Only Ahl al-Hadith are the People of Truth
The title of Ahl al-Hadith does not accept any deviation. That is why when a person goes astray, he begins to hate Ahl al-Hadith. This is the reason that every false and misguided sect has always tried that no one remains in the world who calls himself Ahl al-Hadith. But their dream has never been fulfilled before, nor will it be in the future, InshaAllah.
In reality, those who harbor this impure desire are the enemies of the methodology and creed of the Salaf al-Salih, the Imams of the religion, and the Muhaddithin. These people want the beliefs and actions of the Salaf al-Salih to be eradicated and want to convince people that the religion of the Salaf al-Salih is not to be followed.
But the reality is that in the world, it was the Muhaddithin who were the people of truth. These were the people who understood the Quran and Sunnah better and acted upon them. That is why they were given the title Taifah Mansurah and Ahl al-Hadith, and those who follow in their footsteps also call themselves Ahl al-Hadith.
Why are Ahl al-Hadith the people of truth?
وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا اُمَّۃٌ یَّھْدُوْنَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِہٖ یَعْدِلُوْنَ
“We have certainly created among Our servants a group who guide with truth and establish justice accordingly.”
This verse is about those people of truth about whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَۃٌ مِّنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاہِرِینَ عَلَی الْحَقِّ حَتّٰی یَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ اللّٰہُ “A group of my Ummah will always remain upon the truth until the command of Allah comes.”
Taifah Mansurah refers to Ahl al-Hadith
According to the Muhaddithin and Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah, the Taifah Mansurah mentioned in this Hadith refers to Ahl al-Hadith. Several great Imams have explained this in detail:
➊ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “If this group of Mansurah are not Ahl al-Hadith, then I do not know who they are.”
➋ Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “In my view, they (the group of Mansurah) are indeed Ahl al-Hadith.”
➌ Imam Ali bin al-Madini, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “They (the group of Mansurah) are indeed Ahl al-Hadith.”
➍ Imam Yazid bin Harun, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “If they (the group of Mansurah) are not Ahl al-Hadith, then I do not know who they are.”
➎ Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “This refers to Ahl al-Hadith.”
➏ Imam Hakim, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal gave the best interpretation of this Hadith that the group of Mansurah refers to Ahl al-Hadith, who have been protected from humiliation and disgrace until the Day of Judgment.”
➐ Imam Ismail bin Muhammad Asfahani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “The Ahl al-Hadith are the group that will remain dominant on the truth until the Day of Judgment.”
➑ Imam Khateeb Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Allah Almighty has made the Ahl al-Hadith the protectors of the religion and has kept them safe from the conspiracies of the opponents.”
All these noble Imams agree that the victorious group (طائفہ منصورہ) are those who are called Ahl al-Hadith, because they are the ones who follow the correct guidance of the Quran and Sunnah, and defend knowledge against the innovators and opponents of the Sunnah.
Belief and Methodology of Ahl al-Hadith
The belief and methodology of Ahl al-Hadith is exactly that of the noble Muhaddithin. We do not deviate from it even by an atom because, in our view, love for the noble Muhaddithin is part of faith. Ahl al-Hadith accept the Quran and Hadith, the consensus of the Ummah, and Shariah Ijtihad as truth, and according to them, the understanding of the Quran and Sunnah that is valid is the unanimous understanding of the Muhaddithin. Ahl al-Hadith never deny any consensus that is established by the Muhaddithin. In religious matters, Ahl al-Hadith always prefer the ijtihad of the predecessors of the Ummah and the noble Muhaddithin.
Sayings of the Predecessors
➊ Imam Abdul Rahman bin Amr Awza’i, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Hold firmly to the traces of the Salaf (Muhaddithin), even if people abandon you. Avoid the opinions of innovators, even if they present them beautifully. Indeed, by doing so, your affairs will become clear and you will continue to walk on the straight path.”
➋ Imam Abu Zur’ah Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, and Imam Abu Hatim Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, say: “We follow Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah and avoid deviation, disagreement, and division.”
➌ Allama Abu al-Muzaffar Sam’ani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “The motto of Ahl al-Sunnah (Ahl al-Hadith) is to follow the pious predecessors and abandon every innovation.”
Analysis of Objections to the Title Ahl al-Hadith
Various objections are raised against the title Ahl al-Hadith, a brief review of which is presented here:
1. “Our name should only be Muslim”
Some people say that Allah has given us only the name “Muslim,” and whoever calls himself Ahl al-Sunnah or Ahl al-Hadith becomes a disbeliever or polytheist. Their argument is that Allah has given us only the name “Muslim” in the Qur’an.
But in reality, Allah Almighty has nowhere stated that our name should only be “Muslim” and no other name is permissible. The verse of the Quran from which this argument is derived is: هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَذَا
“He has named you Muslims before (this) and in this (Quran).”
This verse does not use any restrictive term that proves our name should only be “Muslim.” On the contrary, Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have called Muslims by other names as well, such as:
- Muslim
- Mu’min (Believer)
- ‘Ibad Allah (Servants of Allah)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has named you Muslims, Mu’min, and ‘Ibad Allah.”
Similarly, in the Quran, names like “Muhajirin” (Emigrants) and “Ansar” (Helpers) have also been used for Muslims: لَقَدْ تَّابَ اللّٰہُ عَلَی النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُہَاجِرِینَ وَالْاَنْصَارِ
“Indeed, Allah has shown kindness to the Prophet and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar.”
These names indicate the religious status of Muslims, and it is not correct to declare someone a disbeliever or polytheist based on these names.
2. “Religious name should only be Muslim”
Some people say that it is not permissible to use religious names like Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith because Allah has only called us “Muslims.” But the truth is that naming based on religious achievements is proven from the Quran and Sunnah. For example:
- The “Muhajirun” were named due to their migration.
- The “Ansar” were named because of their religious act of helping.
Similarly, it is permissible to call Muslims who follow the Quran and Sunnah “Ahl al-Sunnah” or “Ahl al-Hadith.”
3. Names of Previous Nations
The earlier nations also had Islam as their religion, but their followers were given names like “Jews” and “Christians.” If these people were steadfast on monotheism, they will enter Paradise, as stated in the Quran: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا
Similarly, before the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), some people were monotheists and their religion was Christianity, such as Waraqah ibn Nawfal.
Summary
The belief and methodology of Ahl al-Hadith are the same as those of the pious predecessors and the muhaddithin. In religious matters, following the predecessors is preferred. Names such as Ahl al-Hadith or Ahl al-Sunnah, besides “Muslim,” are valid in the light of the Quran and Sunnah, and objections to them are not correct. The real importance lies in belief and methodology, not merely in the name.
Ahl al-Hadith Were the Muhaddithin!
Some people object that Ahl al-Hadith were only the muhaddithin and that after them no one can be Ahl al-Hadith. This objection means that, in their view, those who accepted the muhaddithin were neither present before nor is there anyone now who understands and adopts their belief and practice. If this assumption were correct, misguided sects would have been free to spread, and the enemies of the religion of Muhammad ﷺ would have been pleased.
But no one has ever objected that the founders of Deoband were the only Deobandis and that no one else can be a Deobandi after them, or that no one can be a Barelvi after Ahmed Raza Khan. Just as those who adopt the Deobandi and Barelvi methods can be recognized by these names anywhere in the world, similarly those who adopt the methodology of the Muhaddithin can also be called Ahl al-Hadith.
Two Types of Ahl al-Hadith
There are two types of Ahl al-Hadith:
- The first type: those Muhaddithin who were engaged in the narration, collection, and understanding of Hadith. They preserved the Hadith and correctly understood its meanings and implications.
- The second type: those who adopted the understanding of religion of the Muhaddithin, accepted their interpretations as true, and lived their lives according to their creed and methodology.
Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Ahl al-Hadith does not only mean those people who are content with listening to, writing, or narrating hadith, but every person who memorizes, understands, and acts upon hadith is Ahl al-Hadith. Similarly, those who understand the Qur’an and act upon it are also Ahl al-Hadith.”
Understanding of Religion by Ahl al-Hadith
Ahl al-Hadith are those people who acquire knowledge from the noble muhaddithin, adopt their teachings, and act upon them. Just as the followers of Imam Abu Hanifa are called Hanafi, similarly, the followers of the muhaddithin are called Ahl al-Hadith. It is worth noting that if illiterate followers of Hanafi fiqh can be called Hanafi, then why can’t those who adopt the understanding of the muhaddithin be called Ahl al-Hadith?
Conclusion
The title of Ahl al-Hadith is not exclusively reserved for the muhaddithin, but those who take the knowledge and understanding of religion from the muhaddithin and act upon it also have the right to be called Ahl al-Hadith.
One should be Ahl al-Sunnah, not just Ahl al-Hadith!
Some people do not object to being called Ahl al-Sunnah, but they have a particular enmity towards the title “Ahl al-Hadith,” even though there is no fundamental difference between these two titles. Although there is some difference between Sunnah and Hadith, Hadith is a broader term that includes both the Quran and the example of the Prophet ﷺ. Sunnah applies only to the actions of the Prophet ﷺ, whereas Hadith also applies to the Quran. Thus, “Ahl al-Hadith” means those people who consider the Quran and the example of the Prophet as their code of life, while “Ahl al-Sunnah” means those who consider only the example of the Prophet as their way of life.
This difference has been explained for those who accept “Ahl al-Sunnah” and mock them by calling them “Ahl al-Hadith,” otherwise the reality is that Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith are two names for the same group. Historically, when Muslims tried to distinguish themselves from the enemies of Islam, especially the Rawafid, they were called “Ahl al-Sunnah.” Later, when Ahl al-Sunnah felt the need to separate themselves from groups holding innovations, they began to call themselves “Ahl al-Hadith.”
The Relationship Between Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith
Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith are names of the same group, as explained by the Muhaddithin and other scholars:
➊ Imam Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “The question of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to the slave girl, ‘Where is Allah?’ is according to the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah, and Ahl al-Sunnah are indeed Ahl al-Hadith.”
➋ Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Undoubtedly, Ahl al-Sunnah has only one name, and that is Ahl al-Hadith.”
This proves that Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith are the same group. The esteemed hadith scholars used to call themselves both Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith at the same time, and even today, if Ahl al-Sunnah call themselves Ahl al-Hadith, there is no objection to that.
Explanation with an Example
This can be understood with an example that all citizens of Pakistan are called Pakistanis, but a person living in Lahore is called a “Lahori” and a person living in Peshawar is called a “Peshawari.” Both are identified as Pakistanis, but geographically they are also recognized by different names. Similarly, Muslims can be called Ahl al-Sunnah in contrast to the Rawafid, and there is no objection to calling them Ahl al-Hadith in contrast to the innovators.
Opposition to the Methodology
If a person or group opposes the methodology and practice of Ahl al-Sunnah wa Ahl al-Hadith, then it is reasonable to ask them why they call themselves Ahl al-Sunnah or Ahl al-Hadith when they differ from their methodology?
Who are the Real Ahl al-Sunnah?
The term Ahl al-Sunnah is used in two different ways: one general and the other specific.
1. General Application:
Generally, the term Ahl al-Sunnah is used in contrast to Shia. That is, all sects attributed to Islam other than Shia are called Ahl al-Sunnah. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: “The term Ahl al-Sunnah refers to those people who accept the caliphate of the three caliphs (Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar, and Sayyiduna Uthman, may Allah be pleased with them). This includes all groups except the Rawafid.”
2. Specific Application:
Specifically, the term Ahl al-Sunnah applies to all those free from innovation and deviant sects such as Shia, Kharijites, Jahmiyyah, Mu’tazilah, Murji’ah, and Ash’ariyyah. Under this application, Ahl al-Sunnah are those who are free from every kind of misguidance and are called “Ahl al-Hadith” according to the great Muhaddithin. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, states: “Sometimes the term Ahl al-Sunnah means Ahl al-Hadith, who are the true Ahl al-Sunnah. In such a case, Ahl al-Sunnah will include those who affirm all the attributes of Allah, consider the Qur’an as uncreated, and believe in the vision of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.”
The Reality of Ahl al-Sunnah and Ahl al-Hadith
Therefore, the title Ahl al-Sunnah is specifically reserved for Ahl al-Hadith, because Ahl al-Hadith are the group who believe in all the attributes of Allah without metaphor, allegory, or distortion. These people follow the methodology of the pious predecessors in the attributes of Allah and the belief in Tawhid.
The Hanafi followers affirm only seven attributes (hearing, sight, knowledge, speech, power, will, life) and interpret the rest of the attributes, whereas Ahl al-Hadith accept the divine attributes in their apparent meaning in every era, without any interpretation or distortion.
The True Methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah
Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’ah refers to those people who adhere to the beliefs and methodology of the pious predecessors (Salaf) and consider their consensus as a legal proof. The innovators and misguided ones can never adopt the beliefs of the Imams of the Salaf. These people do not accept the consensus of the Imams of the Salaf, therefore they do not have the right to use the title of Ahl al-Sunnah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: “Many people call their group Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’ah, while they call their opponents innovators. This is a clear misguidance. The real Ahl al-Sunnah are those who follow only the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. For them, the sayings and actions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are the most authentic, and they are the ones who distinguish between authentic and weak hadith.”
Is the term “Ahl-e-Hadith” an obstacle in Dawah?
Some people accept the name Ahl-e-Hadith as correct, but they believe that this name can be an obstacle in giving Dawah. They think that people should only be called “followers of the Quran and Sunnah” and the term Ahl-e-Hadith should not be used.
However, in reality, the great Muhaddithin always called themselves Ahl-e-Hadith, even though in their time people were also irritated by this name. Despite this, the Muhaddithin never abandoned their title.
Summary
Ahl-e-Sunnat and Ahl-e-Hadith are two names for the same group, and the true Ahl-e-Sunnat are those who follow the methodology and creed of the pious predecessors.
The necessity and importance of the name Ahl-e-Hadith
Importance and distinction:
The term “Ahl al-Hadith” is a means to distinguish between the people of truth and the people of falsehood. The purpose of this name is to clarify that this person understands the Quran and Hadith according to the understanding and methodology of the Companions and the Muhaddithin and adopts their practice. In contrast, he refrains from the people of opinion (Ahl al-Ra’y) and the people of imitation (Ahl al-Taqleed) and is a companion of the pious predecessors (Salaf al-Salih), not of the imitators or theologians.
Seeking the Truth:
Without Ahl al-Hadith, seeking and recognizing the truth is difficult because every misguided sect also claims the Quran and Sunnah, but the people of truth are only those who call themselves “Ahl al-Hadith.”
Steadfastness and Certainty:
The name Ahl al-Hadith is a source of steadfastness and certainty for the people of truth because there is no doubt about the Muhaddithin and the pious predecessors being people of truth. If they are people of truth, then their followers are certainly people of truth as well.
Means of Unity of the Ummah:
The name “Ahl al-Hadith” itself is a reliable means of the unity of the Ummah, because the saved sect and the victorious group are called by this very name. This name signifies the honor of Islam and is a symbol of the triumph of truth, because through it the people of truth are granted victory and the people of falsehood are defeated.
The Importance of Consensus and the Understanding of the Muhaddithin:
By adopting the name Ahl al-Hadith, it is proven that a person considers the consensus of the noble Muhaddithin as a proof. Throughout Islamic history, the people of truth always called themselves Ahl al-Hadith, and the followers of falsehood never dared to adopt this name.
Is the Name an Obstacle in Dawah?
Some people think that the name “Ahl al-Hadith” can be an obstacle in dawah. But the noble Muhaddithin always called themselves Ahl al-Hadith, and even in their time people were annoyed by this name, yet despite that, Islam gained dominance.
Ahl al-Hadith and Sectarianism:
Some people object that the name Ahl al-Hadith creates sectarianism, but this objection is directly against the pious predecessors (Salaf al-Salih). The unanimous title “Ahl al-Hadith” given by the great muhaddithin and imams of the Salaf cannot be abandoned to prevent sectarianism.
The name Ahl al-Hadith is used for the saved sect and the victorious group. The great muhaddithin never abandoned their name, and as a result, the truth prevailed and falsehood was exposed.
The Cheerfulness of the Name Ahl al-Hadith:
There is cheerfulness and contentment in the hearts of Ahl al-Hadith, and differences in creed and methodology among them are almost nonexistent. Even if there is any difference, it is of a subsidiary nature, just as it was during the time of the Companions.
Attempts to Defame:
Some people try to defame Ahl al-Hadith by making false accusations against them. They should fear Allah’s command: وَالَّذِینَ یُؤْذُوْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ بِغَیْرِ مَا اکْتَسَبُوْا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلُوْا بُہْتَانًا وَّإِثْمًا مُّبِینًا
Identification of the Saved Sect:
Ahl al-Hadith has been declared the saved sect, and they are the ones who follow the way of the pious predecessors. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “The true group of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah is indeed Ahl al-Hadith, and they are the ones who adhere to the correct methodology.”
Abandoning the name Ahl al-Hadith is essentially breaking away from the pious predecessors, which is the slogan of those who stand with the truth.
Summary:
The name “Ahl al-Hadith” is a manifestation of following the religion of truth and the understanding of the pious predecessors, and adopting this name is a means of unity of the Ummah and recognition of the truth.
