Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said in Al-Aqidah Al-Wasitiyyah:
By these principles [Ahl us-Sunnah wal Jama’ah] encourage well-known righteous deeds and forbid evil deeds in accordance with what is ordained by the Sharia. And they believe in practicing Hajj (pilgrimage) and Jihad (struggle for the cause of Allah), in attending Friday communal prayers and the holidays with the leaders, be they pious or wicked, and in observing the community prayers. They believe in advising the Ummah (nation of Muslims), and they firmly believe in the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم saying:
الْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ الْمَرْصُوصِ؛ يَشُدُّ بَعْضَهُ بَعْضًاA believer is for a believer as a structure, each supporting the other.[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6257]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم interlaced
his fingers while saying this. And [they likewise firmly believe] the
saying of the Prophet:
[Ahl us-Sunnah] encourage patience for people when calamity strikes, and are thankful in the time of life’s ease, and are accepting of the fulfillment of the Irreversible Decree of Allah. They call on people to practice noble manners and righteous deeds, and to firmly believe the saying of the Prophet:مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ وَتَعَاطُفِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ؛ إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ؛ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بُالْحُمَّى وَالسَّهَرِThe example of the believers in their affection and compassion and benevolence is like the body. If one part of it becomes sick, the whole body comes to its aid with fever and sleeplessness.[Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6258]
أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًاThe most complete believers in faith are those with good character.[Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Book 10, Number 1162]
[Ahl us-Sunnah] encourage
people to reconcile relations with those who have cut them off, to give
[charity] to those who have deprived them, and to forgive those who have
oppressed them. They order people to keep benevolence with parents, to
uphold ties of family, to be benevolent with neighbors, to be kind with
orphans, wayfarers and the poor, and to be gentle with servants. They
forbid bragging, arrogance and transgression. They prevent people from
feeling superior over others, rightly or wrongly. And they bid people
use lofty manners and prohibit them from pursuing trifles. All that they
say or do from the above [good character] or from other [teachings], in
all of it they follow the Book and the Sunnah. Their “path” is the
religion of Islam, for which Allah sent Muhammad.
But for all this, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم foretold that his Ummah “will split into seventy-three factions, all of them in Hell except one: The Jama’ah (the Community).” [Ahmad]And (the Prophet) صلى الله عليه وسلم said in another Hadith:
Those referred to in this saying, those who hold firmly to pure, unadulterated Islam, are the people of the Sunnah and the Jama’ah. Among them are the truthful, the martyrs, the righteous, included in them are the testimonials of guidance, the lamps for darkness, the masters of memorable merits, the ever-remembered virtues. Among them are the righteous Imams about whose judgment and understanding all Muslims agree. These are the victorious ones about whom the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:هُمْ مَنْ كَانَ عَلَى مِثْلِ مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ الْيَومَ وَأَصْحَابِيThey are those who will follow what I am and my companions are upon.[At-Tirmidhi]
Therefore, we ask Allah Almighty “to make us part of them, and not to let our hearts swerve after He has guided us and to bestow on us Mercy from Him. Indeed, He is, The Generous. Allah knows best.”لاَ تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي عَلَى الْحَقِّ مَنْصُورَةً، لاَ يَضُرُّهُم مَّنْ خَالَفَهُمْ، وَلاَ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ؛ حَتَّى تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُA group of my Ummah will continue to follow the truth prominently. Whoever betrays them or opposes them can never harm them until the Day of Judgment.[Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim]
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
