The current Grand Imam of al-Azhar, the leading Sunni Sufi Scholar Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayeb, defined what is meant by ‘Ahlus Sunnah’ or Sunni Islam
?He stated: “Ahlus Sunna wal Jama’ah are the Ash’arites or Maturidis (adherents of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi’s systematic theology which is also identical to Imam Abu Hasan al-Ash’ari’s school of logical thought). In matters of belief, they are followers of any of the four schools of thought (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki or Hanbali) and are also the followers of pure Sufism in doctrines, manners and [spiritual] purification.”
?Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama^ah are known as either Asha^irah, Ash^ariyyah or Maturidiyyah in school of knowledge. The Hafidh Al-Murtada Az-Zabidiyy in his book Sharh Ihya’ ^Ulumid-Din said:
“If the term Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama^ah is used broadly, it refers to the people who took the knowledge from the route of Al-Ash^ariyy named Al-Ash^ariyyah, or the people who took their knowledge from the route of Al-Maturidiyy named Al-Maturidiyyah.”
?Najm ad-Din al-Ghazzi (d. 1061/1651; Rahimahullah) wrote: ‘Ahl as-Sunnah Wa’l Jama’ah are those ulama who keep on the right path of Rasullullah (Peace and blessings be upon him) and as-Sahaba al-Kiram. As-Sawad al-Azam, that is, the majority of Islamic scholars, have followed this right path.
THE AHL AL-BAYT
Ameer ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه said; “Be mindful of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم regarding his family.”
[al-Bukhari]
SAYYIDUNA ABU BAKR ON AHL AL-BAYT
Ameer ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq رضي الله عنه said; “By the One in whose hands is my life, the Prophet’sصلى الله عليه وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم relatives are more beloved to me than my own relatives.”
[al-Bukhari]
THE AHL AL-BAYT
“The scholars (Ulama) have mentioned that love for the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم household is a reason for homes being increased and filled with good, and enmity towards them is a reason for their destruction and a lack of blessings.”
[Shaykh ibn Ja’far al-Kattani ash-Shafi’i al-Ash’ari رحمه الله]
LOVE THE SAHABA AND AHL AL-BAYT
“The most steadfast of you on Siraat will be the one with the most love for my Ahl al-Bayt and my Sahaba al-Kiraam رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين.”
[Kanzul Ummal]
THE AHL AL-BAYT
‘’Whoever has malice for my Family (Ahl al-Bayt) رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين, will be kept away from the pond (of Jannah) by whips of fire.’’
[Imam al-Tabarani رحمه الله in Mu’jam al-Kabir Hadith 2726]
