A brief glimpse at the Ahl al-Hadeeth (Ahl-e-Hadeeth) movement in India

There
follows a brief glimpse at Jamaa‘at Ahl al-Hadeeth in India, so that you
may become more keen to stay close to them. It says in al-Mawsoo‘ah
al-Muyassarah li’l-Adyaan wa’l-Madhaahib wa’l-Ahzaab al-Mu‘aasirah: 

Jamaa‘at Ahl
al-Hadeeth is the oldest Islamic movement in the Indian subcontinent. It is
based on calling people to follow the Qur’an and Sunnah, and to understand
them in the light of the understanding of the righteous early generations,
namely the Sahaabah and Taabi‘een, and those who followed them in
righteousness. They give precedence to them (the Qur’an and Sunnah) over any
other opinion or practice, whether that has to do with beliefs, acts of
worship, interactions with others, morals and manners, or politics and
social issues, in accordance with the way of the scholars who combined the
knowledge of fiqh and hadeeth. They are also opposed to practices and
beliefs of shirk and innovation, and myths of all kinds. End quote. 

Then they said
– discussing the ideas and beliefs of Jamaa‘at Ahl al-Hadeeth: 

The belief of
Ahl al-Hadeeth is the same as the belief of the righteous early generations,
based on the Qur’an and Sunnah. The academic and methodological principles
of Jamaa‘at Ahl al-Hadeeth are based on: 

1.

Tawheed
(affirmation of the Oneness of Allah). Ahl al-Hadeeth believe that Tawheed
is the foundation of Islam. They give precedence in their da‘wah efforts to
spreading the message of pure Tawheed and instilling it in people’s hearts,
whilst explaining the three types of Tawheed, especially Tawheed
al-Uloohiyyah (Oneness of divinity), concerning which many people make
mistakes. They also believe in Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah (oneness of the divine
Lordship) and what it implies, that sharee‘ah should rule the lives of the
Muslims. They are not content only to affirm and implement the Islamic
political system; rather they believe that the rules and regulations
ordained by Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, should shape the
individual’s attitude, conduct and all his worldly affairs, including
legislation and promulgation of laws. 

2.

Following the
Sunnah. Ahl al-Hadeeth focus on following that which is narrated in saheeh
reports from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the
light of the understanding of the righteous early generations. Hence they do
not believe in rigid imitation that calls for adhering to a particular fiqhi
madhhab without asking about the evidence. Rather they call for opening the
gate of ijtihaad to everyone who fulfils the conditions of ijtihaad, and
they call for respect to the mujtahid scholars who follow in the footsteps
of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in
particular. 

3.

They give
precedence to reports over reason, as they give precedence to sharee‘ah,
then they subject reasoning to it, because they believe that sound reasoning
is in harmony with the saheeh Islamic texts, hence it is not valid to oppose
sharee‘ah on the basis of reasoning or to give reasoning precedence over
it. 

4.

Tazkiyyah
shar‘iyyah, i.e., purification of the soul in the manner prescribed in
Islam, using all the means mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah. They object
to innovated means of purification, whether they are advocated by the Sufis
or others. 

5.

Warning
against innovation, because they think that innovation is in fact trying to
make up what Allah omitted and introducing practices on the basis of one’s
opinion and reason. Hence they advocate adhering to the Sunnah and avoiding
all types of innovation. 

6.

Warning
against weak and fabricated hadeeths, because these kinds of hadeeth pose a
great danger to the ummah; hence it is essential to examine the hadeeths
that are attributed to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him), especially with regard to matters of belief and rulings. End quote. 

See:
al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Muyassarah li’l-Adyaan wa’l-madhaahib wa’l-Ahzaab
al-Mu‘aasirah, p. 173-185 

And Allah
knows best.