By these three pillars (Qur'an, Sunnah, and Ijma') is
measured all that people follow of inward or outward words and acts which have
any relation to din (faith) and to the controlled ijma' of the righteous
ancestors since after them the disagreement increased, and the 'Ummah
dispersed.
Brotherhood Among Muslims
By these fundamentals, then, they bid good deeds and
forbid objectionable deeds in accordance with what the Shari'ah ordains. And
they believe in practicing Hajj (pilgrimage) and Jihad (struggle for the cause
of Allah), in attending Friday communal prayers and the holidays with the
leaders, be they pious or wicked, and in observing the community prayers.They
believe in advising the 'Ummah, and they indoctrinate themselves with the
Prophet's saying:
"A believer is for a believer just as all the parts
of an edifice support each other." (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) intermixed his fingers
while saying this.
And [they indoctrinate themselves with] the saying of
[the Prophet] (peace be upon him): "The example of the believers in their
affection and compassion and benevolence is like the body; If one part of it
becomes ill the whole body comes to its aid with fever and sleeplessness."
(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
[Ahl as-Sunnah] bid people persevere when calamity
strikes, and are thankful in the time of life's ease, and are accepting in the
fulfillment of Allah's Irreversible Decree. They call on people to practice
noble manners and good deeds, and to indoctrinate themselves with the Prophet's
saying:
"A perfect faith belongs to a believer with good
manners." (Reported by Ibn Hanbal and at-Tirmidhi who said it is good and
sound hadith)
[Ahl as-Sunnah] urge people to mend the relations with
those who have broken with them, to give to those who have deprived them, and to
forgive those who have done injustice to them. They order people to keep filial
piety, to be good to other relatives, to be good neighbors, to treat orphans,
wayfarers and the poor kindly and to be gentle and humane to the slave. They
forbid bragging, arrogance and transgression. They prevent people from feeling
superior over others, rightly or wrongly. And they bid people use high manners
and prohibit them from pursuing trifles. All that they say or do of the above,
or of other than it, in all of it they follow the Book (The Qur'an) and the
Sunnah. Their "path" is the religion of Islam, for which Allah sent
Muhammad (peace be upon him).
But for all this, the Prophet (peace be upon him)
foretold:
"That his 'Ummah will split into seventy-three
factions, all of them in Hell except one: The Jama'ah (the Community)."
(Reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal)
And (the Prophet) (peace be upon him) said in another
hadith:
"They are those who will follow what I am and what
my companions are today." (at-Tirmidhi)
Those referred to in this saying, those who hold firmly
to pure, unadulterated Islam, became the people of the Sunnah and the Jama'ah.
Amongst them are the Siddiqs, the martyrs, the righteous, included in them are
the cairns of guidance, the lamps for darkness, the masters of memorable merits,
the ever-remembered virtues; Among them are the Abdal the Imams about whose
judgment and understanding all Muslims agree. These are the victorious ones
about whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"A group of my 'Ummah will continue to follow the
truth prominently. Whoever betrays them or opposes them can never harm them to
the Day of Judgment." (al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Thus, we ask Allah ,The Great "to make us part of
them, and not to let our hearts swerve after He has guided us and to bestow on
us Mercy from Him. Indeed, He is, The Generous. Allah knows best."
May Allah's many blessings and greetings be upon
Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Footnotes
1. The scholars
differed in regard to the "Basmalah"; is it a verse (ayah) of each
chapter (Surah) it opens?, or is it a separate verse which was revealed to
separate between the chapters?, and to be blessed by starting the reading with
it; the second opinion is the preferable one. And they agreed that it is a part
of a verse in Surat an-Naml (27/30), and to abandon it at the beginning of Surat
Bara'ah or (at-Tawbah/9), because it is considered as one chapter with Surat
al-Anfal/8.
2. Al-Hamdu
Lil-Lahi (all the praise belongs to Allah): It was reported from the Prophet
(peace be upon him) that he said:
"Every talk
which does not open with praising Allah and asking mercy for me is incomplete
and has no blessing." (ar-Rahawi) The same thing was reported about the
Basmalah. (Ibn Hibban)