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The splitting-up and the trials associated with innovations and
desires, which the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam informed us - whose causes he explained, and the cure
which he guided us to - struck the Islaamic Ummah and the nation of Muhammad
sallallaahu
’alayhi wa sallam to such an extent that the
religion became divided and the Ummah split into sects and parties - each party rejoicing in that which it possessed.
Then the sects multiplied and enmity was caused between the Muslims. These
misguided sects caused the spread of weakness in this Ummah, opening the doors to the enemies and revealing to
them suitable points of attack. This resulted in the pillars of unity of the Islaamic
Ummah and its strength to be smashed.
However, Allaah refused, except that His
Deen be preserved and His Light perfected. So He planted a group of people
and prepared them under His Eye, caused them to act in obedience to Him, and
to seize the sword of knowledge, riding upon the truth. They expelled from the
Deen the alterations of those going beyond bounds, the false claims of the liars and the false
interpretation of the ignorant-ones. They scrutinised the false evidences and doubts
and those who aided them; and then completely annihilated them: “And From them there are some
who have fulfilled their obligation, and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed
their covenant which they had concluded.”
[2]
When the false claimants became many, then establishment
of the proofs to show the correctness of these claims was sought from them - and the
proof for these claims varied. So it was said to them: Proof is not established, nor are claims affirmed, nor is
truth established except with the witness of: “That which I and my Companions are upon.”
Then all of the creation stopped and fell back, and Allaah made
from the brothers of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ’alayhi
wa sallam, those who continued upon his way in all their affairs: in ’aqeedah (beliefs),
sulook (manners), tarbiyah (cultivation and education), ’ibaadah (worship),
da’wah (calling to Allaah) and siyaasah (taking care of the affairs of the Ummah). So they
understood the two branches of Revelation - the Book and the Sunnah - with the understanding of the
Salaf (Pious Predecessors) of this Ummah: the Companions and those who
follow them until the Day of Resurrection. And speech about this Aided Group
(at-Taa’ifatul-Mansoorah) is from a number of angles:-
The First Angle: The Saved Sect
Firstly: The Prophetic ahaadeeth prohibiting the splitting-up of
the Muslim Ummah:
Abu Hurayrah - radiallaahu ’anhu - said that the Messenger of
Allaah sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said:
“The Jews split-up into
seventy-one or seventy-two sects. The Christians split-up into seventy-one
or seventy-two sects. And my Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects.”
[3]
The like of this has been related from a number of
Sahaabah, and from them:-
[i] The hadeeth of Mu’aawiyah -
radiallaahu ’anhu:
“Indeed, those before you from the People of the Book split-up into seventy-two sects, and indeed this Ummah
will split-up into seventy-three. Seventy-two are in the Fire, and one in Paradise.
And indeed there will come out of my Ummah a people in whom desires would run through their blood, just as
rabies runs through the blood of a dog.” [4]
[ii] Anas bin Maalik - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“Indeed the Children of Israa‘eel split-up into seventy-one sects, and
indeed this Ummah will split-up into seventy-three sects. All of them are in the Fire except one - and that is the
Jamaa’ah.” [5]
[iii] ’Awf ibn Maalik - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“The Jews split-up into seventy-one sects; one in Paradise and seventy
are in the Fire. The Christians split-up into seventy-two sects; seventy-one in the Fire and one in Paradise. And by Him in
whose Hand is the life of Muhammad! My Ummah will split-up into seventy-three sects; one in Paradise and seventy-two are in the Fire.”
It was said: O Messenger of Allaah! Who are they: He replied: “The Jamaa’ah.”
[6]
[iv] Abu Umaamah al-Baahlee - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“The Jews divided-up into seventy-one sects; seventy in the Fire
and one in Paradise. The Christians divided-up into seventy-two sects, seventy-one in the Fire and one in Paradise. This Ummah will
divide-up into seventy-three sects, seventy-two in the Fire and one in Paradise.” It was said: Describe them for us. So he replied:
“As-Sawaadul-A’dham (the Great Majority).” [7]
[v] ’Abdullaah ibn ’Amr - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“There will come upon my Ummah that which came upon the Children of
Israa‘eel, like for like, hand span for hand span. To the extent that if one of them openly fornicated with his mother, then
there would be in my Ummah the like of this. Indeed the Children of
Israa‘eel split-up into seventy-one sects, and my Ummah will split-up into seventy-three sects, all of them are in the Are except
one.” So it was said: Who is the one: He said: “That which I and my
Companions are upon this day.” [8]
So from these ahaadeeth comes the description of the sect that
will remain upon the original way - who cling to the Sunnah with their teeth - and they are described as “the Saved Sect.” Since it
was saved from diverging from the truth and it will be saved - by the permission of Allaah - from the Fire.
The Second Angle: The Aided Group
Secondly: The ahaadeeth concerning
at-Taa‘ifatul-Mansoorah (the Aided Group).
[i] From Mu’aawiyah - radiallaahu
’anhu - who said:
I heard the Prophet sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam say: “There will
not cease to be a group porn my Ummah upholding the affair of Allaah, not being harmed by those who oppose them, until Allaah’s
Command comes about and they are uppermost amongst the people.” So Maalik ibn Yakhaamir stood
up and said: O Leader of the Believers! I heard Mu’aadh ibn Jabal say: “They are the people of
Shaam.” So Mu’aawiyah - raising his voice - said: “This Maalik claims that he heard Mu’aadh ibn Jabal
say that they are the people of Shaam (Syria, Jordan, Palastine).” [9]
[ii] Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah victorious, until Allaah Command comes and they are
victorious.” [10]
[iii] The hadeeth of ’Umar - radiallaahu
’anhu:
“There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah victorious upon the truth, until the
Hour is established.” [11]
[iv] The hadeeth of Thawbaan - radiallaahu ‘a&u:
9.
‘There will not cease to be agroup from my Ummah victorious upon
the truth, those who oppose them will not harm them, until Allaah-‘s
affair comes and they are like that.“‘12
[v] ‘Imraan ibn Husain - radiallaahu ‘anhumaa:
“There will not cease to be agroup from my Ummahfighting upon
the truth, victorious over those that oppose them, until the last of them
j&bts Maseehud-Dajjaal.-n13
Collectively, the ahaadeeth of at-Taa’ifatul-Mansoorab (the Aided
Group) reach the level of being mutawaatir, as has been stated
by a group from the people of Knowledge; and from them:-Shaykhul-
Islaam IbnTaymiyyahin Iqtidaaas-Siraatul-Mustaqeem
(p.6), as-Suyootee in al-Azbaarul-Mutanaatbirab, az-Zubaydee
in Laqtul-Laalee al-Mutanaatbirah (p.68), al-Kataanee in
Nazmul-Mutanaatbir (no.93) and also our Shaykh al-Albaanee,
bafidbabullaab, in SalaatuPEedain (pp.39.40).
[vi] The hadeeth of Jaabir - radiallaahu ‘anhu:
“KGere will not cease to be adroupj%om my Ummaahfighting upon
the truth, uppermost until the Day of Resurrection. Then Eesaa son
of Mary (‘alayhis-Salaam) will descend and their Ameer will say:
Come and lead us in Prayer. So be will say: No! Some ofyou are the
chiefs of others, an honourfiom Allaah for this Ummah.“14
From these ahaadeeth comes the description of the group
“victorious upon the trutb”which is indeed established for it. And
also Vbe Aided 0nes”since Allaah takes it upon Himselfto protect
it and to make it under His Eye, until His affair comes about, and
they are like that.
[vii] The hadeeth of Salmah ibn Nufail - radiallaahu anhu:
“Now$@in. has come. And there will not cease to be agroupfiom
my Ummah uppermost amongst the people. Allaah will raise up the
hearts ofpeople, so they will fight them, and Allaah will provide for
them whilst they are upon that. Indeed, the center of the home of the
Believers is in Shaam. Andgood is tied to the forelock ofhorses, until
the Day of Resurrection.“15
The Third Angle: the Jamaa’ah
Thirdly: The description of the Firqatun-Naajiyab (the Saved-Sect)
and the Taa%fatuL-Mansoorab (the Aided Group), then is
there any contradiction or difference between them?
The authentic narrations from the Messenger ofAllaah sallallaabu
‘alaybi wa sallam specify the characteristics, manbaj
(methodology) and condition of the Saved-Sect and Aided
Group. However, here we will talk only about the manhaj:
[viii] ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir - radiallaabu ‘anbu:
?l%ere will not cease to be a pamporn my Ummab, fightimg upon
Allaab-‘sorder, [overcoming their enemy] those who oppose them will
not harm them, until the Hour comes to them and they are upon
As for the manbaj, then there are three wordings reported which
restricts its description:
[i] “That which I and my Companions are upon” - as is in the
narration of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Arm radiallaabu ‘anbu.
rbat.“16
ix] The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah - radiallaabu ‘anbu:
Y%ere will not cease to be a8roupfrom my Ummab upon Allaah’s
a..air, they will not be harmed by those who oppose them.-n17
1x1 Qurrah ibn Ayaas - radiallaabu ‘anbu:
W’ben the people of Sbaam become corrupt then there will be nogood
in you. And there will not cease to be agroupjkom my Ummab being
helped, and those who oppose them will not harm them, until the
Hour is established. x1 8
[xi] Jaabir ibn Samurah - radiallaabu ‘anbu:
“This Deen will not cease to be upright with a Broup of Muslims
fightingfor it, until the Hour is establisbed.U19
[xii] Sa’d ibn Abee Waqqaas radiallaabu ‘anbu:
“There will not cease to be a Broup frOm my Ummab mighty and
victorious upon the Deen, until the Hour is establisbed.U20
[xiii] Abu ‘Inabah al-Khawlaanee - radiallaabu
‘anbu
“Allaah will never cease to plantsome people in this Deen, employing them in His obedience, until the Hour is establisbed.“21
There are other ahaadeeth also, concerning this matter.
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