An Overview of the Characteristics of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah (Part Four)
The Term Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah in the Quran and Sunnah
Another part of the hadiths emphasizes the importance of following the Companions of the Prophet. For instance, the Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “Take my way and the way of my successors as necessary and hold on to it firmly, and avoid innovative methods and actions.”
He also said: “The Children of Israel were divided into seventy-two groups, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three groups, all of which will go to the Fire except one group.” They then asked: “Who are in this group, O Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?” He replied: “Those who choose the way of me and my companions.”
The Holy Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, also stated: “Allah will not make my Ummah united in aberration, and Allah’s help is with the congregation.” The term “Jama’ah” is derived from this hadith.
Furthermore, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “My companions are like the stars in the sky; whoever follows them will be guided.”
This hadith has been critiqued by various imams of hadith; some have considered it weak, while others have deemed it authentic. Allama Muhammad Abdul Hai Laknavi, may Allah have mercy on him, examined all these sayings in detail in the book “Tohfat Al-Akhyar Be Ihiya Sunnat Sayyid Al-Abrar.” However, another hadith on this theme, with a valid source, is narrated in the book “Sahih Muslim.” In this hadith, it is stated: “The stars represent the security of the sky; when the stars disappear, the sky will reach what was prophesied. My existence is security for my companions, so when I leave this world, what was promised (prophesied) to my companions will come true. My companions are security for my Ummah; when my companions leave this world, what I prophesied for my Ummah will be fulfilled.”
In this statement, the Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, indicated that the existence of his companions is a source of safety and guidance for the Ummah. This guidance is possible if the Ummah follows their ways and takes them as role models.
Regarding the following of the companions, some people raise the question that, considering some companions of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, committed sins and did inappropriate things, they cannot be regarded as role models.
In response to this doubt, we must clarify that Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah acknowledge two significant points regarding the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:
1. Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah believe that none of the companions of the Prophet of Islam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are infallible. If one of the companions commits a sin, it does not mean that anyone can follow him in that sin. They also believe that, according to the saying of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “No one has the right to follow the creation if it means disobeying the Creator.”
2. With this understanding, all the companions of the Prophet of Islam, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are regarded as being pardoned and forgiven by Allah, in accordance with the verses of the Qur’an. Therefore, Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah consider all the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to be righteous without exception.
In the absence of an explicit ruling from the Qur’an, Hadith, and the actions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Companions of the Prophet are regarded as followable, though such cases are scarce. Thus, the actions and sayings of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, are viewed as justified over reason and analogy, and are accepted as evidence by Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al-Jama’ah.
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