Those who are on the straight path Fatwa No: 85403
- Fatwa Date:12-1-2003
Which group is going on right way Berailwy, Deobandi, Tablighi, Wahabi, Najdi, Sunny, Sheaa, etc
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Following the guidance of as-Salaf (the Prophet's ) companions and their followers) in creed and principles, is the only criterion by which we can recognize if some person or group are on the right path or not.
‘Umar Ibn al-Hussein's narrated that the Prophet said: “Verily the best among you (to follow) is my generation (the Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions), then those who follow [i.e. the second generation – those who followed the first generation, known as the Taabi’een], and then those who follow them [i.e. the third generation– those who followed the Taabi’een].” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ibn al-Hussein said: “I cannot remember if the Prophet mentioned two or three generations.” Then, these persons will be followed by those who will testify but they will not be asked to do so (their testimony will not be accepted). They will misappropriate and will not be trustworthy; will take vows, but will not fulfill them, and will suffer from fatness."
Thus, we state that whoever (person or group) follows the guidance of the Prophet and his companions concerning creed and way of life, then he (or they) will be one on the right path and the standard criterion is Allah's Book and the Prophet's () Sunnah.
Allah Says (what means): {……… then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray [in the world] nor suffer [in the Hereafter].} [Quran 20:123]
Allah also Says (what means): {O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book). By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.} [Quran 5:15-16]
In another verse, Allah Says (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."} [Quran 3:31]
In the same vein, Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “All (members of) my Ummah will enter paradise except those who refuse (to enter it). They said: “And who will refuse?” He replied: “Whoever obeys me, will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me, he has refused.” [Al-Bukhari]
You may also refer to the book entitled al-Mausoo'ah, al-Muyassarah fee al-Adyan authored by “World Assembly for Muslim Youth.”
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 82047, 85146, 84166 and 84792.
Allah Knows best.