Who are Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (أهل السنة والجماعة)

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah are those who act upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him). They abide by the Book and the Sunnah and call to them. They are the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) and those who follow them righteously. Those are the real adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream. They are the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them and please them) and those who follow in their footsteps and adopt their way in words and deeds. They glorify the Book and the Sunnah, refer to them in seeking evidence and depend on them. A person who is endowed with these characteristics is the one who adheres to the Sunnah and belongs to Ahl-ul-Sunnah (adherents to the Sunnah). They abide by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) of His Messenger (peace be upon him) depending on them and adopting the way of those who take this path among the Sahabah of the Messenger of Allah and those who follow them righteously. Those are the true adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim public opinion; the Sahabah, and those who adopt their path such as Malik, Al-Shafi`y, Ahmad, Al-Thawry, and Al-Awza`y and those following in their footsteps. Those are the adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim public opinion who believe in Allah alone as their deity,believe in His Names and Attributes and describe Him (Glorified and Exalted be He) with them without Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), Tamthil (likening Allah’s Attributes to those of His Creation) or Takyif (questioning Allah’s Attributes). Those are Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. They believe in the Oneness of Allah, abide by His Religion, believe in Him, and His Attributes, and devote their worship solely to Allah. They believe that He is the Lord and the Creator of all the Worlds and that He (Glorified be He) has the Most Supreme Names and Attributes:

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. They oppose Jahmiyyah (a deviant Islamic sect denying some Attributes of Allah, claiming they are ascribed to people and cannot be ascribed to Allah), Mu`tazilah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that those who commit major sins are in a state between belief and disbelief), Rafidah (a Shi`ah group denying the caliphates of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq and `Umar ibn Al-Khattab and making accusations against them and many other Companions of the Prophet), and other sects of the people of Bid`ah (innovation in religion). Those are Ahl-ul-Sunnah (adherents to the Sunnah), who follow the Sahabah and abide by their way in word, deed, and creed. The `Aqidah (creed) of the Sahabah is the Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah), sincere devotion of worship to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He), obedience to His Commands, avoidance of His Prohibitions, and abiding by the bounds laid down by Him. They believe in His Names and Attributes and describe Allah with them in the proper manner that befits Him (Glorified be He) without the least Tahrif, Ta`til (negation of the meaning or function of Allah’s Attributes), Takyif, or Tamthil. Rather, they believe in them and leave them as they are revealed, as Allah (Glorified be He) says:

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ – اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ – لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ – وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “He is Allah, (the) One. “Allah-us-Samad (السيد الذي يصمد إليه في الحاجات) [Allah the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. “He begets not, nor was He begotten. “And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)

Source: Alifta.com

Ahlul Hadeeth (The People of Hadeeth)

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
Author: Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him)
Source: http://www.Sahab.net “The Methodology of the Prophetic Sunnah” (6/386)
Translator: Abu `Abdis Salaam Siddiq Al Juyaanee
Just like there is no generation more complete than the Sahaabah’s generation, there is
no group more complete after them than those who follow them. So he, who best
follows the Hadeeth, the Sunnah, and the narrations of the Sahaabah, is thus he who
is most complete.
This group (The people of Hadeeth) is at the forefront with regards to unity,
guidance, and holding firm to the rope of Allah; as well as the furthest (of all the
people) from disunity, differing, and all kinds of trials and tribulations. Whoever is far
away from what they (the people of Hadeeth are upon), is thus far away from mercy
and (as a result will) enter into all kinds of trials and tribulations.
There is no misguidance or error in any group from the groups of the Ummah greater
than that of the Raafidah; just as there is no guidance or mercy in any group from the
groups of the Ummah greater than that which is found with the people of Hadeeth
and the Sunnah, period! (The people of Hadeeth are) the ones who only seek to bring
victory to the Messenger of Allah (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam); thus, they are his special
(and chosen people) and he is their ultimate Imaam, so their exasperation is not due
to the statement of other than them, unless his (sallAllaahu alaihi wa sallam) statement is
followed. They intend only the victory of Allah and His Messenger (sallAllaahu alaihi
wa sallam).