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Assalam Walaikum Wa Rahmat Ullahi Wa Bara Katu Hu!
We often find Misguided people quoting Weak hadith to support their stance, there is a hadith that "Follow the Largest Group", and there are other hadiths which talks about Jammat (Group) or Community not Sawad Al Adh`am (Majority).
First we do critical analysis on the hadith of Sawad Al-Adh`am then we put forward some questions to these people.
The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“...Follow the way of the largest group !” [Sunnan Ibn Majah, Hadith # 3950, same hadith is Narrated by Ibne Hameed and Muhaddith Ibne Abi Asim in his As Sunnah hadith no: 84]
1. Abu khalf al-a'maa is rejected in hadith
2. Muaan bin Rafa`a has some weakness in hadeeth
1. Abu khalf al-a'maa is rejected in hadith
وفي الزوائد في إسناده أبو خلف الأعمى واسمه حازم بن عطاء وهو ضعيف وقد جاء الحديث بطرق في كلها نظر قاله شيخنا العراقي في تخريج أحاديث البيضاوي .
and in Zawaid the Chain contains Abu Khalf Al-Ami who is Hazam bin Ata, he is weak.and this Hadeeth has come from many paths and in every one there is a need for checking as our shaykh al Iraqi mentions in his Takhreej Ahaadeeth al Baydaawee [Hashiya Nisai about this hadith in the same Chapter Vol 2 Page 464]
Source: http://hadith.al-islam.com/Page.aspx?pageid=192&TOCID=1508&BookID=35&PID=7248
b) Ibn e hajar al asqalani RA said
Matrooq (Rejected)[Taqreeb at tahdheeb:8083]
c) Abu hatim al razi said
Shaykh who express Rejected ahadith and he was not strong [Al jirha wa tadeel 3/279]
2. Muaan bin Rafa`a had some weakness in hadeeth
Yahya bin Maieen said Mu`an bin Rafa`a is weak, Sa`adi said Mu`an bin Rafa`a Al Salami is not authority
Source: http://www.islamweb.net/hadith/display_hbook.php?hflag=1&bk_no=491&pid=127985
b) Ibne Hajar said
معان بضم أوله وتخفيف المهملة بن رفاعة السلامي بتخفيف اللام الشامي لين الحديث كثير الإرسال من السابعة مات بعد الخمسين
....Lain al Hadeeth katheer al Irsaal... [At Taqreeb]
c) Even if we accept this hadith then Muhaddith Ibn e abi Asim(died 287 h) said after this hadith:
روى أحمد بن حنبل (164 ـ 241هـ ) في مسنده ، قال : حدّثنا أبواليمان ، حدّثنا ابن عياش ، عن البختري بن عبيد بن سليمان ، عن أبيه ، عن أبي ذر ، عن النبي صلّى الله عليه و آله و سلّم ، أنّه قال : «إثنان خير من واحد ، وثلاثة خير من اثنين ، وأربعة خير من ثلاثة ، فعليكم بالجماعة ، فإنّ الله عزّوجلّ لن يجمع أمتي إلّا على هدى
Abu Dharr (Allah be pleased with him) reported from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that, "Two are better than one, and three better than two; so stick to the Jama'ah for verily Allah, Most Great and Glorious, will only unite my nation on guidance."
Imam Dhahhabi says about Ibn-e-Ayash Al-Humaidi he is Majhul (Unknown).
So this hadith is weak also. Even if it is proven Sahih, it is talking about Consensus not Majority.
قالوا: يا رسول الله ! ما السواد الأعظم ؟ قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من كان على ما أنا عليه وأصحابي
The Companions asked what is Sawad-Al-Azam O Prophet (Peace be upon him)?. He replied who is on the way on which I and my companions are.[Majma Al-Zawaid 418 "Katheer bin Marwan is very weak"]
What about this narrration, if it is found to be Sahih that Sahaba asked the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) what is Sawad Al-Azaam he replied on which I and my companions are.
d) Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: Whoever sees his ruler doing something he disapproves of, he should be patient, for no one separates from the (Muslim) group even for a span and then dies, except that he will die a death of (pre-Islamic) ignorance.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6724 & Sahih Muslim, no. 1849).
e) Sayyiduna Abd Allah (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said: A Muslim must listen to and obey (the order of his ruler) in things that he likes or dislikes, as long as he is not ordered to commit a sin. If he is ordered to disobey Allah, then there is no listening and no obedience.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6725 & Sahih Muslim, no. 1839).
Comment: These are Some Ahadith on community and following leader, so that a person might be able to understand the context of other ahadith which they quote out of context with these weak ahadith, these Ahadith talks about separating from A Group are actually in context describes to follow the Ruler on which Muslim group has taken allegiance and following Ijma of scholars and muhaditheen, but the Deen should be only Qur'an and Sunnah with the understandings of Salaf.
Authentic ahadith which rejects the idea of following most of the people.
a) Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” [Sahih Muslim no:145]
Source: http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/45855
Sahaba asked who are Strangers?? (Prophet peace be upon him replied) They are righteous people among many evil people, who disobey them more than they obey them (end)[Kitab Az Zuhd of Abdullah bin Mubarak hadith no: 775,Musnad Ahmad bin Hamble 2/177,222 Authenticated by Shaykh Ahmad Shakir in Ta`leeq of Musnad Ahmad hadith no: 6650,Shaykh Shoaib Al Aranoot said this hadeeth is Hasan Laghairih in his Tahqeeq of Musnad Ahmad hadith no: 6650]
c) Prophet peace be upon him Said “The Jews split into seventy-one groups and the Christians split into seventy-two groups. My ummah will split into seventy-three groups, all of which will be in the Fire except for one.” He was asked, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “Those who follow the path which I and my companions are on today.” According to one report: “They are the jamaa’ah.” Regarding the meaning of this Narration see the Fatwa of Imam Shanqeeti Rahimullah http://www.suhaibwebb.com/blog/minority-fiqh/shaykh-al-dedo-on-the-sects-of-the-umma-translated-by-u-abdullah/
What this means is that the saved group is the group (jamaa’ah) which adheres steadfastly to the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), i.e., believing in and worshipping Allaah alone (Tawheed), obeying His commands and heeding His prohibitions, and adhering steadfastly to that in word, deed and belief. These are the people of truth, the ones who call to right guidance, even though they may be scattered throughout the world, with some in Arabia, some in Syria, some in America, some in Egypt, some in the African countries, some in Asia. They are many groups, but they are known by their ‘aqeedah and their deeds. If they follow the path of Tawheed and belief in Allaah and His Messenger, and they adhere steadfastly to the religion of Allaah which was brought by the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), then they are Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah and the saved group, even though they may be scattered in many parts of the world. But at the end of time they will be very few in number. [Kitaab Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 181 (translation taken from Islam qa)]
d) Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A group of my ummah will continue to prevail, following the truth. They will not be harmed by those who humiliate them until the decree of Allaah comes to pass when they are like that.” [Muslim, 1920]
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal did well when he commented on this report by saying that the victorious group who will prevail until the Hour begins is “ashaab al-hadeeth” (the people of hadeeth). Who is more deserving of this description than people who follow the way of the righteous and follow in the footsteps of the salaf who came before us, and exposed the falsehood of the people of bid’ah (innovation) by basing their arguments on the Sunnahs of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)? [Ma’rifat ‘Uloom al-Hadeeth, by al-Haakim al-Nisaboori, p. 2, 3]
e) Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon:
الجماعة ما وافق الحق ، وإن كنت وحدك
“The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”[Narrated by Ibne Asakir 2/322/13, Sharah Asool al Aiteqaad Ahlus sunnah lilkaai no:160, Al-Bani Authenticated in Mishkat al-Masabeeh 1/61 hashiya of the hadeeth no: 173]
When the Muslim finds a group that is calling people to the truth, he should help them and be one of them, he should aid them and encourage them, help them to remain steadfast in adhering to the truth. If he cannot find a jamaa’ah at all, then he should adhere to the truth and he will be the jamaa’ah even if he is only one, as Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon: “The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”
The Muslim has to seek the truth. If he finds an Islamic center which promotes the truth, or a group in any place which promotes the truth – i.e., which calls people to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and to sound belief – in Europe or Africa or in any place – then he should join them and seek the truth, doing so with patience, and being with the people of truth.
This is what is obligatory upon the Muslim. But if he cannot find anyone who calls people to the truth, whether a state or a group, then he must adhere to the truth on his own and be steadfast in doing so. In that case he will be the jamaa’ah, as Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon. [Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p. 179]
قال أبو عيسى وتفسير الجماعة عند أهل العلم هم أهل الفقه والعلم والحديث قال وسمعت الجارود بن معاذ يقول سمعت علي بن الحسن يقول سألت عبد الله بن المبارك من الجماعة فقال أبو بكر وعمر قيل له قد مات أبو بكر وعمر قال فلان وفلان قيل له قد مات فلان وفلان فقال عبد الله بن المبارك وأبو حمزة السكري جماعة قال أبو عيسى وأبو حمزة هو محمد بن ميمون وكان شيخا صالحا وإنما قال هذا في حياته عندنا
The commentary of "Jama`ah" according to the people of knowledge is "people of jurisprudence" and "Knowledge" and "hadith". I heard Jarud bin Muadh who heard from Ali bin Hasan. I asked 'Abdullâh bin Al-Mubârak, who is the Jamâ'ah? So he said, 'Abû Bakr and 'Umar.' It was said to him, 'Indeed Abû Bakr and 'Umar have died.' He said, 'So and so and so and so.' It was said, 'Indeed, so and so and so and so have died.' So 'Abdullâh bin Al-Mubârak said, 'Abû Hamzah As-Sukkarî is the Jamâ'ah.' "Abu 'Îsa (Tirmidhee) said: And Abû Hamzah was Muhmmad bin Maymûn. And he was a righteous Shaykh, and he said this during our lifetime."[Sunan at-Tirmidhee hadeeth no: 2167, Shaykh Nasir ud din Al-Bani said ""This is supported by the statement of Ibn Mas'ûd (may Allâh be pleased with him), 'The Jamâ'ah is whatever agrees with the truth, even if you are alone.'(Mishkat al-Masabeeh 1/61 hashiya of the hadeeth no: 173)]
"حيث جاء الأمر بلزوم الجماعة، فالمراد به لزوم الحق واتباعه وإن كان المتمسك به قليلا، والمخالف كثيرا، أي: الحق هو ما كان عليه الصحابة الأول من الصحب، ولا حظ لكثرة أهل الباطل بعدهم"
"The order to stick to the jamâ'ah means sticking to the truth and its followers; even if those who stick to the truth are few and those who oppose it are many, since the truth is that which the first jamâ'ah from the time of the Prophet (sall Allâhu 'alayhi wasallam) and his companions (may Allâh be pleased with them) were upon. No attention is given to the great number of the people of futility coming after them."[Faydh al Qadir 4/19,Al-Bâ`ith `alâ Al-Bid`ah wal-Hawâdith page 19]
Comment: We have to take the commentaries from the Salaf not from the people of Bid`ah.
It is obligatory on every person to adhere to the truth, what Allaah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, not to adhere to the methodology of any group, whether it is the Ikhwan al-Muslimeen or Ansaar al-Sunnah or any other group. He should adhere to the truth. If he joins the Ansaar al-Sunnah and helps them with regard matters in which they are following to the truth, or he joins the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen and agrees with them on matters in which they are following the truth, without going to extremes or being negligent, there is nothing wrong with that. But if he adheres to their set of beliefs and never deviates from it, this is not permitted. He has to follow the truth wherever it leads him. If the truth is with the Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, he has to follow it, and if it is with the Ansaar al-Sunnah, he has to follow it, and if it is with another group, he has to follow it. He has to follow the truth, and help all other groups with regard to the truth, but he should not adhere to a particular way of thinking never forsaking it even if it turns out to be false or mistaken. That is wrong, and is not permitted. He should be with the group in every way in which they are correct, and not with them in the matters in which they are wrong.[Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanaawi'ah li p. 237.]
f) Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman: The people used to ask Allah's Apostle about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said, "O Allah's Apostle! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there by any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I asked, "Will there be good after that evil?" He said, "Yes, but it would be tained with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil)." I asked, "What will its Dakhan be?" He said, "There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition. You will see their actions and disapprove of them." I said, "Will there by any evil after that good?" He said, "Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them)." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Describe those people to us." He said, "They will belong to us and speak our language" I asked, "What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my life?" He said, "Adhere to the group of Muslims and their Chief." I asked, "If there is neither a group (of Muslims) nor a chief (what shall I do)?" He said, "Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state." (Bukhari Book #56, Hadith #803)
Conclusion:
1. Hadith of sawad al Adham is weak
2. Even if it is authentic then it means the people of truth and vast majority of Salaf (first three generations) not vast majority people of our time
3. The followers of Islam will be few (strangers) and those who oppose them will be in Majority
4. Muslims are ordered to follow Jamah according to hadith and according to Abdullah bin Mas`ood “The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.”
5. Victorious group is the one who follow the way of the righteous and follow in the footsteps of the salaf who came before us as said by Imam Ahmad bin Humble, Victorious group is not the one who is in majority of our time.
Related Links
Strangeness and the Strangers by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
http://www.islaam.com/article.aspx?id=218
Characteristics of the Victorious Group
ttp://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/206
