Q. Does the correctness of a person’s methodology determine Paradise or Hellfire for him?

A. Yes. When a person’s methodology is correct he becomes one of the inhabitants of Paradise. So when he is upon the methodology of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and the methodology of the Salaf us-Salih, he becomes one of the people of Paradise by the permission of Allaah. But when he traverses upon the methodology of those who are astray, he has been threatened with Hellfire.[2]

NOTES

[1] Shaikh Bakr Abu Zaid said in his book, "Hukm ul-Intimaa" (p.96-97): "It is not permissible to appoint a person for the Ummah and to call the Ummah to his way and on the basis of whom loyalty and disloyalty is shown, except for our Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). So whoever appointed a person besides him, then he is an astray innovator.

[2] And he is under the will of Allaah, the Most High – this is the aqidah of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. And if it had not been the case that the correctness of a person’s manhaj determines entry into Paradise or Hellfire, then what would be the benefit in his (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam’s) statement: "And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire except one." The Sahabah asked, "And which one is that?" He said, "That which I and my Companions are upon today."