Source: Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb-o-Sunnat Kī Roshnī Mein by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī
A ḥadīth is often quoted: “Whoever separates from the Muslim congregation even by a hand span has removed the yoke of Islam from his neck.” (Narrated by al-Ḥākim) — Is this narration authentic?
Yes, this ḥadīth is found in al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim (1/117–119) and is authentic (ṣaḥīḥ).
This ḥadīth does not refer to abandoning a registered organization called “Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn”, as claimed by some groups. Rather, it refers to the unified body of all Muslims — the Ummah and its collective leadership.
Imām al-Ḥākim quoted this narration in the context of the Caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه, using it as evidence to affirm the legitimacy of the Muslim leadership at that time.
In this context, the term "Imām" refers to the Muslim Caliph, the legitimate head of the Muslim community.
Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Hāniʾ narrates that Imām Aḥmad was asked about the ḥadīth:
“Whoever dies without having an Imām dies a death of jāhiliyyah.”
He replied:
“Do you know who the Imām is? The Imām is the one upon whom all the Muslims agree — every individual acknowledges that he is the Imām.”
❖ Question:
A ḥadīth is often quoted: “Whoever separates from the Muslim congregation even by a hand span has removed the yoke of Islam from his neck.” (Narrated by al-Ḥākim) — Is this narration authentic?
❖ Answer:
Yes, this ḥadīth is found in al-Mustadrak of al-Ḥākim (1/117–119) and is authentic (ṣaḥīḥ).
❖ Meaning of the Ḥadīth:
This ḥadīth does not refer to abandoning a registered organization called “Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn”, as claimed by some groups. Rather, it refers to the unified body of all Muslims — the Ummah and its collective leadership.
Imām al-Ḥākim quoted this narration in the context of the Caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه, using it as evidence to affirm the legitimacy of the Muslim leadership at that time.
In this context, the term "Imām" refers to the Muslim Caliph, the legitimate head of the Muslim community.
❖ Statement of Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله:
Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Hāniʾ narrates that Imām Aḥmad was asked about the ḥadīth:
“Whoever dies without having an Imām dies a death of jāhiliyyah.”
He replied:
“Do you know who the Imām is? The Imām is the one upon whom all the Muslims agree — every individual acknowledges that he is the Imām.”
Reference: Kitāb al-Sunnah by al-Khallāl, p. 81]
In Musnad al-Bazzār (7/364), instead of "Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn", the phrase "Jamāʿat al-Nās" (the congregation of people) is used — clarifying that the meaning is not a specific group name, but the collective body and unity of the Muslims.
Many individuals see the phrase “Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn” in ḥadīths and mistakenly interpret it as a reference to their sectarian or registered organization by that name. However, no ḥadīth ever refers to any specific registered group as "Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn".
Rather, the term refers broadly to the Muslim Ummah, their unity, and their recognized leadership.
May Allah guide such people and grant them true adherence to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. Āmīn!
❖ Variant Wording in Other Collections:
In Musnad al-Bazzār (7/364), instead of "Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn", the phrase "Jamāʿat al-Nās" (the congregation of people) is used — clarifying that the meaning is not a specific group name, but the collective body and unity of the Muslims.
❖ Clarification Against Misuse:
Many individuals see the phrase “Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn” in ḥadīths and mistakenly interpret it as a reference to their sectarian or registered organization by that name. However, no ḥadīth ever refers to any specific registered group as "Jamāʿat al-Muslimīn".
Rather, the term refers broadly to the Muslim Ummah, their unity, and their recognized leadership.
❖ Final Supplication:
May Allah guide such people and grant them true adherence to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ. Āmīn!
