AHLUS-SUNNAH WAL-JAMAA'AH

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that his 'Ummah will be divided into 73 groups. There will be only one group among it that will go into Jannah. The Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) asked which group will go to Jannah. In response, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The group that will be on the principle that me and my Sahabah (Radiyallahu Anhum) are." 

This Hadith shows that in order to be among the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah, one must also follow the principles of the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum). This refers mainly to the principles and practices that they have adopted unanimously such as accomplishing 20 Rak'aat of Taraweeh, considering 3 Talaaq that were given at once as three Talaaq. All these were accepted by all Sahabah-e-Kiraam (Radiyallahu Anhum). Not accepting these matters as such is a way to turn the back to the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah. And consequently, it is a way to withdraw oneself from Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah to whom Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) promised Jannah.

[English version of "Ahlus-sunnah wal-jamaa’ah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.3]