Assalam Walaikum Wa Rahmat Ullahi Wa Bara Katu Hu!
We often find people quoting Weak hadith to support their stance, there is a hadith that “Follow the Largest Group”, and there are other hadiths which talks about Jammat (Group) or Community not Sawad Al Adh`am (Majority).
First we do critical analysis on the hadith of Sawad Al-Adh`am then we put forward some questions to these people.
The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“…Follow the way of the largest group !” [Sunnan Ibn Majah, Hadith # 3950, same hadith is Narrated by Ibne Hameed and Muhaddith Ibne Abi Asim in his As Sunnah hadith no: 84]
Objections
1. Abu khalf al-a’maa is rejected in hadith
2. Muaan bin Rafa`a has some weakness in hadeeth
1. Abu khalf al-a’maa is rejected in hadith
All the 3 chains contain the narrator “Abu Khalf Al-A`maa” who has been declared Matruk Al-Hadith by Hafidh Ibn-e-Hajar Asqalani (rah), Ibn-e-Maeen said to him Kazzab (liar), Ibn-e-Kathir (rah) said that this hadith has Weak Isnaad.
a) Allama Sindhi (rah) stated
وفي الزوائد في إسناده أبو خلف الأعمى واسمه حازم بن عطاء وهو ضعيف وقد جاء الحديث بطرق في كلها نظر قاله شيخنا العراقي في تخريج أحاديث البيضاوي .
and in Zawaid the Chain contains Abu Khalf Al-Ami who is Hazam bin Ata, he is weak.and this Hadeeth has come from many paths and in every one there is a need for checking as our shaykh al Iraqi mentions in his Takhreej Ahaadeeth al Baydaawee [Hashiya Nisai about this hadith in the same Chapter Vol 2 Page 464]
b) Ibn e hajar al asqalani RA said
Matrooq (Rejected)[Taqreeb at tahdheeb:8083]
c) Abu hatim al razi said
Shaykh who express Rejected ahadith and he was not strong [Al jarh wa tadeel 3/279]
2. Muaan bin Rafa`a had some weakness in hadeeth
a) Ibne Adyy Mentioned him in Al Kamil fe Duafa Al Rijaal
ثنا ابْن حَمَّاد , ثنا عَبَّاس , عن يَحْيَى , قَالَ : معان بْن رفاعة ضعيف.
سمعت ابْن حَمَّاد يَقُول : قَالَ السعدي : معان بْن رفاعة السلامي ليس بحجة .
Yahya bin Maieen said Mu`an bin Rafa`a is weak, Sa`adi said Mu`an bin Rafa`a Al Salami is not authority
b) Ibne Hajar said
معان بضم أوله وتخفيف المهملة بن رفاعة السلامي بتخفيف اللام الشامي لين الحديث كثير الإرسال من السابعة مات بعد الخمسين
….Lain al Hadeeth katheer al Irsaal… [At Taqreeb]
Another hadith of Musnad Ahmad :
روى أحمد بن حنبل (164 ـ 241هـ ) في مسنده ، قال : حدّثنا أبواليمان ، حدّثنا ابن عياش ، عن البختري بن عبيد بن سليمان ، عن أبيه ، عن أبي ذر ، عن النبي صلّى الله عليه و آله و سلّم ، أنّه قال : «إثنان خير من واحد ، وثلاثة خير من اثنين ، وأربعة خير من ثلاثة ، فعليكم بالجماعة ، فإنّ الله عزّوجلّ لن يجمع أمتي إلّا على هدى
Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that, “Two are better than one, and three better than two; so stick to the Jama’ah for verily Allah, Most Great and Glorious, will only unite my nation on guidance.”
Imam Dhahhabi says about Ibn-e-Ayash Al-Humaidi he is Majhul (Unknown).
So this hadith is weak also. Even if it is proven Sahih, it is talking about Consensus not Majority.
There is another hadith
قالوا: يا رسول الله ! ما السواد الأعظم ؟ قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من كان على ما أنا عليه وأصحابي
The Companions asked what is Sawad-Al-Azam O Prophet (Peace be upon him)?. He replied who is on the way on which I and my companions are.[Majma Al-Zawaid 418 “Katheer bin Marwan is very weak”]
What about this narrration, if it is found to be Sahih that Sahaba asked the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) what is Sawad Al-Azaam he replied on which I and my companions are.
The understanding of the scholars
a) Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon:
الجماعة ما وافق الحق ، وإن كنت وحدك
“The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”
b) Imam Sufiyan bin Uayniya ra said
اسلكوا سبيل الحق ولا تستوحشوا من قلة أهله
Be on the way of truth, do not worry if the people of truth are lesser. [at-Tamheed 17/429]
c) Muhaddith Ibn Abi Asim(died 287 h) said after this hadith:
Sawad al Adam means “TRUTH AND PEOPLE OF TRUTH.” [As Sunnah Ibn e abi Asim hadith no: 84]
d) Mulla Ali al Qari said:
وقيل : المراد جمع المسلمين الذين هم في طاعة الإمام وهو السلطان الأعظم ، وقيل : الجماعة من أهل الإيمان ، وقيل : الكتاب والسنة لكثرة معانيهما ، وقيل : كل عالم عامل بالكتاب والسنة . في الأزهار : اتبعوا السواد الأعظم يدل على أن أعاظم الناس العلماء وإن قل عددهم ولم يقل الأكثر لأن العوام والجهال أكثر عددا
It is said: It means the gathering of the Muslims on the obedience of the Imam who is Sultan, It is said: (Following) a Group among the people of faith, It is said: it means following Quran and Sunnah.. It is said: Follow every scholar who knows Quran and sunnah, It is mentioned in al Azhaar: “Following Sawad al Adam” is evidence of (following) great scholars of people, even if they are less in numbers, and (the meaning of Adham) can not be taken as “Many”, as the awam and ignorants are many in numbers. [Mirqaat 1/206]
e) Ibn al Qayyim said:
واعلم أن الإجماع والحجة والسواد الأعظم هو العالم صاحب الحق وإن كان وحده وإن خالفه أهل الأرض
Know that Ijma, Hujjah and Sawaad al Adam is the scholar upon the truth, even if he is alone and the whole world is against him. [Ailaam al Moqieen 3/397]
f) Imam Tirmidhee said
قال أبو عيسى وتفسير الجماعة عند أهل العلم هم أهل الفقه والعلم والحديث قال وسمعت الجارود بن معاذ يقول سمعت علي بن الحسن يقول سألت عبد الله بن المبارك من الجماعة فقال أبو بكر وعمر قيل له قد مات أبو بكر وعمر قال فلان وفلان قيل له قد مات فلان وفلان فقال عبد الله بن المبارك وأبو حمزة السكري جماعة قال أبو عيسى وأبو حمزة هو محمد بن ميمون وكان شيخا صالحا وإنما قال هذا في حياته عندنا
The commentary of “Jama`ah” according to the people of knowledge is “people of jurisprudence” and “Knowledge” and “hadith”. I heard Jarud bin Muadh who heard from Ali bin Hasan. I asked ‘Abdullâh bin Al-Mubârak, who is the Jamâ’ah? So he said, ‘Abû Bakr and ‘Umar.’ It was said to him, ‘Indeed Abû Bakr and ‘Umar have died.’ He said, ‘So and so and so and so.’ It was said, ‘Indeed, so and so and so and so have died.’ So ‘Abdullâh bin Al-Mubârak said, ‘Abû Hamzah As-Sukkarî is the Jamâ’ah.’ “Abu ‘Îsa (Tirmidhee) said: And Abû Hamzah was Muhmmad bin Maymûn. And he was a righteous Shaykh, and he said this during our lifetime.”[Sunan at-Tirmidhee hadeeth no: 2167, Shaykh Nasir ud din Al-Bani said “”This is supported by the statement of Ibn Mas’ûd (may Allâh be pleased with him), ‘The Jamâ’ah is whatever agrees with the truth, even if you are alone.'(Mishkat al-Masabeeh 1/61 hashiya of the hadeeth no: 173)
g) Hafiz Abu Shaamah said:
“حيث جاء الأمر بلزوم الجماعة، فالمراد به لزوم الحق واتباعه وإن كان المتمسك به قليلا، والمخالف كثيرا، أي: الحق هو ما كان عليه الصحابة الأول من الصحب، ولا حظ لكثرة أهل الباطل بعدهم”
“The order to stick to the jamâ’ah means sticking to the truth and its followers; even if those who stick to the truth are few and those who oppose it are many, since the truth is that which the first jamâ’ah from the time of the Prophet (sall Allâhu ‘alayhi wasallam) and his companions (may Allâh be pleased with them) were upon. No attention is given to the great number of the people of futility coming after them.”[Faydh al Qadir 4/19,Al-Bâ`ith `alâ Al-Bid`ah wal-Hawâdith page 19]
Comment: We have to take the commentaries from the Salaf not from the people of Bid`ah.
h) al Razi said:
وأن ما سواها لا يلتفت إليهم ، وإن امتلأ العالم منهم
No attention should be given to those who follow other than this (Qur`an and Sunnah), even if the world in filled with them. [Tafsir al Kabir al Razi 15/485]
i) Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Baz said
It is obligatory on every person to adhere to the truth, what Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, not to adhere to the methodology of any group, whether it is the Ikhwan al-Muslimeen or Ansaar al-Sunnah or any other group. He should adhere to the truth. If he joins the Ansaar al-Sunnah and helps them with regard matters in which they are following to the truth, or he joins the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen and agrees with them on matters in which they are following the truth, without going to extremes or being negligent, there is nothing wrong with that. But if he adheres to their set of beliefs and never deviates from it, this is not permitted. He has to follow the truth wherever it leads him. If the truth is with the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, he has to follow it, and if it is with the Ansaar al-Sunnah, he has to follow it, and if it is with another group, he has to follow it. He has to follow the truth, and help all other groups with regard to the truth, but he should not adhere to a particular way of thinking never forsaking it even if it turns out to be false or mistaken. That is wrong, and is not permitted. He should be with the group in every way in which they are correct, and not with them in the matters in which they are wrong.[Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanaawi’ah li p. 237.]
j) Shaykh bin Baz said
When the Muslim finds a group that is calling people to the truth, he should help them and be one of them, he should aid them and encourage them, help them to remain steadfast in adhering to the truth. If he cannot find a jamaa’ah at all, then he should adhere to the truth and he will be the jamaa’ah even if he is only one, as Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon: “The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”
The Muslim has to seek the truth. If he finds an Islamic center which promotes the truth, or a group in any place which promotes the truth – i.e., which calls people to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and to sound belief – in Europe or Africa or in any place – then he should join them and seek the truth, doing so with patience, and being with the people of truth.
This is what is obligatory upon the Muslim. But if he cannot find anyone who calls people to the truth, whether a state or a group, then he must adhere to the truth on his own and be steadfast in doing so. In that case he will be the jamaa’ah, as Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon. [Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 179]
Some authentic ahadith in this regard.
Prophet Peace be upon him saidFollow me and my rightly guided caliph (tirmidhi and abu dawood)Abdullah Ibn Masud (RA) has said:من كان مستنا فليستن بمن قد مات، فان الحى لا تومن عليه الفتنة اولئك اصحاب محمد صلى عليه وسلم كانوا افضل هزا الامة… فاعر فوالهم فضلهم واتبعوهم على اثرهم تمسكوا بما استطعتم من اخلاقهم وسيرهم فانهم كانوا على الهدى المستقيم-“Whoever wants to follow an example, let him follow the example of those who have passed away, the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him). They were the best of this ummah, the purest in heart, the deepest in knowledge, the least in sophistication. They were people whom Allah chose to be the Companions of His Prophet (peace be upon him) and to convey His religion, so imitate their ways and behaviour, for they were following the Straight Path.”[Mishqat al Masabih Volume 001, Page No. 68-9, Hadith Number 193]”Follow and do not innovate, for everything has been taken care of, and you must follow the ancient way (i.e., of the Salaf).”Majma Az Zawaid chapter al Iqtida bil Salaf volume 1 page 186meaning we have to follow sihaba and that is what the hadith meaning.
a) Prophet Peace be upon him said
.
…..for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error. [Abu dawood Book 40, Chapter Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah)Number 4590]
b). Abdullah Ibn Masud said:
من كان مستنا فليستن بمن قد مات، فان الحى لا تومن عليه الفتنة اولئك اصحاب محمد صلى عليه وسلم كانوا افضل هزا الامة… فاعر فوالهم فضلهم واتبعوهم على اثرهم تمسكوا بما استطعتم من اخلاقهم وسيرهم فانهم كانوا على الهدى المستقيم-
“Whoever wants to follow an example, let him follow the example of those who have passed away, the Companions of Muhammad (peace be upon him). They were the best of this ummah, the purest in heart, the deepest in knowledge, the least in sophistication. They were people whom Allah chose to be the Companions of His Prophet (peace be upon him) and to convey His religion, so imitate their ways and behaviour, for they were following the Straight Path.”[Mishqat al Masabih Volume 001, Page No. 68-9, Hadith Number 193]
.
Imam Nasr ibn Ibraaheem al-Maqdisi (died 490 hijra) said, after narrating this report from Ibn Mas’ood
وهذا الذي ذكره ابن مسعود وعبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهم ، فقد أخبر الله تعالى عنهم بأكثر منه في غير موضع ، وأزال الشبه عنهم . وكذلك أخبر به الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وأمر بالرجوع إليهم ، والأخذ عنهم ، والعمل بقولهم ، مع علمه بما يكون في هذا الزمان من البدع ، واختلاف الأهواء ، ولم يأمر بأن يتمسك بغير كتاب الله ، وسنة نبيه ، وسنة أصحابه ، رضوان الله تعالى عليهم ، ونهانا عما ابتدع خارجا عن ذلك ، وعما جاوز ما كان عليه هو وأصحابه .
فواجب علينا قبول أمره فيما أمر ، وترك ما نهى عنه وزجر .
وعلى هذا الأمر كان العلماء والأئمة فيما سلف ، إلى أن حدث من البدع ما حدث
This is what Ibn Mas’ood and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said. Allah (may He be exalted) spoke of them (the Sahaabah) in more than one place and proved that they are above any suspicion. The Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) also spoke of them and instructed us to refer to their example, learn from it and act upon what they said. Even though he knew about what would happen in our time of innovations and conflicting whims and desires, he did not tell us to adhere to anything other than the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Prophet and the way of his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. And he forbade us to follow anything that has nothing to do that or to follow anyone who goes in a way other than the way followed by his Companions.
So we must follow his commands and instructions and heed his prohibitions.
This was the way of the scholars and imams in earlier generations, until the time when innovations became widespread.[al-Hujjah ‘ala Taarik al-Mahajjah by Nasr al-Maqdisi, 1/159]
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
وَمِنْ الْمَعْلُومِ بِالضَّرُورَةِ لِمَنْ تَدَبَّرَ الْكِتَابَ وَالسُّنَّةَ وَمَا اتَّفَقَ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلُ السُّنَّةِ وَالْجَمَاعَةِ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الطَّوَائِفِ: أَنَّ خَيْرَ قُرُونِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ – فِي الْأَعْمَالِ وَالْأَقْوَالِ وَالِاعْتِقَادِ وَغَيْرِهَا مِنْ كُلِّ فَضِيلَةٍ أَنَّ خَيْرَهَا -: الْقَرْنُ الْأَوَّلُ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ كَمَا ثَبَتَ ذَلِكَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ وَأَنَّهُمْ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ الْخَلَفِ فِي كُلِّ فَضِيلَةٍ: مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَعَمَلٍ وَإِيمَانٍ وَعَقْلٍ وَدِينٍ وَبَيَانٍ وَعِبَادَةٍ وَأَنَّهُمْ أَوْلَى بِالْبَيَانِ لِكُلِّ مُشْكِلٍ. هَذَا لَا يَدْفَعُهُ إلَّا مَنْ كَابَرَ الْمَعْلُومَ بِالضَّرُورَةِ مِنْ دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ؛ كَمَا قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
It is very well known to anyone who ponders the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the consensus of all groups among Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah that the best generations of this ummah – in deeds, words, beliefs and all other virtues – is the first generation, then those who came after them, then those who came after them, as is proven in more than one report; they are superior to the later generations in every virtue, be it knowledge, deeds, faith, reason, religious commitment, eloquence or worship. Their view of any problem is more deserving of being followed. This cannot be denied except by the one who would refuse to accept that which is well known in the religion of Islam and whom Allah sends astray despite his knowledge, as ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said. [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 4/157]
c) Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: Listen to and obey your ruler, even if he is an Abyssinian slave whose head looks like a raisin [Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6723 & Sahih Muslim]
d) Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: Whoever sees his ruler doing something he disapproves of, he should be patient, for no one separates from the (Muslim) group even for a span and then dies, except that he will die a death of (pre-Islamic) ignorance.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6724 & Sahih Muslim, no. 1849).
e) Sayyiduna Abd Allah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: A Muslim must listen to and obey (the order of his ruler) in things that he likes or dislikes, as long as he is not ordered to commit a sin. If he is ordered to disobey Allah, then there is no listening and no obedience.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6725 & Sahih Muslim, no. 1839).
Authentic ahadith which rejects the idea of following most of the people.
a) Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” [Sahih Muslim no:145]
Al-Nawawi quoted al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad as saying concerning the meaning of this hadeeth:
أَنَّ الإِسْلام بَدَأَ فِي آحَاد مِنْ النَّاس وَقِلَّة ، ثُمَّ اِنْتَشَرَ وَظَهَرَ ، ثُمَّ سَيَلْحَقُهُ النَّقْص وَالإِخْلال ، حَتَّى لا يَبْقَى إِلا فِي آحَاد وَقِلَّة أَيْضًا كَمَا بَدَأَ
“Islam began among a few individuals, then it spread and prevailed, then it will reduce in numbers until there are only a few left, as it was in the beginning.”
Al-Sindi said in Haashiyat Ibn Maajah:
(غَرِيبًا) أَيْ لِقِلَّةِ أَهْله وَأَصْل الْغَرِيب الْبَعِيد مِنْ الْوَطَن ( وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا ) بِقِلَّةِ مَنْ يَقُوم بِهِ وَيُعِين عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ أَهْله كَثِيرًا (فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ) الْقَائِمِينَ بِأَمْرِهِ ، و”طُوبَى” تُفَسَّر بِالْجَنَّةِ وَبِشَجَرَةٍ عَظِيمَة فِيهَا . وَفِيهِ تَنْبِيه عَلَى أَنَّ نُصْرَة الإِسْلام وَالْقِيَام بِأَمْرِهِ يَصِير مُحْتَاجًا إِلَى التَّغَرُّب عَنْ الأَوْطَان وَالصَّبْر عَلَى مَشَاقّ الْغُرْبَة كَمَا كَانَ فِي أَوَّل الأَمْر اهـ .
“Strange” refers to the small number of its adherents. The basic meaning of ghareeb (a stranger) is being far from one’s homeland. “And will revert to being strange” refers to the small number of those who will adhere to its teachings even though its followers are many. “So give glad tidings to the strangers” means those who follow its commands. “Tooba (glad tidings)” has been interpreted as meaning Paradise or a great tree in Paradise. This shows that supporting Islam and following its commands may require leaving one’s homeland and being patient in bearing the difficulties of being a stranger, as was the case in the beginning.
Source: http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/45855
b) Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr bin Al A`as
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم ونحن عنده طوبى للغرباء قيل ومن الغرباء يا رسول الله قال ناس صالحون قليل في ناس سوء كثير من يعصيهم اكثر ممن يطيعهم وكنا
Sahaba asked who are Strangers?? (Prophet peace be upon him replied) They are righteous people among many evil people, who disobey them more than they obey them (end)[Kitab Az Zuhd of Abdullah bin Mubarak hadith no: 775,Musnad Ahmad bin Hamble 2/177,222 Authenticated by Shaykh Ahmad Shakir in Ta`leeq of Musnad Ahmad hadith no: 6650,Shaykh Shoaib Al Arnaoot said this hadeeth is Hasan Laghairih in his Tahqeeq of Musnad Ahmad hadith no: 6650]
Scan: http://images.orkut.com/orkut/photos/PQAAAOlZuUiLhV9CsA82S_ckA5HEF72i9Iqdn7Uj02hBd0T4VCkxztcV8zLMKXQR59dfhBiMAxEFngHONtYDhfHZFE8Am1T1UHcS8vsc8pmGzMCGZYtcQM9vB2s8.jpg
Imam Abu Ishaaq ash-Shaatibi said:
” وَالْآثَارُ فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى كَثِيرَةٌ جَمِيعُهَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى الِاقْتِدَاءِ بِهِمْ وَالِاتِّبَاعِ لِطَرِيقِهِمْ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ، وَهُوَ طَرِيقُ النَّجَاةِ حَسْبَمَا نَبَّهَ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيثُ الْفِرَقِ فِي قَوْلِهِ: “مَا أَنَا عليه وأصحابي
The reports that confirm this idea are many; all of them indicate that one should take them (Sahaba) as an example and follow their way in all situations. It is the way of salvation, as was pointed out in the hadeeth that speaks of the division of the ummah, in which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “… what I and my companions are following.”[al-I’tisaam, 3/307. See also Mirqaat al-Mafaateeh by Mullah ‘Ali al-Qaari, 1/374]
Shaykh bin Baz said
What this means is that the saved group is the group (jamaa’ah) which adheres steadfastly to the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), i.e., believing in and worshipping Allaah alone (Tawheed), obeying His commands and heeding His prohibitions, and adhering steadfastly to that in word, deed and belief. These are the people of truth, the ones who call to right guidance, even though they may be scattered throughout the world, with some in Arabia, some in Syria, some in America, some in Egypt, some in the African countries, some in Asia. They are many groups, but they are known by their ‘aqeedah and their deeds. If they follow the path of Tawheed and belief in Allaah and His Messenger, and they adhere steadfastly to the religion of Allaah which was brought by the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then they are Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah and the saved group, even though they may be scattered in many parts of the world. But at the end of time they will be very few in number. [Kitaab Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 181 (translation taken from Islam qa)]
d) Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A group of my ummah will continue to prevail, following the truth. They will not be harmed by those who humiliate them until the decree of Allaah comes to pass when they are like that.” [Muslim, 1920]
Imam al-Haakim said:
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal did well when he commented on this report by saying that the victorious group who will prevail until the Hour begins is “ashaab al-hadeeth” (the people of hadeeth). Who is more deserving of this description than people who follow the way of the righteous and follow in the footsteps of the salaf who came before us, and exposed the falsehood of the people of bid’ah (innovation) by basing their arguments on the Sunnahs of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? [Ma’rifat ‘Uloom al-Hadeeth, by al-Haakim al-Nisaboori, p. 2, 3]
Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman: The people used to ask Allah’s Apostle about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?” He said, “Yes.” I asked, “Will there be good after that evil?” He said, “Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil).” I asked, “What will its Dakhan be?” He said, “There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them.” I said, “Will there by any evil after that good?” He said, “Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them).” I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Describe those people to us.” He said, “They will belong to us and speak our language” I asked, “What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?” He said, “Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief.” I asked, “If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?” He said, “Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state.” (Bukhari Book #56, Hadith #803)
Conclusion:
1. Hadith of sawad al Adham is weak
2. Even if it is authentic then it means the people of truth and vast majority of Salaf (first three generations) not vast majority people of our time
3. The followers of Islam will be few (strangers) and those who oppose them will be in Majority
4. Muslims are ordered to follow Jamah according to hadith and according to Abdullah bin Mas`ood “The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”
5. Victorious group is the one who follow the way of the righteous and follow in the footsteps of the salaf who came before us as said by Imam Ahmad bin Humble, Victorious group is not the one who is in majority of our time.
Related Links
Strangeness and the Strangers by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
http://www.islaam.com/article.aspx?id=218
Characteristics of the Victorious Group
ttp://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/206
Compiled and written by Asim ul haq and Muhammad Kashif Salafi