As-

As-Sawad Al-
Al-A'zam
ENGLAND AND WALES
SUNNI MUSLIM ASSOCIATION

Wales - Sunni Muslim Association Firqat An-Najiyya

About SuMA & WSuMA
Our aim is to provide many services to the local Sunni Muslim
Community and especially the young people within the community,
services that include:
Religious Education
Nasheed and Qasida classes
Study circles for Young People
Weekly Dhikr gathering
Home visits to bless your home & family 'In the period prior to the Day of Judgement, false and deceitful groups will emerge.
Events to promote Islam & Spirituality They will say things to you, which neither you nor your forefathers will have heard
before. Stay away from these deceitful people and do not let them come near you! Do
Outings and events for the community
not be misguided by them and do not let them cause strife amongst you!' (Muslim Shareef)
And much more….
For details please contact us :

England Wales Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama’ah

Email: info@suma.org.uk Email: info@wsuma.org.uk
www.suma.org.uk www.wsuma.org.uk ENGLAND AND WALES

SUNNI MUSLIM ASSOCIATION

SuMA Publication -1434AH
10 (July 2013) Second Edition 1
 Hell. Oh Muslims! Therefore, hold fast to the path of Ahl as-Sunnah Wal
As-Sawad Al-A'zam Jama'ah which is called 'Al-Firqat An-Najiyya'. The unique group re-
ported by the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam) to be
Firqat An-Najiyya saved from Hell! Because Allah's help, protection and taking to bliss are
The Majority Group - The Group of Salvation only for those who are on this path. Allah's wrath and torture are for
those who dissent from this path. Today, this Firqat Najiyya has gathered
in the four Madhabs, namely, Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali. One
Dedicated to the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala Alayhi wa Sallam), his who does not belong to any of these four Madhabs is a man of Bid'a”.
Family, his Companions, the great Imams of Madhabs, the Awliya Allah, the
rightful Ulama and all Muslims on the right Path. An eye opener to all those
who wish to find the true path amongst the present day jungle of groups, Imam Muhammad Ma'thum (Radi Allahu anhu) (1007AH-1079AH) in his
each claiming its rightful position. book Mektubat states "O my noble and honourable sir! The essence of all
With ever increasing fitna in the Muslim communities throughout the world, preaching and the most valuable piece of advice is to meet the men of Al-
caused by the ever increasing and different Muslim groups, each claiming lah and keep their company. And being a man of Allah, and adhering to
itself to be on the right path, we have made a sincere effort in this booklet Islam, in its turn, depends on holding fast to the right way guided by the
to resolve two very important, yet, controversial issues. Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama'ah, who, among various groups, are the only
group blessed with the good news that they are the group of Salvation.
1. Did the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) m a k e Unless you follow the way guided by these great people, there cannot be
any reference to his Ummah dividing into groups? Salvation. These statements of ours are confirmed by owners of wisdom,
by scientists and by the kashfs of Awliya. There is no mistaking."
2. If so, which group is on the right path?
Hadith 1.
The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) said "The Jews split into
71 groups; one will enter Paradise and 70 will enter Hell. The Christians split
into 72 groups; 71 will enter Hell and one will enter Paradise. By Him in
Whose Power is the life of Muhammad (saw), without doubt, my Ummah
will be divided into 73 groups. Only one will enter Paradise and 72 will en-
ter Hell."
When asked which group will be on the right path, the Beloved Prophet
(Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) replied, "The main (al-Jama'ah) body of the
Muslims." [Ibne Majah Kitab al-Fitan]

2 9
Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thanni (Radi Allahu anhu) (971AH-1034AH)
states in his famous book Maktubaat “The way of Salvation is followance
of the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. May Almighty Allah bestow blessings
upon the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah, in their speech, in their actions,
laws, for this is the successful group. Besides this, all other groups have
become victims of deception. Today, nobody realises how much these
misled groups will be punished; however, on the Day of Judgement this
secret will become apparent. Even though at that time this knowledge will
be of no benefit to the misled."
"It is compulsory for the wise people to amend their beliefs to be in ac-
cordance with the beliefs of the Ahl as-Sunnah Wa Jama'ah because this
is the only group which will be saved from the fire of Hell."
"Opposing the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah will completely destroy you
forever and make you liable for everlasting punishment. If there are
shortcomings in your worship, then there is still hope of forgiveness. How-
ever, if your beliefs are incorrect then there is no hope of forgiveness at
all."
Imam Rabbani states that Khwaja Ubaid-Ullah Al-Ahrar (Radi Allahu anhu)
(895AH) stated "If I were given all the Kashfs (revelations) and all the
Karamats (miracles), yet were deprived of the faith of Ahl as-Sunnah Wal
Jama'ah, I would consider myself ruined. If I did not have any kashf or
karamas but had lots of faults, and if (only) the faith of Ahl as-Sunnah Wal
Jama'ah were bestowed on me, I would not feel sorry.
Imam Tahtawi Hanafi (Radi Allahu anhu) states in marginalia of the book
Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar “One who departs from the path of the Ulama
(scholars) of fiqh, from As-Sawad Al-A'zam, will have directed himself to
8 3
Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlwi (Radi Allahu anhu) states in his book Fa-
tawah Azeezi "The various parts of the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah in
Aqaa'id (belief) such as the Ash'ariyah, the Maaturdi; in Fiqh (Law) such as
the Hanafi, the Shaafi, the Hanbali, the Maaliki; in Tassawaf (Sufi Orders)
such as the Qadiri, the Chisti, the Naqshabandi, the Suhrawardi; this servant
considers all of them to be the truth."
We could go on quoting many more luminaries of Islam, all in support of the
Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. However, for the purposes of this humble effort
to distinguish truth from falsehood, we have more than enough evidence to
go by.
To conclude, it should be more than clear to any fair minded person that:
1. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) foretold the
division of his Ummah into 73 groups.
2. The Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama'ah is the only group on the right path.
The Sunni Muslims (i.e. the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah) have always been
in majority throughout Islamic history, this fact cannot be denied by any-
one.
Some among groups of Bid'a have caught on to the above Hadiths and are
actively trying to prove that they are Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah.
HALLMARK
At this juncture you may well ask as to the hallmarks of a true Sunni Group
belonging to the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah. Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah
Mosques always have gatherings in which they send Salaams to the Be-
loved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) by standing up with respect.
All Sunni Mosques carry out this honourable practice after Jum'a prayers. If
you don't find these practises in your mosque know that these are not
Mosques belonging to the group of Salvation, the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Ja-
ma'ah!
We end with advice from Imam Rabbani (Radi Allahu anhu) who says in his We shall now prove the authenticity of the afore-mentioned Hadiths and
book Maktubaat “Primary duty of parents is to teach their little children... without doubt make clear which group the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu
Parents who do not teach their children the knowledge written in the books alayhi wa Sallam) had indicated as being the group of 'Paradise', 'Majority
of the scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah will go to Hell together with Group' & the group of 'Salvation'.
their children. Escape from torture in the next world depends only upon
learning and believing the knowledge which these great people deduced
correctly. It is declared in a Hadith that one group will be saved from Hell, For the benefit of any doubting individuals, let it be known, that, no great
and they are those Muslims who follow in the foot-steps of these scholars Imam or scholar of the golden age of Islam ever rejected the above Hadiths
(i.e. Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Scholars)." as being weak in narration or otherwise impaired in anyway, on the contrary
the great Imams have whole heartedly accepted these Hadiths and further
Shaykh Abd'al Haq (Radi Allahu anhu) writes in his famous book Ash'at-al-
more commented on them. They have gone as far as to spell out, in no un-
Lam'at' "The group of Muslims on the correct path, who will enter Para-
certain terms, the name of the 1 true group amongst the 73 groups of which
dise, are the Ahl as-Sunnah-Wal-Jama'ah. It is a well known fact that to fully
72 are the groups of Bid'a (False innovative groups).
understand Islamic beliefs, intelligence alone is not sufficient. The sources
through which we have received Islamic knowledge from the Beloved
Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) are the great pious scholars of Islam. We shall quote the sayings of the great illustrious Awliya and Imams of the
Ahadith and statements of Sahaba clearly prove that the beliefs of the Ahl Muslims as regards the above mentioned Hadiths.
as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah are exactly the same as the beliefs of the Sahaba
As-Sayyad Shaykh Abd'al-Qadir al-Jilani (Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) (470AH)
and the Salaf-e-Saliheen. The new ideas and beliefs have all appeared after
says in his famous book Ghuniyat-ut-Talibeen "There are 73 groups as fore-
the time of our pious predecessor. None of the Sahaba, the Salaf-e-Saliheen
told by Sayyadina Rasulullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam). The group
or the pious scholars of Islam followed new ideas or beliefs. They strictly
which will be saved from the fire of Hell is the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Ja-
abstained from the groups who followed these deviated ideas and beliefs.
ma'ah."
Their beliefs and actions opposed these new ideas and beliefs. All the great
scholars of Hadith and the great scholars of Fiqh of the four Sunni Schools of
thought and their followers all held the belief of the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Ja- Imam Ghazzali (Radi Allahu anhu) (450AH-505AH) in his book Mujarribaate
ma'ah. In addition, all the great pious Muslims and the Sufi Saints of the past states " The Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah is the successful group and it is this
and present followed the way of the Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama'ah. Their great group which weighs or determines its thoughts and its mind according to
literary works stand witness to this fact”. the scales of the Noble Quran."
"If you want a clear proof that what I have said above is correct, then gather
together all the authentic books ever to be written on Hadith, Tafsir, 'Ilm
Imam Sufyan Souri (Radi Allahu anhu) (95AH-161AH) in his book Al Mizaan
al-Kalam, Fiqh, Seerah of the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sal-
al-Qubra states “By Sawad-e-A'zam is meant those who are called the Ahl
lam) and Islamic history. Compare these authentic books with the books
as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah."
4 7
Hadith 3 The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) said
"Without doubt my Ummah will never be gathered in misguidance. When-
ever you see disagreement, then hold fast to the Sawad-e-A'zam (the great
majority)" [Ibne Majah]
Hadith 4 The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) said
“Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from
this group will be thrown into Hell!" [Ibne Majah]
Hadith 5 The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) said "The
devil continually pursues humans as a wolf pursues sheep. The wolf only
dares to attack those sheep which have separated from the rest of the flock
and are standing alone. And so, my followers save yourselves from being
caught in the traps of misguidance and firmly remain with the largest and
most well known group of Muslims!" [Imam Ahmad]
Hadith 6. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) 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 Mus-
lims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be
thrown into Hell." [Tirmidhi]
Hadith 7. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) 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." [Abu Dawud, Imam
Ahmed].
Having quoted no less than SEVEN Hadiths, from authentic sources, two
things become clear:
1. The Muslims will divide into 73 Groups.
2. The largest group will be the right group.
6 5
of the other groups and then it will be obvious, that the largest group of
Muslims is the Ahl as-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah."
Imam 'Abd al-Ghani an-Nabulusi (Radi Allahu anhu)(d1143AH) wrote in his
book Al-Hadiqat An-Nadiyya "The right path is the path of Sahabat al-Kiram.
Those who follow this path are called the Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama'ah. It
should not be confused with many heretical groups that appeared after the
time of the Companions. Al-Imam al-Baihaki (Radi Allahu anhu) said, 'When
Muslims go astray, you should not give up that path even if you are left
alone on that path!' Najm ad-din al-Ghazzi (Radi Allahu anhu) wrote 'Ahl as-
Sunnah Wal Jama'ah are those scholars who keep on the right path of Rasu-
lullah (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) and his Companions, that is As-Sawad
al-A'zam, majority of Islamic scholars have followed this path. The Firqat an-
Najiyya which was defined to be the group of salvation among the 73
groups is this true Jama'ah'."
Hadhrat Shah Wali'ullah Muhaddith Dehlwi (Radi Allahu anhu) states in his
book Aqdul Jayyad "As the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam)
has stated, 'follow the Sawad-e-A'zam', and when the four Madhabs are
within the Sawad-e-A'zam, then following of any one of them, is follow-
ance of the Sawad-e-A'zam. Therefore, refuting any one of them is refuting
Sawad-e-A'zam."
Hadith 2. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam) said “There
was disagreement amongst Jews and they split into 72 groups. In exactly the
same way, there will be disagreement and divisions in my Ummah. It will
split into 73 groups. Apart from one of those groups, all the remaining 72
will be thrown into Hell." When asked which group will be on the right path,
the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam) replied, "The group on
the right path, which will enter Paradise, will be the group which follows
my Sunna and that of my Sahaba and this will be the largest group of Mus-
lims." [Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Mishkat]