Question: Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Shalih Al Uthaymeen was asked,
“What are the principles of Ahl Sunnah wal Jama’ah in the matter of creed and other religious matters?
Answer:
The principles of Ahl Sunnah wal Jama’ah regarding the matter of creed and other religious matters is to adhere to the Qur’an and sunnah of Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, also the guidance and sunnah (examples, -ed) of the rightly-guided caliphs after him. It is because Allah the Glorified and Exalted had decreed,
“(O Messenger), tell people: “If you indeed love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and will forgive you your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.” [Ali-Imran/The Family of Imran: 31]
“He who obeys the Messenger thereby obeys Allah; as for he who turns away, We have not sent you as a keeper over them!”[An-Nisa/The Women ; 80]
“So accept whatever the Messenger gives you, and refrain from whatever he forbids you. And fear Allah: verily Allah is Most Stern in retribution. “ [Al-Hasyr/The Exile: 7]
Even though the verse was revealed upon the distribution of the spoils of war, but it should be emphasized more upon the other religious matters, since the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ever gave a sermon in front of the people on one Friday and said,
“And after that, verily, the best among the sayings is the Holy Book, and the best among guidances is the guidance of Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- and the worst matter is the innovated one, and everything innovated is a heresy, and every heresy is deviation, and everything deviated will enter the hell.” [1]
And his saying -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-
“For you to hold strongly to my sunnah, and the sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs after me, clung onto it, and bite it with your molar teeth, and stay away from the innovated thing, indeed, everything innovated is a heresy and every heresy is a deviation.”[2]
There are plenty of indications in this matter. Thus the path of Ahl Sunnah wal Jama’ah and their way of life is to adhere to the Holy Book and sunnah of Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- and also sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs after his death. Therefore, they, the Ahl Sunnah wal Jama’ah establish their religion and they do not split up regarding it, as a realization of Allah’s decree -Glorified and Exalted be He-, which can be translated as,
“He has prescribed for you the religion which He enjoined upon Noah and which We revealed to you (O Muhammad), and which We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus, commanding: “Establish this religion and do not split up regarding it.” What you are calling to is very hard upon those who associate others with Allah in His Divinity. Allah chooses for Himself whomsoever He pleases and guides to Himself whoever penitently turns to Him.” [Asy-Syura/The Consultation : 13]
They are the people who, although a feud takes place among them due to individual interpretation upon the matters in which it is allowed, but this feud doesn’t cost them a split up among their hearts. Instead, you’ll find them unite and love each other, although a feud that comes from individual interpretation happened among them.
[Rewritten from the book “Majmu Fatawa Arkanil Islam”, Indonesian title “Majmu Fatawa Solusi Problematika Umat Islam Seputar Akidah dan Ibadah”, by Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Shalih Al Uthaymeen, Published by Pustaka Arafah].