Ahl-e-Hadith Name and the Objections of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen — A Hadith-Based Response
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of Quran and Hadith, Vol. 01, p. 631
❖ Question
The members of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen say:
“Why do you call yourselves Ahl-e-Hadith? This is a sect, and adopting such a name is against the Quran and Hadith.”
They cite the Hadith:
{تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ وَاِمَامَہُمْ}
"Adhere to Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen and their leader."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Kitab al-Fitan, Bab Kayfa al-Amr idha lam takun Jama‘ah…
❖ Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The status of the name Ahl-e-Hadith is exactly the same as that of the name Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen. In the authentic Hadith, the phrase Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen was never mentioned as a formal name, but rather as a description and reality.
◈ First Evidence
The same Hadith also contains the words: “Wa Imamuhum”.
If these were to be taken as names, then members of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen should have adopted the name:
“Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen wa Imamuhum.”
But they do not do so. This makes it clear that these terms are not for adopting names, but rather to describe a characteristic and a state of affairs.
◈ Second Evidence
In the same Hadith, a Companion asked Rasulullah ﷺ:
{اِنْ لَّمْ یَکُنْ لَّہُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ اِمَامٌ}
"If Muslims have no Jama‘ah and no leader, then what should be done?"
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْکَ الْفِرَقَ کُلَّہَا}
"Keep away from all such sects."
Now reflect carefully! If Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen was the actual name of Muslims, then when that Jama‘ah ceased to exist, there would be no Muslims left either. But in that case, the question arises: From where did these sects and groups emerge, from which the Prophet ﷺ commanded to stay away?
Thus, from these two pieces of evidence, it becomes clear that the phrase Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen in Hadith is not a name, but rather a description.
◈ Difference Between "Muslimeen" and "Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen"
The Government of Pakistan does not register any party under the words Muslim, Muslimeen, or Musalman.
However, Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen has been officially registered under this very title. They themselves write the word “Registered” alongside Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen in their magazines and gatherings.
This proves that there is a clear difference between Muslimeen and Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen.
- Even if Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen does not exist, the Muslimeen still exist.
- As the Companion asked: “If there is no Jama‘ah of Muslims, what should be done?”
- He did not say: “If there are no Muslims, what should be done?”
- Similarly, Rasulullah ﷺ did not reply: “When there is no Jama‘ah and leader, all will become disbelievers.”
Rather, he ﷺ only commanded to separate from sects and groups.
◈ Additional Evidence
Consider also the statement of Rasulullah ﷺ:
{اِنَّ ابْنِیْ ہٰذَا سَیِّدٌ وَسَیُصْلِحُ اﷲُ بِہِ بَیْنَ فِئَتَیْنِ عَظِیْمَتَیْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ}
"Indeed, this son of mine is a leader, and Allah will bring reconciliation through him between two great groups of the Muslims."
[Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2, p. 1053, Kitab al-Fitan]
From this it is also evident that there may exist different groups among Muslims, yet their status as Muslims does not cease.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
