Ahl al-Hadith: A Title for Both Hadith Scholars and Their Followers
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues of Tawheed and Sunnah – p. 13
Question:
Some people today claim that the term Ahl al-Hadith applies exclusively to Hadith scholars (Muhaddithin), and that their general followers are not included in this category. Is this position correct?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
This claim is incorrect, clearly false, and self-invented. The term Ahl al-Hadith includes all those who are rightly guided Hadith scholars as well as their general followers who act upon the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. This is the original and true understanding.
Below are ten (10) evidences supporting this position:
◈ The scholars of truth have agreed that the Ta’ifah Mansurah (the Saved Group) refers to Ahl al-Hadith.
◈ The question arises: when the Hadith scholars enter Paradise, will their general followers be left outside? Obviously not, because they too are part of Ahl al-Hadith.
◈ Imam Ahl al-Sunnah Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) said:
"صَاحِبُ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَنَا مَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلُ الْحَدِيثَ"
"According to us, Ahl al-Hadith is one who acts upon Hadith."
(Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi, p. 208 – Authentic chain)
◈ He stated:
"We do not mean by Ahl al-Hadith only those who have heard, written, or narrated Hadith; rather, we mean everyone who is most deserving, both outwardly and inwardly, of preserving and understanding it, and following it outwardly and inwardly. The same applies to Ahl al-Qur’an."
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, Vol. 4, p. 95)
◈ This makes it clear that Ahl al-Hadith are of two types:
◈ He described the traits of Ahl al-Hadith:
"They act upon the Hadith, defend it, and refute its opponents."
(Sahih Ibn Hibban, al-Ihsan: 6129)
◈ He said:
"There is no innovator in the world who does not hate Ahl al-Hadith."
(Ma‘rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith by al-Hakim, p. 4 – Authentic chain)
◈ This indicates that innovators hate not only the Hadith scholars, but also their followers.
◈ Allah says: "يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۢ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ" (Surah Bani Isra’il: 71)
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) quoted some of the Salaf saying:
"This verse is the greatest virtue for Ahl al-Hadith, because their Imam is the Noble Prophet ﷺ."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/164)
◈ Both Hadith scholars and their followers take the Prophet ﷺ as their supreme Imam.
◈ He wrote:
"O you who hate and abuse Ahl al-Hadith, rejoice in your alliance with Shaytan."
(al-Kafiyah al-Shafiyah, p. 199)
◈ This hatred is observed worldwide against both Hadith scholars and their followers.
◈ He said regarding Surah Bani Isra’il, verse 71:
"There is no greater virtue for Ahl al-Hadith than this, for they have no Imam besides the Prophet ﷺ."
(Tadrib al-Rawi, Vol. 2, p. 126)
◈ Just like the scholars, their followers also take no Imam other than the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ He wrote:
"The Muslims residing in the frontiers of al-Sham and other regions are all from Ahl al-Sunnah and follow the madhhab of Ahl al-Hadith."
(Usul al-Din, p. 317)
◈ This cannot mean only scholars lived there; their general followers were also present and counted among Ahl al-Hadith.
◈ Regarding the people of Sindh, he wrote:
"Most of their madhhab is that of the people of Hadith...”
(Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma‘rifat al-Aqalim, p. 363)
◈ This clearly shows that both the scholars and the general people in these regions were counted as Ahl al-Hadith.
Besides these ten evidences, many more exist. To our knowledge, no reliable Hadith scholar or reputable scholar has ever stated that Ahl al-Hadith refers only to Hadith scholars and excludes their followers.
It is also unfounded to claim that after the era of the Hadith scholars, no Muhaddith remains, and that common Muslims who follow the Qur’an and Sunnah without blind imitation are not part of Ahl al-Hadith.
Hatha ma ‘indi wallahu a‘lam bis-sawab.
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 3 – Issues of Tawheed and Sunnah – p. 13
Meaning of Ahl al-Hadith: Both Hadith Scholars and Their General Followers
Question:
Some people today claim that the term Ahl al-Hadith applies exclusively to Hadith scholars (Muhaddithin), and that their general followers are not included in this category. Is this position correct?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
This claim is incorrect, clearly false, and self-invented. The term Ahl al-Hadith includes all those who are rightly guided Hadith scholars as well as their general followers who act upon the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. This is the original and true understanding.
Below are ten (10) evidences supporting this position:
① Consensus of the Scholars of Truth
◈ The scholars of truth have agreed that the Ta’ifah Mansurah (the Saved Group) refers to Ahl al-Hadith.
◈ The question arises: when the Hadith scholars enter Paradise, will their general followers be left outside? Obviously not, because they too are part of Ahl al-Hadith.
② Statement of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله)
◈ Imam Ahl al-Sunnah Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) said:
"صَاحِبُ الْحَدِيثِ عِنْدَنَا مَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلُ الْحَدِيثَ"
"According to us, Ahl al-Hadith is one who acts upon Hadith."
(Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi, p. 208 – Authentic chain)
③ Clarification of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله)
◈ He stated:
"We do not mean by Ahl al-Hadith only those who have heard, written, or narrated Hadith; rather, we mean everyone who is most deserving, both outwardly and inwardly, of preserving and understanding it, and following it outwardly and inwardly. The same applies to Ahl al-Qur’an."
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, Vol. 4, p. 95)
◈ This makes it clear that Ahl al-Hadith are of two types:
- The Hadith scholars (Muhaddithin)
- Their general followers
④ Explanation of Hafiz Ibn Hibban (رحمه الله)
◈ He described the traits of Ahl al-Hadith:
"They act upon the Hadith, defend it, and refute its opponents."
(Sahih Ibn Hibban, al-Ihsan: 6129)
⑤ Statement of Imam Ahmad ibn Sinan al-Wasiti (رحمه الله)
◈ He said:
"There is no innovator in the world who does not hate Ahl al-Hadith."
(Ma‘rifat ‘Ulum al-Hadith by al-Hakim, p. 4 – Authentic chain)
◈ This indicates that innovators hate not only the Hadith scholars, but also their followers.
⑥ Qur’anic Verse and Its Tafsir
◈ Allah says: "يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۢ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ" (Surah Bani Isra’il: 71)
◈ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) quoted some of the Salaf saying:
"This verse is the greatest virtue for Ahl al-Hadith, because their Imam is the Noble Prophet ﷺ."
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 4/164)
◈ Both Hadith scholars and their followers take the Prophet ﷺ as their supreme Imam.
⑦ Statement of Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) in al-Nuniyyah
◈ He wrote:
"O you who hate and abuse Ahl al-Hadith, rejoice in your alliance with Shaytan."
(al-Kafiyah al-Shafiyah, p. 199)
◈ This hatred is observed worldwide against both Hadith scholars and their followers.
⑧ Clarification of Imam al-Suyuti (رحمه الله)
◈ He said regarding Surah Bani Isra’il, verse 71:
"There is no greater virtue for Ahl al-Hadith than this, for they have no Imam besides the Prophet ﷺ."
(Tadrib al-Rawi, Vol. 2, p. 126)
◈ Just like the scholars, their followers also take no Imam other than the Prophet ﷺ.
⑨ Statement of ‘Abd al-Qahir al-Baghdadi (رحمه الله)
◈ He wrote:
"The Muslims residing in the frontiers of al-Sham and other regions are all from Ahl al-Sunnah and follow the madhhab of Ahl al-Hadith."
(Usul al-Din, p. 317)
◈ This cannot mean only scholars lived there; their general followers were also present and counted among Ahl al-Hadith.
⑩ Statement of Ibn al-Banna al-Maqdisi al-Bashari (رحمه الله)
◈ Regarding the people of Sindh, he wrote:
"Most of their madhhab is that of the people of Hadith...”
(Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma‘rifat al-Aqalim, p. 363)
◈ This clearly shows that both the scholars and the general people in these regions were counted as Ahl al-Hadith.
Additional Evidences and Conclusion
Besides these ten evidences, many more exist. To our knowledge, no reliable Hadith scholar or reputable scholar has ever stated that Ahl al-Hadith refers only to Hadith scholars and excludes their followers.
It is also unfounded to claim that after the era of the Hadith scholars, no Muhaddith remains, and that common Muslims who follow the Qur’an and Sunnah without blind imitation are not part of Ahl al-Hadith.
Hatha ma ‘indi wallahu a‘lam bis-sawab.
