Page 36 - The Importance of the Ahl Al-Sunnah

HARUN YAHYA

faith of the Ahl al-Sunnah enables one to gain the knowledge of
faith that will lead one to eternal salvation and knowledge of
Allah (swt). In order to abide by the Sunnah, it is necessary to
recognize and follow our Prophet’s (saas) application of the
Qur’an and that of his Companions, who act as a bridge
between us and the Sunnah. Our Prophet (saas) has stated the
status of and need for his Companions:
“My ummah will divide into seventy-three sects. And all of
them will belong to Hell except for one (which will belong
to Paradise).” The Companions asked him to identify the
sect and he said, “The one that will follow the path on
which I walk and my Companions walk.” (al-Tirmidhi)
This sect that attains salvation is known as “al-Firqah al-
Najiyyah” (the Saved Sect). Another name for it is “Ahl al-
Sunnah wal Jama‘ah” (those on the path of the Prophet [saas]
and his companions).
All schools agree, in terms of theology and jurisprudence, on
the line drawn by the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
These schools strive to understand, explain, and live by the will
of Allah (swt) and His Prophet (saas).
When describing the Ahl al-Sunnah, it is also necessary to
describe Salafism, a term derived from the word “salaf.” “Salaf”
is the general name given to the Prophet’s (saas) Companions,
who followed him in the finest possible manner, and to those
who followed them. Al-`aqidah al-Salaf was the belief of all
Muslims before the different schools of theology (i`tiqad)
emerged. In other words, it is the aqidah of the generations of
the Ashab al-Kiram and Tabi'un. Its fundamental doctrine is
that the Qur’an’s verses and the hadiths are to be accepted lit-
erally. Over time, two schools of theology appeared: the
Maturidiyyah and Ash`ariyyah.
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