[1] Allaah - the Most High – said,

“And hold fast altogether to the Rope of Allaah and do not become divided.” [2]

[2] Allaah - the Most High – said,

“And do not be of those who commit Shirk (associate partners with Allaah), those who split-up their Religion and become sects; each sect rejoicing in what is with them.” [3]

[3] The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, “I advise you to have taqwaa of Allaah and to hear and to obey, even if an Abyssinian slave becomes your leader. Those of you who live long after me will see a lot of differences, so hold fast to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs after me. Cling to it tightly and beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and all misguidance is in the Fire.” [4]

[4] He (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam also said, “Indeed, the people of the Book before you split-up into seventy-two sects. And this nation will split-up into seventy-three sects, seventy two are in the Fire and one is in Paradise.” [5] And in another narration, “All of them are in the Fire except one.” It was asked, ‘Who is that one?' He replied, “That which I and my Companions are upon.” [6]

[5] Ibn Mas'ood - radiyallaahu 'anhu – said, [7] Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) drew a line for us and then said, “This is Allaah's Path.” Then he drew lines to its right and its left, and said, “These are differing paths, upon each of them there is a Shaytaan (devil) calling to it.” Then he recited, “And verily this is My Path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths for they will separate you away from His Path.” [8]

[6] Shaykh 'Abdul-Qaadir al-Jeelaanee (d.561H) said, “As for al-Firqatun-Naajiyah (the Saved-Sect) it is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah, and there is no name for Ahlus-Sunnah except one - and that is Ashaabul-Hadeeth (the People of Hadeeth).” [9]

[7] Allaah - the One free from all defects, the Most High - orders us to hold fast altogether to the Noble Qur‘aan; and not to be of the mushriks (those who associate partners with Allaah in that which is particular to Him) who split-up their Religion and become shee'an (sects) and hizbs (parties). And the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) informed us that the Jews and the Christians will be divided into many sects and that the Muslims will split-up even more. And that these sects will be fitting for entry into the Fire, due to their deviations and their being far from the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Messenger. And that only one sect will be saved from the Fire and enter Paradise - and that is the Jamaa'ah; those who cling to the Book and the authentic Sunnah and to the actions of the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. O Allaah! Make us from amongst the Saved-Sect; and grant the Muslims the guidance and ability to be from it.

[1] al-Firqatun-Naajiyah (the Saved-Sect) is that which adheres to the manhaj (methodology) of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) during his lifetime, and to the minhaaj of his Companions after him: and that is the Noble Qur‘aan which Allaah revealed to His Messenger, and which he explained to his Companions in the authentic Sunnah - ordering the Muslims to cling to these two, saying, “I am leaving amongst you two things, you will never go astray as long as you cling to them: the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah. They will not separate from each other, until you meet me at the Lake.” [10]

[2] The Saved-Sect returns to the Word of Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) whenever there is disagreement or difference of opinion; acting upon the saying of Allaah - the Most High, “If you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is best and most suitable for final determination.” [11] And He - the Most High – said, “But no, by your Lord! They cannot have any faith until they make you (the Messenger) a judge in all disputes that they have between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decision, but accept them with full submission.” [12]

[3] The Saved-Sect does not give precedence to the word of anyone over the Word of Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), acting upon His - the Most High – saying,

“O you who believe! Do not put yourselves forward before Allaah and His Messenger, and have taqwaa of Allaah. Indeed, Allaah is all-Hearing, all-Seeing.” [13]

Ibn 'Abbaas - radiyallaahu 'anhu – said, “I fear that stones will descend upon you from the sky, that I say to you that the Messenger of Allaah said; and you say to me that Aboo Bakr and 'Umar say something else!” [14]

[4] The Saved-Sect values Tawheed: and it is to single-out Allaah alone in worship, in supplication, in seeking aid and assistance, in seeking refuge in times of ease and hardship, in sacrificing and vow-making, in placing total reliance and trust in Him and in judging by what Allaah has revealed; and all other forms of worship. These are the foundations upon which the true Islaamic governance is based. It is therefore essential to remove Shirk (associating partners with Allaah in those matters that are particular to Him) and its manifestations - which is present in all the Muslim lands - since this is a requirement of Tawheed. And victory is not possible when Tawheed is neglected, nor can Shirk be fought with its like. We must - in this - follow the examples of the Prophets and in particular, the example of our noble Prophet - may the Peace of Allaah and His Prayers be upon them all.

[5] The Saved-Sect revive the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in their 'ibaadah (worship), sulook (behaviour) and in their lives, thus becoming strangers amongst the people - as Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) mentioned in his saying, “Islaam started as something strange and will return as something strange as it began, so Toobaa (a tree in Paradise) is for the Strangers.” [15] In another narration, “ ... so Toobaa is for the Strangers. Those who correct and put right what the people have corrupted.” [16]

[6] The Saved-Sect does not have ta'assub (bigoted adherence) to the sayings of anyone, except the saying of Allaah and the saying of His infallible Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), who does not speak from his own desires. As for every other person - however elevated his rank - then he errs and makes mistakes, according to his (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saying, “All the children of Aadam err and commit mistakes, and the best of those who make mistakes are those who turn in repentance.” [17]

Imaam Maalik (d. 179H) - rahimahullaah – said, “There is no one after the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), except that you can take his saying or leave it, with the exception of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam).” [18]

[7] The Saved-Sect are Ahlul-Hadeeth (the People of Hadeeth), about whom the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah victorious and uppermost upon the truth, those who abandon them will not harm them, until the command of Allaah comes about.” [19]

A poet said,

“Ahlul-Hadeeth are the people of the Prophet, although;

They accompany him not, they are with his every movement.” [20]