1- The Principles of Ahl al-Sunnah in Aqeedah and Religious Matters
The principle of Ahl al-Sunnah in aqeedah and religious matters is the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger, and the complete adherence to the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs who came after him, peace be upon him. The evidence for this is the statement of Allah Almighty:
قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'”
He also said:
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ تَوَلَّى فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian.”
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا
“And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from.”
Although this verse apparently relates to spoils of war, it is primarily connected with Shariah matters, and also because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to say:
« أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيْثِ كِتَابُ اللّٰهِ، وَخَيْرَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَشَرَّ الْأُمُوْرِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا، وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ، وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِيْ النَّارِ »
“After praise and thanks: The best book is the Book of Allah (the Holy Quran), and the best way is that of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the worst matters are newly invented matters in religion, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Hellfire.”
Another proof of this is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
« عَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِيْ، وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِيْنَ الْمَهْدِيِّيْنَ مِنْ بَعْدِيْ، تَمَسَّكُوْا بِهَا، وَعَضُّوْا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُوْرِ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ، وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ »
“Strictly and firmly follow the Sunnah of me and my rightly guided Caliphs and avoid innovating new matters in the religion, for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.”
In summary, the way and methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah is the complete adherence to the Book and Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. This is why the approach of Ahl al-Sunnah is to follow the religion and completely avoid sectarianism. In this matter, they consider the command of Allah Almighty:
شَرَعَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ
“He has prescribed for you the same religion which He commanded to Noah, and which We revealed to you, and which We commanded to Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, that you maintain this religion and do not be divided therein.”
Although there are some differences among Ahl al-Sunnah, they are based on ijtihad, not personal disagreement. This is why there is utmost love, affection, and kindness among them.
