THE GROUP ON THE STRAIGHT PATH- ON THE TRUTH
We are living in an era where new Islamic sects are emerging more frequently in every part of the world. Every group is claiming to be on the straight path. The Wahabis, Ahle Hadith, Deobandis, Tableegi Jamaat, Shia, Qadiyanis, and The Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah all claim to be the true faction. The ordinary Muslim is in dilemma as which faction to follow.
First, we will find out who is a Rashiduun, and then ascertain which is the group that follows the path of the Raashiduun. The faction that follows the path of the Raashiduun will obviously be the group that is on truth and on the straight path.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'Ramadhan is the month in which was sent The Quran as guidance to mankind, with clear proofs of guidance and criterion..'
(Surah Al-Baqara. verse 185)
The Holy Quran is guidance to Mankind. It differentiates between the truth and the falsehood. It differentiates between a believer and an infidel.
So, who are the people who have shown us the straight path?
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And He had made infidelity and wickedness and disobedience hateful to you. Such are the right minded people (Raashiduun)'
(Surah Al-Hujuraat. verse 07)
From this we learn that the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ are Raashiduun. The beauty of faith and excellence of faith is a mercy from Allah Ta'ala. Furthermore, the excellence of faith is not obtained from our own effort but is due to the blessings of Allah Ta'ala. These blessings had been granted to the blessed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum). The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are sincerely disgusted' about infidelity, impiety and sin. Faith, piety and guidance have taken such a fold on their hearts like colour and fragrance in a rose. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar e Farook, Hazrat Uthman e Gani, Hazrat Ali Murtaza, Hazrat Zubair, Hazrat Ubaedah (Radi Allaahu Anhum) and each of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are Raashiduun.
Now! Which group is on the straight path-the path of guidance?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, 'The Bani Israel was split into seventy-two sects. My ummah will be split into seventy-three groups. All of them will be in Hell except one. The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) asked Prophet ﷺ, 'which group will be on the truth?' Prophet ﷺ replied, 'those who are on my path (Ahle Sunnah) and on the path of my companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) (Wal Jamaaat).
(Trimidhi, Mishkat).
From this hadith we learn that the group who follows the path of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) will be in Paradise (jannati). This is because the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are Raashisduun. The other seventy-two sects do not have a guide and will end up in Hell.
The Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah is the only group that has deep respect for all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum), and wholeheartedly loves all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ. This is not only a verbal assertion but the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah practically follows the path of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ. All the beliefs (aqeeda) of the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah are the same as that was of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum).
There are some sects who do not believe in all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ, and there are sects who refuse to believe in the aqeeda of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum).
Alhamdulillah, the Sunni Miladi believes in the greatness and in the dignity of all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum). We, the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah are the only group who believe that the beliefs (aqeeda) of all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are the truth, and all the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) were on the straight path.
From this hadith, we also learn that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had the 'knowledge of the unseen'. During his worldly life, the deviant sects of today were not in existence. They came into existence long time after the passing away of Prophet ﷺ. But Prophet ﷺ told of the today's deviant sects some fourteen hundred years ago. This hadith can only be accepted and believed by those who believe in the 'knowledge of the unseen' of Prophet ﷺ, hence, those who do not believe in the 'knowledge of the unseen' of Prophet ﷺ are in fact nonbelievers of hadith, are hypocrites and are non-believers. According to these sects fallacious belief, Prophet ﷺ did not have the knowledge of the future. Ma'az Allah.
As a result of being a nonbeliever of the hadith of Prophet ﷺ, these mischief people become nonbelievers (munqir) of The Holy Quran.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'And he does not speak of his own desire'
'It is only through the revelations that are sent to him'
(Surah An-Najm. verse 3,4)
Every word and every deed of Prophet ﷺ is from Allah Ta'ala.
So, one sect becomes Jahanammi by refusing to believe in the greatness and the dignity of Prophet ﷺ, and another becomes Jahanammi by refusing to believe in the greatness and the dignity of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) of Prophet ﷺ.
The Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah is the only group that believes in the greatness and the dignity of Prophet ﷺ, and his blessed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum).
Now! This raises the question, 'why only the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) are the Raashiduun?' It is because the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) were made to recite the kalima by Prophet ﷺ himself. The companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) were walked on the straight path by Prophet ﷺ himself, and they did oath of allegiance (bayet) directly on the hands of Prophet ﷺ.
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'Surely, those who swear allegiance to you indeed swear allegiance to Allah'
(Surah Al-Fatha. verse 10)
Prophet ﷺ enjoys such closeness to Allah Ta'ala that the allegiance on the hand of Prophet ﷺ is allegiance to Allah Ta'ala.'
'He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah'
(Surah An-Nisa. verse 80)
Hence, complying with the instructions of Prophet ﷺ is in fact following on the straight path and is the guidance to the truth. It is only the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) who were shown the straight path by Prophet ﷺ himself, and it is only the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) who did bayet directly in the hands of Prophet ﷺ. Prophet ﷺ himself showed the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) (Raashiduun) the straight path to guidance.
'And follow him who turns to Me'
(Surah Luqman. verse 15)
So, we, the Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah follow the pious who followed the Raashiduun. We follow the saints (Awliya Allah) because the path the saints followed leads to Hazrat Ali Murtaza to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq(Radi Allaahu Anhuma) and ultimately to the court of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ - the centre (markaz) of guidance. We, the Sunni Miladi reach where we are commanded to reach.
Hence, the only group on the straight path- the path of guidance is one in which there are saints (Wali). And up till today besides The Ahlus Sunnah Wa Jama'ah, saints have not been found among the deviant's sects namely the Wahabis, Qadiyanis, Shia, Deobandis or the Tableegi Jamaat.
Now! Imagine the status of the companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) (Raashiduun) who did bayet directly on the hands of Prophet ﷺ.
Prophet ﷺ said, ' My companions are like stars, whichever of them you follow you will be rightly guided'
(Musnad).
Allah Ta'ala states in The Holy Quran:
'Such are the right minded people' (Raashiduun).
(Surah Al-Hujuraat. verse 07)
If you wish to stay away from infidelity, sins, and away from defiance of The Holy Quran and hadith, and if you want to be guided on the straight path, then become a servant of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his blessed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum). Following the straight path shown by Prophet ﷺ, and his blessed companions(Radi Allaahu Anhum) is following on The Straight Path To The guidance.
**
This article is an abridged English translation of an Urdu sermon delivered by his eminence, Peer Syed Imroz Dean Saifi, Hanfi, Maturidi of Masjid Anwaar e Madina, Surrey BC Canada
If there is an inaccurate translation, please pardon it and not let it be a means to negatively reflect on the honoured presenter.
