Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah

Overview

The mainstream body of Muslims who follow the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and the understanding of the Companions. Identified by the Prophet ﷺ as the saved sect (al-firqah an-najiyah) in the hadith of the 73 sects. Encompasses the four schools of fiqh (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) and the accepted aqeedah schools (Athari, Ash'ari, Maturidi).

Key Beliefs

• Following Quran and Sunnah upon the understanding of the Companions (Salaf)
• Accepting the legitimacy of all four Rightly Guided Caliphs
• Four major schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali)
• Affirming Allah's attributes as revealed without distortion or denial
• Belief in predestination (qadr) including its good and evil

Key Figures

• The Four Rightly Guided Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali)
• Imam Abu Hanifa (699–767 CE)
• Imam Malik (711–795 CE)
• Imam al-Shafi'i (767–820 CE)
• Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780–855 CE)

Sources

• Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2641 (73 sects hadith)
• Sharh Usul Itiqad Ahl al-Sunnah (al-Lalikai)
• Al-Sunnah (Ibn Abi Asim)
• Al-Ibanah (Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari)

Sub-Groups