Hazrat Khabbab bin Aratt رضي الله عنه narrates that one night he closely observed the worship of the Prophet ﷺ until dawn. The Prophet ﷺ led the Fajr prayer, and after concluding the prayer, Hazrat Khabbab رضي الله عنه came forward and said:
((یَا رَسُولَ اللّٰہ! بِأَبِیْ أَنْتَ وَأُمِّیْ، لَقَدْ صَلَّیْتَ اللَّیْلَۃَ صَلَاۃً مَا رَأَیْتُکَ صَلَّیْتَ نَحْوَہَا))
“O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, tonight you have prayed a prayer that I have never seen you pray before.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((أَجَلْ إِنَّہَا صَلَاۃُ رَغَبٍ وَرَہَبٍ))
“Yes, it was a prayer in which there was both hope from Allah and fear.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
((سَأَلْتُ رَبِّیْ عَزَّوَجَلَّ فِیْہَا ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ، فَأَعْطَانِی اثْنَتَیْنِ، وَمَنَعَنِیْ وَاحِدَۃً))
“I asked my Lord for three things in that prayer; He granted me two and did not grant one.”
❀ First supplication:
((سَأَلْتُ رَبِّیْ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أَن لَّا یُہْلِکَنَا بِمَا أَہْلَکَ بِہِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا، فَأَعْطَانِیْہَا))
“I prayed that my Ummah should not be destroyed as previous nations were destroyed, and Allah accepted this prayer.”
❀ Second supplication:
((وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّیْ عَزَّوَجَلَّ أَن لَّا یُظْہِرَ عَلَیْنَا عَدُوًّا مِّنْ غَیْرِنَا، فَأَعْطَانِیْہَا))
“I prayed that no external enemy should gain complete dominance over our Ummah, and this prayer was also accepted.”
❀ Third Prayer:
((وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّیْ أَنْ لَّا یَلْبِسَنَا شِیَعًا، فَمَنَعَنِیْہَا))
“And I prayed that our Ummah should not be divided into groups, but Allah did not accept this prayer.”
This is also supported by the narration of Hazrat Saad (may Allah be pleased with him), in which he states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made three prayers, two were accepted and one was rejected:
((وَسَأَلْتُہُ أَن لَّا یَجْعَلَ بَأْسَہُمْ بَیْنَہُمْ، فَمَنَعَنِیْہَا))
“I prayed that my Ummah should not fight among themselves, but this prayer was not accepted.”
Disagreement and Sectarianism: Prophetic Prediction
From these two ahadith, it becomes absolutely clear that disagreement, factionalism, and mutual conflict within this Ummah are part of Allah’s will. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ had already pointed to this reality:
((فَإِنَّہُ مَن یَّعِشْ مِنْکُمْ بَعْدِیْ فَسَیَرَی اخْتِلَافًا کَثِیْرًا))
“Those among you who live after me will see much disagreement.”
Thus, the history of Islam testifies that shortly after the passing of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, disagreements arose within the Ummah, which gradually escalated into severe disputes, then conflicts and wars, and today the condition of the Muslim Ummah has become a practical reflection of these very hadiths.
The Victorious Sect: The Group Established on the Truth
Although disagreement is destined for the Ummah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also gave the glad tidings that in every era a group will remain steadfast on the truth:
((لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَۃٌ مِّنْ أُمَّتِیْ ظَاہِرِیْنَ عَلَی الْحَقِّ، لَا یَضُرُّہُمْ مَّنْ خَالَفَہُمْ حَتّٰی یَأْتِیَ أَمْرُ اللّٰہِ))
“A group of my Ummah will always remain on the truth, those who oppose them will not be able to harm them.”
Imam Ibn al-Mubarak, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Imam Ali ibn al-Madini, and Imam Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on them, state that this refers to the people of hadith. In fact, Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
((إِن لَّمْ یَکُونُوا أَہْلَ الْحَدِیْثِ فَلَا أَدْرِیْ مَنْ ہُمْ؟))
“If these people are not the people of hadith, then I do not know who the people of hadith are.”
Which is the Saved Sect?
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), while informing about sectarian divisions in the Ummah, clearly stated which group will be saved. He (peace be upon him) said:
((إِنَّ بَنِیْ إِسْرَائِیْلَ تَفَرَّقَتْ عَلٰی ثِنْتَیْنِ وَسَبْعِیْنَ مِلَّۃً، وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِیْ عَلٰی ثَلَاثٍ وَّسَبْعِیْنَ مِلَّۃً، کُلُّہُمْ فِی النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَۃً))
“The Children of Israel were divided into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one.”
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked:
O Messenger of Allah! Which group will be the saved one?
He (peace be upon him) replied:
((مَا أَنَا عَلَیْہِ وَأَصْحَابِی))
“It is the group upon which I and my Companions are.”
In another narration, he said:
((وَہِیَ الْجَمَاعَۃُ))
“And that is the true Jama’ah.”
From these Ahadith, it becomes absolutely clear that the saved sect is the one that follows the methodology of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
Why are the Ahl al-Hadith the Victorious Sect?
It is a historical and undeniable fact that during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the righteous companions (may Allah be pleased with them), there was no jurisprudential sect or group division. At that time, there was only one criterion: the Quran and Sunnah.
The righteous companions (may Allah be pleased with them):
- Were adherents of the Quran and Sunnah
- Did not consider any third source obligatory to follow
- Based every issue on evidence
Today, if any group follows the same methodology, it is the Ahl al-Hadith, who:
- Consider the Quran and Sunnah as the primary sources of religion
- Take the understanding of the righteous companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as the standard
- Do not consider blind imitation of any Imam or sect obligatory
That is why the Ahl al-Hadith are rightly called the victorious sect (Taifah Mansurah) and the saved sect (Firqah Najiyah), which has remained steadfast on the truth in every era and will remain so until the Day of Judgment, God willing.
Objections Raised Against Ahl al-Hadith
❀ First Objection: This is a new group
This objection is completely contrary to reality.
Ahl al-Hadith is not a new group, rather it is the same methodology that:
- It was of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them
- It was of the Followers (Tabi‘in) and the Followers of the Followers (Taba‘ Tabi‘in)
In Surah At-Tawbah, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالسّٰبِقُوْنَ الْاَوَّلُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُھٰجِرِیْنَ وَالْاَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِیْنَ اتَّبَعُوْھُمْ بِاِحْسَانٍ﴾
Translation:
“And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct – Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.”
The Ahl al-Hadith are precisely those who follow the Muhajireen and Ansar with gratitude.
❀ Second Objection: The Ahl al-Hadith are extremists
This accusation is also baseless.
The Ahl al-Hadith:
- Are moderate
- Advocate wisdom and gentleness
- Are free from violence and extremism
Their method of calling to Islam is based on the command of the Qur’an:
﴿اُدْعُ اِلٰی سَبِیْلِ رَبِّکَ بِالْحِکْمَۃِ وَالْمَوْعِظَۃِ الْحَسَنَۃِ﴾
Translation:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction.”
❀ Third Objection: The Ahl al-Hadith are enemies of the Imams
This too is a complete falsehood.
The Ahl al-Hadith:
- Respect all the Imams of the religion, may Allah have mercy on them
- Consider them as righteous predecessors (Salaf as-Salih)
- But do not consider blind imitation of them obligatory
Rather, the reality is that the Ahl al-Hadith are the closest to the original methodology of the Four Imams, because the Imams themselves, may Allah have mercy on them, commanded following the Quran and Sunnah.
The First Principle of the Call of Ahl al-Hadith and the Methodology of the Salaf
➊ The foundation of religion is based on two principles:
- Sincerity (Ikhlas): Every act of worship and every deed should be solely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty.
- Following (Mutaba’at): Every act of worship and deed should be in accordance with the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿بَلٰی مَنْ اَسْلَمَ وَجْھَہٗ لِلّٰہِ وَھُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَہٗٓ اَجْرُہٗ عِنْدَ رَبِّہٖ﴾
Translation:
“Whoever submits his face to Allah while being a doer of good, then his reward is with his Lord.”
﴿اَسْلَمَ وَجْھَہٗ لِلّٰہِ﴾ → Sincerity (Ikhlas)
﴿وَھُوَ مُحْسِنٌ﴾ → Following the Sunnah (Mutaba’at)
People are divided into four categories based on sincerity and following:
➊ Sincerity and Following
➋ Neither Sincerity nor Following
➌ Sincerity but no Following
➍ Following but no Sincerity
Further Principles and Regulations of the Call of Ahl al-Hadith and the Methodology of the Salaf
➋ The source of Shariah, worship, and the call is only the Quran and Sunnah
The fundamental principle of Ahl al-Hadith and the methodology of the Salaf is that all matters of religion, methods of worship, and styles of Dawah will be taken from only two sources:
➊ The Holy Quran
➋ The Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاَطِیْعُوا اللّٰہَ وَالرَّسُوْلَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ﴾
Translation:
“And obey Allah and obey the Messenger so that you may receive mercy.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿اِتَّبِعُوْا مَآ اُنْزِلَ اِلَیْکُمْ مِّنْ رَّبِّکُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖٓ اَوْلِیَآئَ﴾
Translation:
“Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him.”
Meaning, the only source to know the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ is the Quran and Hadith; there is no other source.
➌ Quran cannot be understood without the Sunnah
The correct interpretation and practical explanation of the Holy Quran is not possible without the Prophetic Sunnah.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاَنْزَلْنَآ اِلَیْکَ الذِّکْرَ لِتُبَیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ اِلَیْھِمْ﴾
Translation:
“And We have sent down to you the Reminder so that you may explain to the people what has been sent down to them.”
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, clarified:
- The method of prayer
- Issues related to fasting
- The rulings of Zakat and Hajj
through his sayings and actions, which we call the Sunnah. If there were no Sunnah, countless commandments of the Quran would remain incomprehensible.
That is why Allah Almighty said:
﴿وَیُعَلِّمُھُمُ الْکِتٰبَ وَالْحِکْمَۃَ﴾
Translation:
“And He taught them the Book and wisdom.”
Here, wisdom refers to the Prophetic Sunnah.
And the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
((تَرَکْتُ فِیْکُمْ شَیْئَیْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا بَعْدَہُمَا: کِتَابَ اللّٰہِ وَسُنَّتِیْ))
Translation:
“I am leaving among you two things; if you hold fast to them, you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
➍ Understanding the Quran and Sunnah according to the understanding of the Companions
An important principle of Ahl al-Hadith is that:
The Quran and Hadith should be understood according to the understanding of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالسّٰبِقُوْنَ الْاَوَّلُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُھٰجِرِیْنَ وَالْاَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِیْنَ اتَّبَعُوْھُمْ بِاِحْسَانٍ﴾
Translation:
“The first to embrace Islam among the Muhajirin and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct.”
This verse is evidence that the understanding and conduct of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is a standard in the sight of Allah.
Allah Almighty has made their faith a standard for others:
﴿فَاِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنتُم بِہِ فَقَدِ اہْتَدَوْا﴾
Translation:
“If they had believed as you have believed, they would have been rightly guided.”
And He said:
﴿وَمَنْ یُّشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ… وَیَتَّبِعْ غَیْرَ سَبِیْلِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ نُوَلِّہِ مَا تَوَلّٰی وَنُصْلِہِ جَہَنَّمَ﴾
Translation:
“Whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has been made clear to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, We will turn him to what he has turned to and will throw him into Hell—what an evil destination.”
Here, the path of the believers refers to the path of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
➎ The first pillar of the call to the Oneness of Lordship
The call of all the Prophets, peace be upon them, began with the Oneness of Lordship:
﴿اُعْبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمْ مِّنْ إِلٰہٍ غَیْرُہٗ﴾
“Worship Allah; there is no deity except Him.”
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also said:
((قُوْلُوْا لَا إِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ تُفْلِحُوْا))
Translation:
“Say La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah), and you will be successful.”
When sending Mu’adh, may Allah be pleased with him, to Yemen, he said:
((فَلْیَکُنْ أَوَّلَ مَا تَدْعُوْہُمْ إِلَیْہِ عِبَادَۃُ اللّٰہِ))
Translation:
“First of all, invite them to worship Allah alone.”
The Oneness of Lordship was also accepted by the polytheists of Makkah; the real difference was in the Oneness of Divinity, and even today this is the main issue.
Further Principles of the Call of Ahl al-Hadith and the Methodology of the Salaf
➏ Implementing the Entire Religion and Calling Towards the Entire Religion
Islam is not the name of just one branch but a complete system of life; therefore, adopting one part of the religion and abandoning another part is not correct.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿یٰٓاَیُّھَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا ادْخُلُوْا فِی السِّلْمِ کَآفَّۃً وَّلَا تَتَّبِعُوْا خُطُوٰتِ الشَّیْطٰنِ﴾
Translation:
“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Satan.”
From this verse it is clear that:
- Beliefs
- Acts of worship
- Transactions
- Morals
- Social relations
- Politics and economy
In every field, it is necessary to act upon the teachings of Islam and also to call towards all of them.
Keep in mind that giving priority to the Oneness of Divinity does not mean abandoning the other rulings of the religion; rather, it means that order and priorities should be observed in the call.
➐ Presenting Opinions and Sects in Opposition to the Quran and Sunnah is Forbidden
The dignity of a believer is that he bows in submission to the command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اِنَّمَا کَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ اِذَا دُعُوْا اِلَی اللّٰہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ اَنْ یَّقُوْلُوْا سَمِعْنَا وَاَطَعْنَا﴾
Translation:
“The response of the believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, is nothing except that they say, ‘We hear and we obey.'”
And He said:
﴿فَلَا وَرَبِّکَ لَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ حَتّٰی یُحَکِّمُوْکَ فِیْمَا شَجَرَ بَیْنَھُمْ﴾
“No! By your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves.”
The incident of Hazrat Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه clarifies this principle that the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were strongly displeased with accepting anyone’s opinion over the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, even preventing the preference of the opinions of the two Caliphs رضي الله عنهما over the Hadith.
Similarly, the Imams of the four schools رحمهم الله also forbade giving preference to their opinions over the Quran and Sunnah:
❀ Imam Abu Hanifa رحمه الله:
(لَا یَحِلُّ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ یَّأْخُذَ بِقَوْلِنَا مَا لَمْ یَعْلَمْ مِنْ أَیْنَ أَخَذْنَاہُ)
“It is not permissible for a person to adopt our statement until he knows from where we took it.”
❀ Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him):
(کُلُّ مَا وَافَقَ الْکِتَابَ وَالسُّنَّۃَ فَخُذُوہُ وَمَا لَمْ یُوَافِقْ فَاتْرُکُوہُ)
“Take that which is according to the Book and Sunnah, and leave that which is not according to them.”
❀ Imam Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him):
(إِذَا صَحَّ الْحَدِیْثُ فَہُوَ مَذْہَبِی)
“When a hadith becomes authentic, that is my creed.”
❀ Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him):
(لَا تُقَلِّدْنِی… وَخُذْ مِنْ حَیْثُ أَخَذُوْا)
“Do not imitate me… rather take from where they took.”
➑ Innovating new matters in religion is forbidden
Allah Almighty has completed the religion:
﴿اَلْیَوْمَ أَکْمَلْتُ لَکُمْ دِیْنَکُمْ﴾
“Today I have perfected for you your religion.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
((کُلُّ بِدْعَۃٍ ضَلَالَۃٌ))
“Every innovation is misguidance.”
And He said:
((مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِیْ أَمْرِنَا ہَذَا مَا لَیْسَ مِنْہُ فَہُوَ رَدٌّ))
“Whoever introduces into this religion of ours something that is not from it, it is rejected.”
Therefore, every new method in religion, no matter how good the intention, is unacceptable.
➒ There is only one true path
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاَنَّ ھٰذَا صِرَاطِیْ مُسْتَقِیْمًا فَاتَّبِعُوْہُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ﴾
“And indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it and do not follow other paths.”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud (RA) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ drew a straight line and said:
((ھٰذَا صِرَاطُ اللّٰہِ مُسْتَقِیْمًا))
“This is the straight path of Allah.”
Then he drew lines to the right and left and said:
((وَھٰذِہِ السُّبُلُ عَلٰی کُلِّ سَبِیْلٍ مِّنْھَا شَیْطَانٌ))
“And these are (other) paths, on each of which there is a devil.”
➓ The criterion of truth is not majority but evidence
The Holy Quran repeatedly states that the majority:
- Do not know
- Do not understand
- Follow conjecture and assumptions
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاِنْ تُطِعْ اَکْثَرَ مَنْ فِی الْاَرْضِ یُضِلُّوْکَ عَنْ سَبِیْلِ اللّٰہِ﴾
“And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah.”
Truth is always recognized by evidence, not by numbers.
⑪ Avoid weak and fabricated hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave a severe warning about those who narrate false hadiths:
((مَنْ کَذَبَ عَلَیَّ فَلْیَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَہُ مِنَ النَّارِ))
“He who lies upon me deliberately, let him take his seat in Hell.”
Therefore:
- Beliefs
- Rulings
- Virtues of deeds
Only authentic or good hadiths will be considered authoritative.
The Final Principle of the Call of Ahl al-Hadith and the Methodology of the Salaf
Unity among Muslims is obligatory and division is blameworthy
Islam invites Muslims to collectiveness, unity, and agreement and strictly forbids sectarianism and division.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللّٰہِ جَمِیْعًا وَّلَا تَفَرَّقُوا﴾
Translation:
“Hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
((أَلَا وَإِنِّی تَارِکٌ فِیْکُمْ ثَقَلَیْنِ، أَحَدُہُمَا کِتَابُ اللّٰہِ…))
“The Book of Allah is indeed the rope of Allah; whoever holds onto it will be guided.”
Allah Almighty has declared sectarianism as the way of the polytheists and said:
﴿اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ فَرَّقُوْا دِیْنَہُمْ وَکَانُوْا شِیَعًا لَّسْتَ مِنْھُمْ فِیْ شَیْئٍ﴾
“Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects – you, [O Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything.”
Reading and understanding the Quran and Sunnah is indispensable
The Holy Quran is the Book of Guidance:
﴿یَہْدِیْ بِہِ اللّٰہُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَہُ سُبُلَ السَّلَامِ﴾
“Allah guides by it those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace.”
Allah Almighty has made the Quran easy:
﴿وَلَقَدْ یَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْاٰنَ لِلذِّکْرِ﴾
“And We have made the Quran easy for remembrance.”
Similarly, holding firmly to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ is commanded:
((تَرَکْتُ فِیْکُمْ مَا لَنْ تَضِلُّوْا بَعْدَہُ: کِتَابَ اللّٰہِ وَسُنَّتِیْ))
“I am leaving among you two things, after which you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.”
The caller should be one who possesses knowledge and insight
Allah Almighty says:
﴿قُلْ ھٰذِہٖ سَبِیْلِیْ اَدْعُوْٓا اِلَی اللّٰہِ عَلٰی بَصِیْرَۃٍ﴾
“Say, ‘This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me.'”
Only the person who has knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah should call others, otherwise he himself will be misguided and will mislead others as well.
Calling should be only towards the Book and Sunnah and that too with wisdom
Allah Almighty says:
﴿اُدْعُ اِلٰی سَبِیْلِ رَبِّکَ بِالْحِکْمَۃِ وَالْمَوْعِظَۃِ الْحَسَنَۃِ﴾
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction.”
The invitation of the Ahl al-Hadith:
- Is towards the Quran and Sunnah
- Is with gentleness, goodwill, and wisdom
- Is free from violence and harshness
Fatwa should only be given by the knowledgeable
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
((فَأَفْتَوْا بِغَیْرِ عِلْمٍ فَضَلُّوْا وَأَضَلُّوْا))
“So whoever gives a fatwa without knowledge, he himself goes astray and leads others astray.”
Giving fatwa without knowledge:
- It is misguidance for oneself
- It is also leading others astray
Conclusion
The call of Ahl al-Hadith and the methodology of the pious predecessors is actually the same path that the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, and the righteous companions, may Allah be pleased with them, followed. This is the straight path, this is the victorious group, and this is the saved sect. Salvation, success, and unity lie in firmly holding onto the Quran and Sunnah according to the understanding of the righteous companions, abandoning innovations and desires, and inviting to the religion with moderation, wisdom, and sincerity.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to recognize the truth, act upon it, and call to it.
وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد للہ رب العالمین
