The Importance of Being Sunni Muslim

Dear Islamic brothers! It is part of a Muslim’s fundamental beliefs that if he dies on iman (faith) only then he will enter into Paradise a place of eternal bliss where everyone will be in peace with countless bounties. But what does it mean to die on iman? It means to adhere only to those beliefs which have been derived from Quran and Sunnah and our pious predecessor forwarded it to us. And these correct beliefs were passed down to every next generation by the previous and in this way these beliefs reached us in their original form. If one asks what groups of the people amongst Muslims are with those correct beliefs which have been passed on by one generation to other all the way from the companions of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ to our time. We will reply “the Ahl-lus-sunnahwal-Jamah”.

Let’s read few facts about Ahl-lus-sunnahwal-Jamah:

Ahl-e-sunnah is the largest sect of the ummah in terms of its number. It has exactly the same beliefs which were passed on by the blessed companions to the rest of ummah and were originally derived from Quran and Sunnah. The Ahl-lus-sunnahwal-Jamah is addressed with some other names as well e.g. Ahl-lus-Sunnah or Sunnies.

Few Important Features of Ahl-lus-Sunnah

The Ahl-lus-sunnahwal-Jamah, without any doubt, is the largest group of Muslims and the only group whose beliefs are entirely based upon the Noble Qur’an and Sunnah not upon the whims or desires of some people. The beliefs of the Ahl-lus-sunnah are same as the beliefs of the blessed companions of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and as the beliefs of our pious predecessors. There are a lot of prophetic traditions which strongly advise the whole Muslim ummah to remain steadfast on the path of his Sunnah and the way of the noble companion. More over some traditions very categorically state that a Muslim should remain with the largest group of the ummah and indeed the Ahl-lus-sunnah or the Sunnis are the largest group of the ummah.

A Hadith says;

“I have left two things behind me for you (the Ummah). You will never go astray as long as you follow these two things. One of these two things is Allah’s Holy Book (the Qur’an al-Kareem) and the other is the Sunnah of his Most Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.”Another Hadith has been narrated in which The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said that after he passes away apparently his Ummah should remain firmly steadfast upon his Sunnah and upon the way of his four Muslim Caliphs. He advised us to follow only this Path and to be beware of innovations, which contradict the Nobel Qur’an and his Sunnah.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said:

“Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from this group will be thrown into Hell!”

REMAINING WITH THE AHL LAS-SUNNAH WAL JAMA’AH

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ told us to remain with the largest group of Muslims and to remain firm upon their way in beliefs and in actions. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said:

“Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah’s mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell.”

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said:

“He who deviates from the largest group of Muslims, even as much as a hand span, has himself cut off his connection with Islam.”

“Keeping oneself away from the misguided people”

As we have been told to remain with the largest group in the same way we have also been told to keep ourselves completely away from the deviant and misguided sects within Islam.

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said:

“In the period prior to the Day of Judgment, false and deceitful groups will emerge. They will say things to you, which neither you nor your forefathers will have ever heard before. Stay away from these deceitful people and do not let them come near you! Do not be misguided by them and do not let them cause strife amongst you!”

May Almighty Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ keep us on the straight path and save us from every sort of misguidance! Amen