Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h

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Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h: ( Arabic, أهل السنة والجماعة ) This Arabic phrase means "the adherents to the Sunnah and the community". This is a term used by some Sunni Muslims to refer to themselves, especially the salafis.

The phrase proclaims their adherence to the sunnah, or code of conduct they believe to have been established by Muhammad, as recorded in the hadith, or oral traditions, recognized as authoritative by the Sunni. Sunnis are the majority group among Muslims.

The phrase also refers to the jamaa'h, the assembly or group. This word was first put to use as a political term by Mu'Awiyah in order to prosecute the other group of Ali, the shi'a. Some of the salafis, particularly wahhabis, believe that the Shi'a and Ibadi Muslims have formed sects and separated themselves from the greater Muslim community which they refer to as Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'h. The Salafis, rather than claiming to be a denomination or sect, say that they are non-sectarian, and stand for a commitment to the unity of the sunnis. However, wahhabis, who are the current major branch of salafis differ from the majority of sunnis when it come to the attributes of God. The majority of sunnis are Asha'era.

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Shi'a and Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa'

Shi'a also can mean Jamaa'h in Arabic. But Shi'a are now known to be the group who adhered to [Ahlulbayt] in political history and jurisprudence. They are also called [shi'at Ali] or the group of Ali. Shi'a claim to be the true followers of As Sunna, the code established by the prophet, but they do not refer to themselves as sunnis in the same way that many sunnis claim to be followers of Ahlul bayt but they do not refer to themselves as shi'a. The Shi'a believe they got the true Sunna from the source of trustees whom they claim are ahlulbayt.

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Meaning of Sunna

Sunna or sunnah in Arabic means an oral tradition and code of conduct of a person. It can also mean law. As Sunnah, in Arabic, usually refer to the sunna of Muhammad with some details that follow. Muslims, both shi'a (i.e shi'is) and sunna (i.e. sunnis) regards As Sunnah as their personal religious law. The difference between shi'a and sunnis and the variety of the madhaheb is on the chain of authorities. While Shi'a consider the sunna of their Imams as part of As Sunnah, many Sunnis believe that the sunna of the four caliphates is part of the AsSunnah. Furthermore, some sunnis believe that the sunna of the other companions and even the Taba'een and Taba'een of Taba'een. Finally As Sunnah is an important term for Muslims and its meaning is vast.

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References

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