Author: Hafiz Abu Yahya Noor Puri
Al-Imam Al-Hafiz Qiwam al-Sunnah Abu al-Qasim Ismail bin Muhammad al-Asbahani (d. 535 AH) writes:
Some scholars state that there are seven fundamental issues that have led to the misguidance of sects:
The people of Tashbih believe in anthropomorphism, likening Allah to His creation. The Jahmi deny Allah's names and attributes. The Qadari do not acknowledge that both good and evil are created by Allah. The Khariji claim that a Muslim becomes a disbeliever due to committing major sins. The Murji assert that actions are not a part of faith, and that a person who commits major sins remains a true believer, with no increase or decrease in faith. The Rafidhi deny bodily resurrection and claim that Sayyidina Ali al-Murtadha (RA) did not die and will return to the world before the Day of Judgment.
The saved sect is Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah, the people of Hadith, and they are the majority.
The evidence that Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah is the saved sect is that there is no doubt that the saved group will adhere to the religion of Allah, which is what was revealed in the Quran and clarified by the Sunnah of the Messenger. Ahl al-Sunnah says: Allah is One:
(“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”)
No part of creation is comparable to Him in any way, as having a partner would imply similarity in the aspect they share. Allah's names are only those He named Himself in His Book or through His Messenger, or those upon which the Ummah has agreed (not ambiguous ones). Similarly, Allah is described only with those attributes He or His Messenger described Him with, or those upon which Muslims have agreed.
Anyone who attributes something to Allah beyond this is misguided. We affirm that Allah is capable, knowledgeable, alive, hearing, seeing, speaking, giving life, and causing death. He has power, knowledge, life, hearing, seeing, speech, will, and other attributes. He has always possessed these attributes, none of which are created.
Although various sects claim to adhere to Allah's religion, they have innovated within it and follow ambiguous aspects in search of discord and interpretation. Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah have not deviated from the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the righteous predecessors. They have not pursued ambiguity for discord and interpretation, but have followed the consensus of the Sahabah, Tabi'in, and subsequent Muslims in word and deed.
Beliefs that Muslims differ on, which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah and have not been agreed upon by the Ummah, are innovations and fall under the Prophet's saying:
“Whoever introduces something into our matter (religion) that is not from it, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 200, Sahih Muslim: 1718)
Beliefs that Muslims differ on, with a basis in the Quran and Sunnah (i.e., ambiguous ones), must be believed in, and their interpretation referred to Allah. It is said as Allah has said:
(“But no one knows its true interpretation except Allah. And those firm in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.’”)
We do not delve into the interpretation of ambiguous matters. As for the issues of ijtihad and religious branches where Muslims differ, they do not render a person an innovator nor subject them to condemnation or warning.
(Abu al-Qasim Ismail bin Muhammad al-Asbahani (d. 535 AH) is considered among the great Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah. His sayings are taken from "Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/409-411.")
Al-Imam Al-Hafiz Qiwam al-Sunnah Abu al-Qasim Ismail bin Muhammad al-Asbahani (d. 535 AH) writes:
Some scholars state that there are seven fundamental issues that have led to the misguidance of sects:
- The Concept of Allah's Essence
- The Concept of Allah's Attributes
- The Concept of Allah's Actions
- The Concept of Warning (regarding sins)
- The Concept of Faith
- The Concept of the Quran
- The Concept of Imamate
The people of Tashbih believe in anthropomorphism, likening Allah to His creation. The Jahmi deny Allah's names and attributes. The Qadari do not acknowledge that both good and evil are created by Allah. The Khariji claim that a Muslim becomes a disbeliever due to committing major sins. The Murji assert that actions are not a part of faith, and that a person who commits major sins remains a true believer, with no increase or decrease in faith. The Rafidhi deny bodily resurrection and claim that Sayyidina Ali al-Murtadha (RA) did not die and will return to the world before the Day of Judgment.
The saved sect is Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah, the people of Hadith, and they are the majority.
The evidence that Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah is the saved sect is that there is no doubt that the saved group will adhere to the religion of Allah, which is what was revealed in the Quran and clarified by the Sunnah of the Messenger. Ahl al-Sunnah says: Allah is One:
"لَیْسَ کَمِثْلِہٖ شَیٌء وَّھُوَ السَّمِیْعُ الْبَصِیْر"(الشوریٰ؛ ۱۱)
(“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”)
No part of creation is comparable to Him in any way, as having a partner would imply similarity in the aspect they share. Allah's names are only those He named Himself in His Book or through His Messenger, or those upon which the Ummah has agreed (not ambiguous ones). Similarly, Allah is described only with those attributes He or His Messenger described Him with, or those upon which Muslims have agreed.
Anyone who attributes something to Allah beyond this is misguided. We affirm that Allah is capable, knowledgeable, alive, hearing, seeing, speaking, giving life, and causing death. He has power, knowledge, life, hearing, seeing, speech, will, and other attributes. He has always possessed these attributes, none of which are created.
Although various sects claim to adhere to Allah's religion, they have innovated within it and follow ambiguous aspects in search of discord and interpretation. Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah have not deviated from the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the righteous predecessors. They have not pursued ambiguity for discord and interpretation, but have followed the consensus of the Sahabah, Tabi'in, and subsequent Muslims in word and deed.
Beliefs that Muslims differ on, which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah and have not been agreed upon by the Ummah, are innovations and fall under the Prophet's saying:
"من أحدث فی أمرنا ما لیس منہ ، فھورد"
“Whoever introduces something into our matter (religion) that is not from it, it is rejected.”
(Sahih Bukhari: 200, Sahih Muslim: 1718)
Beliefs that Muslims differ on, with a basis in the Quran and Sunnah (i.e., ambiguous ones), must be believed in, and their interpretation referred to Allah. It is said as Allah has said:
"وَ مَا یَعۡلَمُ تَاۡوِیۡلَہٗۤ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ ۘؔ وَ الرّٰسِخُوۡنَ فِی الۡعِلۡمِ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ ۙ کُلٌّ مِّنۡ عِنۡدِ رَبِّنَا"(آل عمران:۷)
(“But no one knows its true interpretation except Allah. And those firm in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.’”)
We do not delve into the interpretation of ambiguous matters. As for the issues of ijtihad and religious branches where Muslims differ, they do not render a person an innovator nor subject them to condemnation or warning.
(Abu al-Qasim Ismail bin Muhammad al-Asbahani (d. 535 AH) is considered among the great Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah. His sayings are taken from "Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah: 2/409-411.")