They are those who proceed upon the way of the Companions radiallaahu ‘aanhum and those who followed them in righteousness, in clinging to the Book and the Sunnah, biting o­nto that with their molar teeth and letting them (ie. the Qu’raan and Sunnah) take precedence over any statement or code and conduct- whether in belief or acts of worship such as dealings and transactions, mannerisms, politics and social life.

They are those who are firm in regards to the fundamentals of the religion and its subsections, upon that which Allaah sent down and revealed upon his servant and Messenger Muhammad salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam. They are those establishing the call to that with all effort, sincerity and firm will. They are those carrying the knowledge of the Prophet salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam, expelling from it the distortions of those who have exaggerated (in its regard) and the undue claims of the people of falsehood and the interpretations of the ignorant o­nes.

They are those who are observant and lie in wait for every group that has deviated from the way of Islaam, like the Jahmees and the Mu’taazilees and the Khawaarij and the Rawaafidh and the Murj’iaah and the Qadariyaah and all of those who have deviated from the way of Allaah and have followed their desires in every time and every place- not affected in the cause of Allaah by the reproach of those who blame.

They are the group that the Messenger of Allaah salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam has praised and commended in his saying, “ There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose them until the Hour is established”. [an authentic hadeeth collected by Muslim 3/1523, Ahmad 2/278-279, Aboo Dawood 3/ 4, at-Tirmidhee 4/420, Ibn Maajah 1/ 4- 5, Haakim 4/ 449-450, at-Tabaraanee in Muj’am al-Kabeer, 7643 and Aboo Dawood at-Tayaalisee, p.94, no. 689. Authenticated by al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah (270-1955)]

They are the Saved Sect firm upon that which the Messenger and his Companions were upon, those who have been distinguished and defined by the Messenger of Allaah salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam when he mentioned that: this Ummah shall divide into 73 sects all going to the Hell-Fire except o­ne and it was said, “ Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam?” He said, “They are those who are upon that which I and my Companions are upon”.

And this is not something we say in exaggeration or a mere claim, but verily we speak a reality that the text of the Qu’raan and Sunnaah bears witness to, which history bears witness to, and those which their (ie. Ahlul Hadeeth’s) statements, their state of affairs, their writings and works also hear witness to. They are those who put before their eyes that statement of Allaah:

“ And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah”
[Soorah Aali-‘Imraan, 3:103]

And His subhanahu wa ta’alaa statement:

“ So let those who oppose the Messengers commandment beware lest some fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted o­n them"
[Soorah an-Noor, 24:63]

They are the most staunch in distancing themselves from opposing the command of the Messenger 3alayhi salaatu wa salaam and the most distant from fitnaah. They are those who make their constitution:

“ But no, by your Lord! They can have no faith, until they make you (O Muhammad salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam) judge in all disputes between them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions and accept them with full submission”
[Soorah an-Nisaa, 4:65]

They are those who give to the Qu’raan and the Sunnah their true worth and give it the honour and veneration it deserves, giving priority to them over the statements of mankind and give precedence to their guidance over the guidance of people, and they judge by them in all affairs with complete pleasure with chests which are expanded and free of restraint or constriction, and they submit to Allaah and His Messenger (with) a complete submission in their ‘aqeedah, their worship and their dealings. They are those to whom the statement of Allaah truly applies:

“The o­nly saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allaah and His Messenger (salAllaahu 3alayhi wa salaam) to judge between them is that they say, “ We hear and we obey” and such are the prosperous o­nes”
[Soorah an-Noor, 24:51]

From: The Status of the People of Hadeeth (the Ahlul-Hadeeth)
By: Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee (hafithahullaah)