An Overview of the Characteristics of Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al- Jama’ah (Part Two)
The Term Ahl al-Sunnah wa-al- Jama’ah in the Quran and Sunnah
The term “Ahl al-Sunnah wa Jama’ah” is derived from the authentic hadiths of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and the meanings expressed in the verses of the Holy Qur’an. Numerous verses in the Holy Qur’an encourage adherence to the Prophet of Islam and his companions. Some of these verses include:
1. «يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ» Translation: “O believers, obey Allah and the Prophet.”
2. «وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَاحْذَرُوا»Translation: “Obey Allah and the Prophet and be cautious [against disobeying Allah and the Prophet].”
Regarding the following of the Sahabah (Jama’ah), may Allah be pleased with them, Allah Almighty states:
1. «وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ» Translation: “The pioneers of the first emigrants and the Ansar, and those who followed them with goodness—Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah.”
2. «وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا» Translation: “Whoever opposes the Prophet after the path of guidance has been made clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, we will leave him to his chosen path and thrust him into hell — and what a terrible fate it is.”
Undoubtedly, the true believers are the companions of the Prophet of Islam. Allah Almighty designates them as true believers when He says:
3. «لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ» Translation: “Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.”
4. «وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الرَّاشِدُونَ» Translation: “But Allah has made faith beloved to you and has adorned it in your hearts, and He has made disbelief, disobedience, and sin appear ugly to you. Those are the rightly guided.”
