. Due to this, it has become
necessary for the people of Islamic knowledge to clarify this term and this title. Also, to
explain who it applies to, and to disclose the characteristics of the ones who are entitled
to be described by it. In the following words, one can find an explanation regarding
some of the distinct attributes of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah and their characteristics;
it also contains a standard or criterion which will help the Muslim recognize who Ahl
As-Sunanh wa Al-Jama’ah are, so that he can pursue (the path) they pursued and travel
upon their way, and adhere to their manhaj (methodology) – in order to be included in
their group. The purpose of these words is not to compile the principles and beliefs of
Ahl As-Sunnah wa Al-Jama’ah, as one can expect to find that in the books of ‘Aqeedah;
rather, the intent here is to acquaint the reader with the differences between Ahl As-
Sunnah wa Al-Jama’ah and the other sects, and to understand what distinguishes them
from the others.
The word Sunnah in the name means what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) was upon – from his knowledge, actions, beliefs, guidance and manners.
It refers to everything he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came with.
The word Jama’ah is connected to the word Sunnah. Al-Jama’ah are the Companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and those who follow them
proficiently, and it includes those who traverse on their path and follow their course.
Thus, Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah are the most keen in following the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and knowing and understanding his affairs,
and most of them are in agreement with the manhaj of the Sahabah (may Allah be
pleased with them). This does not mean that whoever claims to be upon the manhaj of
Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah – by naming his faction “Salafee”, or if he names his
group “Ahl al-Hadeeth”, or “Ahl al-Athar” – that he is as so. What is taken into account
is their manhaj, their devotion to following it, and their adherence to it – not merely
creating names and their popularity.
Thus, all of them claim this; however, their affiliation to this title is not considered
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valid from anyone except for the one who establishes the forthcoming attributes and
characteristics. Thus, these characteristics distinguish between one who fulfills the title
(with his actions) and between one who merely claims to be a part of it, while in fact
he deviates from it. I have outlined these characteristics into paragraphs in order to
facilitate its understanding, comprehension and its implementation – insha Allah ta’ala.
1) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah: their source for their core beliefs is the Book of
Allah and the Sunnah (narrations) of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him). Also, what the Salaf as-Salih (pious predecessors) were upon and how they
understood the texts of the two revelations (Quran and hadeeths). Thus, they do not
give precedence to intellect, nor kashf, nor (their personal) perception, nor dreams over
the texts. They also do not put forth the words of a shaykh or a walee over the words of
Allah, may He be exalted, nor over the words of His Messenger (peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him).
2) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah do not attribute their beliefs to a particular person
nor to a particular sect; on the contrary, their attribution of their beliefs is to the Sunnah
and the Salaf; therefore, they do not attribute their beliefs to al-Ash’aree, nor to al-
Matreedee, nor to al-Jahm, nor to al-Ja’d, nor to Zayd, nor to ‘Ubayd, nor do they
attribute themselves to the Mu’tazilah, nor to al-Murjiah, nor to al-Qadariyyah. They
only attribute themselves to the Sunnah and to the Sahabah.
3) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah do not attribute the matters of manners and
purification of the soul to a person nor to an order (group). Thus, they do not attribute
them to al-Jeelanee, nor to ar-Rifa’ee, nor to al-Qadiree, nor to at-Teejanee, nor to
the Naqshabandee order, nor to the ‘Alawiyyah order, nor to the Shadhiliyyah, nor
to other than them. Rather, the source of their conduct, purification (of the soul), and
manners is the one who said: “I was only sent to perfect good manners”, and whose
“character was the Quran”, may peace and blessings be upon him. Just like they
don’t distinguish themselves from the rest of the Ummah with a name in matters of
the principles of the religion except with the name as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah, they do
not distinguish themselves in matters of personal conduct and purifying the soul with a
name except as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.
4) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah worship Allah – as He commanded – with devotion
and concentration, and by humbling themselves to Him; they do not innovate acts of
worship on their own, nor according to their desires, nor according to other people.
They also do not worship Him by striking and hitting, beating the drums, dancing, and
swaying back and forth.
5) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah do not direct any act of worship to other than Allah,
may He be exalted, such as du’a, seeking assistance, slaughter, making vows, or other
acts of worship, as is the case with some of the groups and sects, as opposed to Ahl
as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.
6) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah encourage the visitation of graves; that is because
it makes one remember the Hereafter, and for one to send peace on its inhabitants, and
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to make du’a for them; not for the purpose of seeking blessings from them, nor to make
du’a to the person in the grave instead of Allah, the Most High, nor to seek assistance
from (the one in the grave), nor to wipe one’s hands on the grave, or make tawaf around
it, or offering a sacrifice next to it, and other such acts.
7) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah confirm all the attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall that
He confirms for Himself and what His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) confirmed for Him – without denying any of them nor distorting them (to
mean something else). As for the rest of the groups, they deny His attributes; or they
confirm some of them and misinterpret others.
8) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah hold the belief that eeman (faith) comprises of both
speech and action, and that it increases and decreases. They do not separate the actions
of the limbs from eeman like the Murjiah; nor do they declare the people of the Qiblah
(i.e. Muslims) as disbelievers due to misdeeds or due to major sins like the Khawarij.
9) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah do not declare disbelievers those who oppose them
from other sects nor due to mere differences; an exception is for groups and sects that
have been formed upon principles of disbelief, such as the Isma’eelis and the Nusaris.
10) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah declare themselves free from the disbelievers,
atheists, polytheists, and apostates – while being hostile towards them and detesting
them. On the other hand, they love the believers and they are loyal to them while
assisting them – all according to the level of their eeman and righteous actions.
11) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah love the Sahabah (Companions) of the Messenger
of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and they believe all of them were
people of honor and uprightness. They seek nearness to Allah by loving them and
loving the household of the Messenger, including his wives who are the mothers of the
believers. They declare themselves free from those who curse them and show hostility
towards them; they also absolve themselves from those who go to extremes concerning
them by raising their status over being humans, or claiming they were infallible.
12) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah take the opinions concerning Fiqh which are in
accordance with the consensus of scholars and what is proved by the Quran and the
authentic Sunnah. They also hold into consideration the sayings of the Sahabah, the
Tabi’een (Successors), and the generations that followed them – and they follow the
senior scholars from the Muslims such as: Abu Haneefah, Malik, ash-Shafi’ee, and
Ahmad, including those who followed them from the scholars and those who specialized
in Fiqh and the imams (of the Ummah); they were those (scholars) that are followed
and who follow the Sunnah, and who are known in the Ummah for their virtue and
goodness.
13) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah: the Muslims are all equal concerning the obligations
of the Sharee’ah; they do not recognize generality and exclusivity in regards to acts of
worship, nor the elite (acts of worship). Nor do they recognize a difference between
(the rules of the) Sharee’ah and the implementation of it. On the contrary, the religion
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is one according to them, and it is one legislation from One Lord, and it was revealed
to one Prophet for all people.
14) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah are the people of mediation and balance in
regards to everything. They are in the middle, between extremism and laxity, between
excessiveness and negligence, and between over simplification and over-doing.
15) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah are of the most keen in unifying upon the truth
and unifying the ranks; from their core beliefs is: performing Jihad; they also believe
in establishing (regular) prayers and Jumu’ah (prayers) behind a righteous person
or disobedient one. They also consider the validity of praying behind the people of
innovation and those that commit acts of disobedience. Thus, they are the most keen of
people in unifying and those who hate division the most. A person who attributes himself
to (this title) can fall into making a mistake due to him not understanding the manjah
correctly or how to apply it; thus, not everyone who attributes themselves to (Ahl as-
Sunnah) have been brought up on their principles or follow their path (correctly). The
reason being that the honor of this title has caused people who are not actually from
them to enter among them.
16) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah has among them an ‘alim (scholar), faqeeh (jurist),
khateeb (orator), and da’ee (caller to Islam). Also included is he who commands the
good and forbids the evil, along with a doctor, engineer, merchant, and a worker – a
wealthy person or a poor person, a black person and a white person, an Arab and a
non-Arab – thus, their manhaj is not limited to a specific group of people. They do not
distinguish between social classes, nor do they make religion, knowledge, and lineage,
or authority a monopoly over a people while excluding others. They also establish the
belief of the saying of Allah: {Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the
one with the most taqwa} (al-Hujurat 13).
17) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah has among them a worshiper and an ascetic; also,
among them is a sinner and also one who commits major sins; thus, they are not
infallible or protected from committing mistakes and sins. These mistakes and sins do
not expel them from being part of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah; in fact, they might
even fall into some fragments of innovation. However, how quick is their return to the
truth when they come to know of it. Thus, this does not expel them from being part of
Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah.
18) Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah are in pursuit of the truth and they show mercy
to the creation, but they hate sins while being kind to the ones who commit them.
Likewise, they detest innovations but they feel pity for those who commit them.
Thus, these are the people named Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah,
and these are some of their features and characteristics. We ask
Allah by His grace and favor to be included among them, and to
unite the Ummah upon what they united upon
