Is Ahl al-Hadith a Sect? Understanding the Difference Between Ahl al-Hadith and Sectarianism

The Islamic Perspective on Ahl al-Hadith and Sectarianism

Question: I do not support sectarianism and do not understand it. In fact, I do not know of any Quran and Sunnah-based institution in Pakistan. The Ahl al-Hadith is said to be correct, but people object that if forming sects is wrong, then Ahl al-Hadith/Salafi also forms a sect. How should this be answered?  

Answer: It is true that Allah and His Messenger prohibited forming sects in religion, but you need to understand what constitutes a sect. A sect is a group formed by deviating from the original and associating it with a personality, such as the Hanafi sect which is based on the teachings of Imam Abu Hanifa. This sect came into existence after the fourth century AH, while it did not exist earlier. Similarly, the Barelvi sect emerged after the birth of Ahmad Raza Barelvi. As for the Ahl al-Hadith, it is not a new sect but a group that has existed since the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This group does not associate itself with any personality but follows the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, deriving its beliefs from the Qur’an and Hadith. According to the prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ, there will always be a group that follows the way of the companions. The Ahl al-Hadith group is the one foretold in the hadith of seventy-three sects, and they are the ones who adhere to the teachings of the Prophet and his companions. Therefore, they are not a sect in the forbidden sense.  

Regarding your statement about there being no Quran and Sunnah-based institutions in Pakistan, this is a misconception, and it is important to rectify this understanding. You should listen to my lectures to gain a better understanding and clear your doubts.

Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah 

Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia  

English Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail