Historical Existence of Ahl-e-Hadith Proven by Deobandi Scholars
Source: Fatawa Ilmiyyah, Volume 1, Kitab al-Aqa’id, Page 187❖ Question:
Some of my Deobandi friends claim that the “Ghair Muqallid” — i.e., Ahl-e-Hadith — is a new sect that did not exist prior to the British era. Can the ancient existence of Ahl-e-Hadith be proven through the writings of a reliable Deobandi scholar?
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. Amma ba‘d:
Mufti Rasheed Ahmad Ludhianwi Deobandi has written in his book:
"Approximately in the second or third Hijri century, due to differences of opinion in resolving subsidiary and minor issues among the people of truth, five schools of thought emerged — namely the four Madhāhib (legal schools) and the Ahl-e-Hadith. Since that time till today, only these five methodologies have been recognized."
(Ahsan al-Fatawa, Vol. 1, p. 316; Mawdudi Sahib aur Takhrib-e-Islam, p. 20)
❖ Conclusion:
This statement clearly shows that even the senior scholars of the Deobandi school affirm the existence of the Ahl-e-Hadith from the second century Hijri. However, the actual reality is that the existence of Ahl-e-Hadith traces back to the blessed era of Sayyiduna Muhammad Rasoolullah ﷺ himself.
As the saying goes:
"والفضل ما شهدت به الأعداء"
“True virtue is that which is acknowledged even by adversaries.”
Reference: Weekly al-I‘tisam, Lahore, 27 June 1997ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
