This article is derived from the book "Islam-e-Mustafa ﷺ" authored by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A group from my Ummah will always remain manifestly upon the truth. Those who forsake them will not harm them until the command of Allah comes while they are upon that state."
— Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imarah, Hadith 4950
In another narration, he ﷺ said:
"A group from my Ummah will continue to fight upon the truth until the Day of Judgment..."
— Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 395
Imam al-Bukhari رحمة الله عليه identified this group as Ahl al-Hadith.
✔ Imam Ibn al-Mubarak: “They are the people of Hadith.”
✔ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: “If they are not the Ahl al-Hadith, I do not know who they are.”
✔ Ibn Kathir: “The people will be summoned with their Imams… the greatest honor for Ahl al-Hadith is that their Imam is the Prophet ﷺ.”
✔ Imam Suyuti: "Ahl al-Hadith have no Imam other than the Prophet ﷺ."
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim: “One who hates the Ahl al-Hadith has befriended Shaytan.”
✔ Imam Ahmad: “A person of Hadith is one who acts upon Hadith.”
✔ Ibn Taymiyyah: “We do not limit Ahl al-Hadith to narrators alone, but include all those who follow Hadith inwardly and outwardly.”
Jama‘ah: Those united upon the truth, even if they are few in number. As Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه said:
“The Jama‘ah is that which aligns with the truth, even if you are alone.”
"My Ummah will split into 73 sects, all of them in Hell except one."
When asked which one, he replied:
"Those who follow what I and my Companions are upon."
— Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3992; Tirmidhi, Hadith 2641
This group is both al-Firqah an-Najiyah (the Saved Sect) and at-Ta’ifah al-Mansurah (the Victorious Group).
✔ Ibn Hibbaan: “The Jama‘ah refers to those who adhere to what the Companions were upon.”
✔ Abu Sa‘eed al-Darimi: “The religion is with Ahl al-Hadith.”
Ahl al-Ra’y:
✔ The bearers of sacred knowledge
✔ The shield against innovation and deviation
✔ The true inheritors of the Prophet ﷺ
✔ The Victorious and Saved group until the Day of Judgment
“O Allah, make us among Ahl al-Hadith. Grant us the love of the Sunnah and enable us to act upon it.”
✿ The Everlasting Presence of the Victorious Group
Allah ﷻ has taken the responsibility of preserving Islam through the Qur’an and Sunnah. Among the many means employed for this divine protection is the existence of a Victorious Group (طائفہ منصورہ).The Prophet ﷺ said:
"A group from my Ummah will always remain manifestly upon the truth. Those who forsake them will not harm them until the command of Allah comes while they are upon that state."
— Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Imarah, Hadith 4950
In another narration, he ﷺ said:
"A group from my Ummah will continue to fight upon the truth until the Day of Judgment..."
— Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 395
Imam al-Bukhari رحمة الله عليه identified this group as Ahl al-Hadith.
❖ Who Are Ahl al-Hadith?
Prominent scholars have defined Ahl al-Hadith as the manifest group (طائفہ منصورہ) mentioned in Hadith:✔ Imam Ibn al-Mubarak: “They are the people of Hadith.”
✔ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: “If they are not the Ahl al-Hadith, I do not know who they are.”
✔ Ibn Kathir: “The people will be summoned with their Imams… the greatest honor for Ahl al-Hadith is that their Imam is the Prophet ﷺ.”
❖ Virtues of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah
The path of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah is upheld strictly by Ahl al-Hadith. They adhere to the Qur’an and Sunnah based on the understanding and actions of the Companions.✔ Imam Suyuti: "Ahl al-Hadith have no Imam other than the Prophet ﷺ."
✔ Ibn al-Qayyim: “One who hates the Ahl al-Hadith has befriended Shaytan.”
✔ Imam Ahmad: “A person of Hadith is one who acts upon Hadith.”
✔ Ibn Taymiyyah: “We do not limit Ahl al-Hadith to narrators alone, but include all those who follow Hadith inwardly and outwardly.”
❖ Definition of “Sunnah” and “Jama‘ah”
Sunnah: The path followed by the Prophet ﷺ and his Rightly Guided Caliphs in beliefs, actions, and speech.Jama‘ah: Those united upon the truth, even if they are few in number. As Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه said:
“The Jama‘ah is that which aligns with the truth, even if you are alone.”
❖ The Only Saved Sect
The Prophet ﷺ stated:"My Ummah will split into 73 sects, all of them in Hell except one."
When asked which one, he replied:
"Those who follow what I and my Companions are upon."
— Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3992; Tirmidhi, Hadith 2641
This group is both al-Firqah an-Najiyah (the Saved Sect) and at-Ta’ifah al-Mansurah (the Victorious Group).
❖ Legacy of the Salaf and Ahl al-Hadith
✔ Imam al-Awza‘i: “Restrict yourself to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, stay where the Companions stood.”✔ Ibn Hibbaan: “The Jama‘ah refers to those who adhere to what the Companions were upon.”
✔ Abu Sa‘eed al-Darimi: “The religion is with Ahl al-Hadith.”
❖ Scholarly Endorsements
- Abu Bakr ibn Ayyash: A true Sunni ignores innovated views.
- Ibn Taymiyyah: Ahl al-Sunnah are the best and most just people.
- Ibn Sirin: Post-fitnah, chains of narration were scrutinized to distinguish Sunnah from Bid‘ah.
- Imam Malik, Shafi‘i, and Ahmad are considered among Ahl al-Hadith.
- Shah Waliullah: Ahl al-Hadith rely on Qur’an, Sunnah, and Companions’ traditions—not blind following.
❖ Methodological Distinction: Ahl al-Hadith vs. Ahl al-Ra’y
Ahl al-Hadith:- Centered in Hijaz
- Depend on textual evidence (Hadith, Athar)
- Avoid unnecessary qiyas (analogy)
Ahl al-Ra’y:
- Centered in Iraq
- Depend heavily on reasoning and analogy
- Often prioritize personal opinion over solitary Hadith
❖ The Singular Identity: Ahl al-Hadith
According to Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, the only valid name among the 73 sects is Ashaab al-Hadith, and they alone are the Saved Sect and the protectors of the Deen.❖ Conclusion
Ahl al-Hadith are:✔ The bearers of sacred knowledge
✔ The shield against innovation and deviation
✔ The true inheritors of the Prophet ﷺ
✔ The Victorious and Saved group until the Day of Judgment
“O Allah, make us among Ahl al-Hadith. Grant us the love of the Sunnah and enable us to act upon it.”
