Meaning of Ahlus-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'at, The

 

Sunnah

In the language: "a path/way or a course".[1]

Its usage in the Shari'ah: "the guidance which the Messenger and his companions were upon in terms of knowledge, belief, speech and action. This is the Sunnah, the following of which is obligatory, whose adherents have been praised, and whose abandoners have been rebuked[2]. The term 'Sunnah' is also used for the various acts of worship and beliefs, just as everything which is contrary to it is termed 'bid'ah' (innovation)."[3]

Jama'ah

In the language: "[it] is from Ijtima' (a gathering, where people come together, i.e. a unification) and this is the opposite of separation, dispersal. The Jama'ah are a people who have united together on a certain matter/affair."[4]

Its usage in the Shari'ah: "They are the salaf[5] of this Ummah, from among the Companions and the tabi'in (successors of the Companions) and whoever follows them in goodness until the Day of Judgement. They are those who unite themselves upon the Book and the Sunnah and upon their leaders (i.e. their scholars) and those who travel upon that which the Messenger, His Companions and those who followed them in goodness were upon."[6]

Ahlus-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah

"They are those who hold on to the Sunnah of the Messenger, the ones who unite themselves upon that and they are the Companions of the Messenger, the Scholars of Guidance, who follow the Companions and whoever travels upon their path in terms of belief, speech and action until the Day of Judgement[7], while remaining steadfast upon this adherence. They avoid innovating and innovations in whatever place or age/era they may be. They are the ones who will remain uppermost, aided (by Allah) until the Day of Judgement."

So Ahlus-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah have been described with sticking to the Sunnah and [in all circumstances] avoiding / disregarding the invented matters and innovations in the Din (religion).[8]

By the word Jama'ah the totality of Muslims is not meant, nor those who are largest in number or the great majority.[9] This is because the Messenger mentioned that the Ta'ifat ul-Mansurah[10] is a single group from among the seventy three groups.

Other Terms for Ahlus-Sunnah

Ahlus-Sunnah have also been named with other terms and descriptions which have been reported from the Messenger or from the scholars who guide themselves by the Ahlus-Sunnah. So they have been called Ahlus-Sunnah without the annexation of Jama'ah. They have also been called Al-Jama'ah alone which has been reported from the Prophet (by Mu'awiyyah) who said, "Indeed this Ummah will split into seventy three sects and all of them are in the Fire except for one and that is the Jama'ah."[11]

As-Salaf as-Salih[12] and Ahl ul-Athar

The phrase 'as-Salaf as-Salih' (The Righteous Predecessors) is synonymous with Ahl us-Sunnah. Ahl us-Sunnah has also been named 'Ahl ul-Athar' (The People of Narration) meaning: Followers of the Sunnah transmitted from the Messenger and his companions.

Ahlul-Hadith

They have also been named Ahlul-Hadith (the People of Hadith) as they take from the Sunnah of the Messenger that which has been reported, and what is contained therein of knowledge / cognizance, and are the followers of his guidance outwardly and inwardly. The Ahlus-Sunnah, therefore are the Ahlul-Hadith with respect to this meaning.

The naming of the Ahlus-Sunnah, At-Ta'ifat ul-Mansurah, and Al-Firqat un-Najiyyah with Ahlul-Hadith is a matter which is elaborate and extensive in the view of the Salaf of this Ummah because it is a requirement of the various texts, of the description of the actual state of affairs and of factual evidence. This has been established from Ibn Al-Mubarak, Ibn Madini, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Al-Bukhari, Ahmad ibn Sinan and others besides them, may Allah be pleased with them all.[13]

Many of the scholars have named them (Ahlus-Sunnah) in a similar manner and have introduced their books, compositions and compilations with this name. For example the book, 'Aqidat us-Salaf Ashab ul-Hadith (The 'Aqidah of the Salaf, the Companions of Hadith) of Imam Isma'il Sabuni (d. 449H).

Also see Majmu' al-Fatawa of Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 4/9, 95 where he has named Ahlus-Sunnah with Ahlul-Hadith.

Al-Firqat un-Najiyyah

And also the 'Firqat un-Najiyyah' (The Saved Sect): this is the one which is rescued from the Fire due to its adherence to the Sunnah of the Messenger. This (term) has been taken from the hadith, "And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise and that is the Jama'ah."[14]

At-Ta'ifat ul-Mansurah

And this is why many amongst the Salaf and the Scholars of the Din name the Ahlus-Sunnah with 'Al-Firqat un-Najiyyah' and those who are clearly upon the Truth with 'At-Ta'ifat ul-Mansurah' (the Aided Group). These are the ones whom the Messenger himself has named due to his saying, "There will never cease to be a small group (tai'fah) from my Ummah clearly upon the Truth until the Hour is established."[15]

Al-Jama'ah

They are also called the 'Jama'ah' and sometimes 'Ahlul-Jama'ah' as has preceded.

The (word) Jama'ah, which is the Jama'ah of the Ahl us-Sunnah, those who come together and unite themselves upon the Truth, is taken from the word Ijtima' (an assembly, gathering) and that is the opposite of Furqa (separatedness, disunity). The word Jama'ah contains the meaning of ijma' which is ittifaq (unanimous agreement) the opposite of which is ikhtilaf (disagreement). The Ahlus-Sunnah have been described as those who have united themselves upon the Usul ud-Din[16], have agreed upon them and have united upon the scholars of the Din.

Ahlul-Ittiba'

They have also been described with Ahlul-Ittiba' (The People of Adherence and Imitation) because it is from their way to follow the athar (tracks) of the Messenger, outwardly and inwardly, to follow the path of the first and foremost of this Ummah from among the Muhajirin and the Ansar[17] and to follow the advice of the Messenger, peace be upon him, when he said, "You must follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Hold onto it (my Sunnah) and bite onto it with your molars. Beware of the newly invented matters for every bid'ah is misguidance ... "[18]