Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah

1. Meaning of the words

• This expression has been used in the Muslim community from the time of the Companions until today.

In Islamic usage: Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah = those who follow the way of life of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions, based on the beliefs they held.

• The Prophet ﷺ said those who will enter Paradise are "those who are on the way I and my Companions were on." → this points to Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah.

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2. The essence of the aqeedah of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah – eight features

(1) Allah

• The Creator of everything; He has no beginning and no end.
• He has power over all things; He is perfect; He knows everything.
• The Ever-Living; the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing; the One worthy of worship.
• Free of all needs, unique, without equal.
• He does not dwell in anything; He does not unite or merge with anything.
• What He wills happens; what He does not will does not happen.
• He alone gives rizq (provision), cures illness and removes hardship.
• The believers will be blessed with seeing Him in the Hereafter.
• When He wills something, the command "Kun" (Be) is enough, and it is.

(2) The angels

• Allah created the angels from light.
• Only Allah knows their number.
• They are engaged in various tasks; Jibril (AS) is the foremost of them.
• By Allah's command they look after the welfare of His servants.
• Devils (shayatin) and jinn are also among Allah's creations.

(3) The Quran

• The Quran is the kalam (speech) of Allah.
• Before it He revealed many scriptures; after the Quran was revealed as the final scripture, they are no longer valid.
• It has been preserved from the time it was revealed until today; Allah Himself has guaranteed its protection.

(4) Risalah (messengership)

• It is true that prophets and messengers were sent from time to time.
• Through them Allah gave commands and prohibitions.
• They were given mu'jizat (miracles).
• They have the quality of 'ismah and are protected from sins and errors.
• We must believe in all of them without any distinction or discrimination.
• Muhammad ﷺ is the final prophet; messengership ended with him; no prophet or messenger will come after him.

(5) The Hereafter

• There is a life after death; it begins in the grave.
• The questioning in the grave, and its comfort and torment, are true.
• There will also be a reckoning in the Hereafter. The Sirat, the Mizan, Paradise and Hell are true and lasting, and have already been created.
• In the Hereafter, the Prophet ﷺ, the other prophets, the angels and the righteous can make shafa'ah (intercession) – only with Allah's permission.

(6) The Companions

• The Companions are the best of the believers; they hold a high rank next to the prophets.
• Among them are many who were given the good news of Paradise.
• It is necessary to honour and love the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's ﷺ family) and the Ummahat al-Mu'minin (the Prophet's wives).
• All the Companions are trustworthy and honest; finding fault with them and criticising them is a sin.

(7) Sin

• A Muslim who commits a major sin is a sinner, but not a kafir.
• Even if he enters Hell, he will not stay there forever.
• If Allah wills, He will forgive a sinning believer and admit him to Paradise; if He wills, He will punish him and then admit him to Paradise.
• Calling a Muslim a kafir when he has not done anything that causes kufr or shirk is a grave wrong.
• What causes kufr:
  • regarding a sin as not a sin
  • regarding the haram as not haram
  • mocking the Shari'ah
• Shafa'ah is real; those qualified for it can intercede according to their rank.

(8) The awliya'

• Friends of Allah = the awliya'.
• According to their closeness to Allah, He gives a special rank to whom He wills.
• They are given karamat (marvels).
• However high a spiritual level a servant reaches, he is never exempt from the basic religious duties.

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3. Key Arabic terms (the textbook list)

The terms "as-salaf as-salih", "Ash'ariyyah" and "Maturidiyyah" appear only in the textbook's word list; the lesson does not explain them in detail – brief meanings are given here.

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Quick revision

• Children of Israel – 71 sects; this ummah – 73 sects; only one saved – "the way I and my Companions are on" (Ibn Majah).
• Sunnah = the way; Jama'ah = the main body.
• Allah: no beginning or end; dwells in nothing; "Kun"; the believers will see Him in the Hereafter.
• Angels: created from light; Jibril the foremost.
• The Quran: Allah's speech; earlier scriptures no longer valid.
• Risalah: mu'jizat, 'ismah; Muhammad ﷺ the final prophet.
• Hereafter: questioning in the grave; Sirat, Mizan, Paradise, Hell; shafa'ah with permission.
• Sin: a major sinner is not a kafir; not in Hell forever.
• Awliya': karamat; no exemption from basic duties.