The Sources of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah & Their Methodology of Deriving Rule
One of the basic principles of the 'aqeedah of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah is that with regard to sources and methods of deriving ruling, they follow that which is narrated in the Book of Allah and the saheeh Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) both inwardly and outwardly, and they submit to it. Allah says:
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error. " - Qur'an 33:36
The prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"I am leaving with you two things, and you will never go astray so long as you adhere to them: the BOOK of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger". - Saheeh narrated by Al-Haakim
Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah do not say the Book of Allah and then the Sunnah of His Messenger, rather, both together, because the Sunnah is to be taken together with the Book of Allah, and because Allah has enjoined obedience to His Messenger and his Sunnah explains what Allah meant (in the Qur'an).
After that, Ahl as Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah follow the way of the Sahaabah, the Muhaajireen and Ansaar in general, and the Rightly-Guided Caliphs in particular because the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) specifically enjioined the follwoing the Rightly Guidede Caliphs, then they follow those who came after them in the first and best generations. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the way of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Hold on to it and cling firmly to it (literally. bite onto it with your teeth). And beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation (bid'ah) and every innovation is a going astray " - Saheeh sunane abu dawood.
On this basis, the reference piont for Ahl as Sunnah in cases of conflict is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. Allah say:
"O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad ), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination." - Qur'an 4:59
The companions of the Messenger of Allah are the reference point for Ahl as Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah in understanding the Quran and Sunnah. They do not accept any analogy personal opinion, mystical view or opinion of a "Shaykh" or "Imam" if it contradicts the Quran and Sunnah, because the religion was perfected during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah . Allah says
"This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion" - Qur'an (5:3)
Ahl as Sunnah wal Jammaha do not give the words of anyone precedence over the words of Allah and His Messenger. Allah says:
O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), and fear Allâh. Verily! Allâh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing - Quran 49:1
They know that making a decision in advance before Allah and His Messenger is a kind of speaking about Allah without knowledge and it is part of the lots of the Shaytaan.
Correct thinking, in their view, is in accordance with the sound texts of shari'ah (i.e. Quran or transmitted reports), and if there appears to be a conflict, they give precedence to the reports, thus resolving the matter, because the texts do not say anything that is irrational, although it may be beyond comprehension. Reason accepts everything that the texts say, not the other way round.
They do not undermine the position of reason, for reason forms the basis of accountability. But they say that reason cannot take precedence over shari'ah. This is why Ahl as Sunnah are so called, because of their adherence to, following of and absolute submission to the guidance of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
Allah says:
But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islâmic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allâh? Verily! Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn - Qur'an (28:50)
After the Quran and Sunnah, Ahl as Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah follow that of which the scholars of the ummah are unanimously agreed (i.e., ijmaa' or scholarly consensus).
The prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Allah will not cause my ummah to unite on misguidance. The hand of Allah is with the jamaa'ah (the main body of the Muslims), and whoever deviates will end up in Hell" - Saheeh Tirmidhi
This ummah is divinely protected against uniting on falsehood and it is impossible for them to agree on forsaking the truth.
Ahl as Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah do not believe that anyone is infallible apart from the Messenger of Allah and they think that with regard to matters that are unclear, one must engage in ijtihaad (individual reasoning based on shar'i evidence) as far as is necessary. At the same time, they do not blindly support the opinion of anyone unless his words are in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. They believe that the mujtahid may make mistakes and get things right; if he gets it right he will have two rewards, the reward for ijtihaad and the reward for getting it right; if he makes a mistake he will have the reward for ijtihaad only. In their view, differences of opinion in matters that are subject to ijtihaad does not mean that they should become enemies or forsake one another, rather, they love one another, befriend one another and pray behind one another, despite their differences of opinion in some minor issues.
They do not oblige any Muslim to follow the madhhab of a particular faqeeh, but at them same time, they do not see anything wrong with that so long as one is following on the basis of understanding and not blindly imitating (Taqleed). The Muslims should move from one madhhab to another depending on the strength of the evidence. If the seeker of knowledge (taalib 'ilm) is qualified and able to know the evidence of the Imams, he must act in accordance with it, and move from the madhhab of one Imaam concerning one issue to the madhhab of another Imam concerning the same issue if that Imam has stronger evidence and is more correct with regard to that issue. It is not permissible to accept the opinion of anyone without knowing that his evidence is, because in that case a person becomes a muqallid or imitator. Rather, he must do his utmost to examine the differences in order to find out which view is most likely to be correct. If the unable to decide which is more correct, then he comes under the same ruling as a common man and must ask the scholars.
The common man who is unable to examine the evidence has no madhhab of his own, rather his madhhab is that of his mufti (deliverer of legal rulings). He must ask those who have knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah. Allah says:
So ask of those who know the Scripture, if you know not - Qur'an (16:43)
Ahl as Sunnah wal jamaah believe that understanding of Islam cannot be complete or proper unless one knows and acts upon the knowledge. Whoever acquires a gread deal of knowledge but does not act upon it or is not guided by the teachings of the Prophet and does not act in accordance with the Sunnah; is not a faqeeh.
(Collected from Islamic beliefs A Brief Introduction to the 'Aqeedah of Ahl asSunnah wal Jama'ah by 'Abd-Allah ibn 'Abd al-Hameed al-Athari)
See also the following - http://calltoislam.com
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