Al-Boriqi
6th April 2005, 22:41
Part One
The word sunni actually is to denote a person who follows the sunnah of Muhammad salalahu alaihi wa salam.
While most of the muslim world has this in mind, the problem in understanding it this vaguely is that mostly all of them beleive that sunnis have different sects in them. On top of this anyone who proclaims that they follow the sunnah is automatically deemed sunni.
So to clarify the matter, first of all the full name of the group is ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah or ahlul-hadeeth wal athar or ahlu-sunnah wal hadeeth.
Now the problem with the understanding of most of the people is due to lack of knowledge pertaining to the principles and characteristics of this group.
Example, a person can say they are sunni ort hat they follow the sunnah and totally oppose the actualsunnah of Muuhammad and the jama'ah of ahlu-sunnah in the matters of practicing innovations, or in matters of beleifs, or in matters of methodologies, or in matter of giving dawah.
example of a couple characteristics of ahlu-sunnah is that
They follow the sunnah and abandon innovations. They shun sectarian divisions and differences in the religion.
They also followthe guidance ofthe trustyworthy scholars- the Companions and those who travers their path- following them in knowledge, actions, and calling to Allah. They keep away from those who oppose their path.
So for example, if a muslim claims to be a sunni or follows the sunnah, and he partakes with innovation or allows himself to be friends and has allegience with them, then this is total opposition to the methodology of what is ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah. So the one who adopts this path is actually in opposition to the path of ahlu-sunnah which are the companions and those who follow their ways. So according to ahlu-sunnah, the person who fell into this is outside the fold of ahlu-sunnah and is really not a sunni.
The same goes for a person who beleives and allows for partisanship or what is known as hizbiyyah. If a muslim partakes himself in a group, and that group in their beleifs or methodology opposes what is with ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah then that person is really not a sunni despite his or her claim due to their opposition against the book and the sunnah.
Again another example is someone who claims to be a sunni or one who follows the sunnah of Muhammad
Yet this person beleives in what is known as wahdatul-wujood (unity of existance between the Creator and the created: basicallty that Allah is everywhere)
So whene it was asked to the muhadith of Pakistan Shaykh Zubair Ali az-Za'ee the question
Q. What is the ruling regarding a person who beleives in the concept of wahdatul-wujood and also knows the proofs and evidence of Allah being above the seven heavens (seperate from the creation), and above His Throne in a Majestic manner that suits Him. Also some brothers have established the proofs against him either by talking to him or writing to him?
A. This man is a mushrik (polytheist). The ruling regarding this man is the same ruling we have for the mushrikeen polytheists), and the shirk (polytheism) of this man is more severe than the shirk of the christians.
So if one who claim to be sunni or that follows the sunnah has this beleif then by default they fall out of what is with ahlu-sunnah wal-hadeeth and enter the sects.
There weill be some more regarding this and the stances between the people of the sunnah and hadeeth and the opposers who oppose them inshallah
asalamu alaikum
The word sunni actually is to denote a person who follows the sunnah of Muhammad salalahu alaihi wa salam.
While most of the muslim world has this in mind, the problem in understanding it this vaguely is that mostly all of them beleive that sunnis have different sects in them. On top of this anyone who proclaims that they follow the sunnah is automatically deemed sunni.
So to clarify the matter, first of all the full name of the group is ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah or ahlul-hadeeth wal athar or ahlu-sunnah wal hadeeth.
Now the problem with the understanding of most of the people is due to lack of knowledge pertaining to the principles and characteristics of this group.
Example, a person can say they are sunni ort hat they follow the sunnah and totally oppose the actualsunnah of Muuhammad and the jama'ah of ahlu-sunnah in the matters of practicing innovations, or in matters of beleifs, or in matters of methodologies, or in matter of giving dawah.
example of a couple characteristics of ahlu-sunnah is that
They follow the sunnah and abandon innovations. They shun sectarian divisions and differences in the religion.
They also followthe guidance ofthe trustyworthy scholars- the Companions and those who travers their path- following them in knowledge, actions, and calling to Allah. They keep away from those who oppose their path.
So for example, if a muslim claims to be a sunni or follows the sunnah, and he partakes with innovation or allows himself to be friends and has allegience with them, then this is total opposition to the methodology of what is ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah. So the one who adopts this path is actually in opposition to the path of ahlu-sunnah which are the companions and those who follow their ways. So according to ahlu-sunnah, the person who fell into this is outside the fold of ahlu-sunnah and is really not a sunni.
The same goes for a person who beleives and allows for partisanship or what is known as hizbiyyah. If a muslim partakes himself in a group, and that group in their beleifs or methodology opposes what is with ahlu-sunnah wal jama'ah then that person is really not a sunni despite his or her claim due to their opposition against the book and the sunnah.
Again another example is someone who claims to be a sunni or one who follows the sunnah of Muhammad
Yet this person beleives in what is known as wahdatul-wujood (unity of existance between the Creator and the created: basicallty that Allah is everywhere)
So whene it was asked to the muhadith of Pakistan Shaykh Zubair Ali az-Za'ee the question
Q. What is the ruling regarding a person who beleives in the concept of wahdatul-wujood and also knows the proofs and evidence of Allah being above the seven heavens (seperate from the creation), and above His Throne in a Majestic manner that suits Him. Also some brothers have established the proofs against him either by talking to him or writing to him?
A. This man is a mushrik (polytheist). The ruling regarding this man is the same ruling we have for the mushrikeen polytheists), and the shirk (polytheism) of this man is more severe than the shirk of the christians.
So if one who claim to be sunni or that follows the sunnah has this beleif then by default they fall out of what is with ahlu-sunnah wal-hadeeth and enter the sects.
There weill be some more regarding this and the stances between the people of the sunnah and hadeeth and the opposers who oppose them inshallah
asalamu alaikum