AHLUSSUNNAH Wal-Jama'ah in history is a term that became the name for a group of Muslims who have similarities in several principles and have agreement on several views.. The term Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah is not a term that came from the Prophet SAW as a name for a particular group.
The term came from among the companions such as Abdullah bin Umar, Abu Sa’id al-Khudri son of Abdullah bin ‘Abbas radhiyallahu‘ anhum, and their agreement, as a name for the Muslims who follow the pure and original teachings of Islam as taught by the Prophet saw and his companions.
(Syarh Ushul I'tiqad Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah, done 1, hal. 72 and Tafsir Ibn Katsir, done 1, hal. 508). At the time of Rasulullah saw, the name Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah hasn't been born yet. So are the names of other streams. At that time the Muslims were still united, both in practice and in faith.
Only then, in the last days of the generation of companions, after the spread of sects that came out of pure Islamic teachings, such as the Khawarij stream, the companions of the Prophet saw, give the name of the Muslims who are still consistent with the pure teachings of Islam with the name Ahlussunnah Wal- Jama'ah, to distinguish it from groups that deviate from pure Islamic teachings such as the Khawarij, Shia, Murji'ah and others.
In Indonesia, Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah is an Islamic teaching that was first spread and followed by all the Muslims of the archipelago for hundreds of years. Fragmentary streams such as the Wahhabis, Shiites, Kebatinan and others only appeared in Indonesia around the year 1330 H/1912 M. Nowadays, We often hear the term Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah which is claimed by certain groups for an interest.
Therefore, here it is necessary to explain first about the definition and nature of Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah, so that all parties know what and who Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah really is. linguistically, Ahlussunnah Wal-Ja- Ma'ah is a term composed of three words. First, kata Ahl, which means relative (al- Karabakh), followers (al-atba’) or family (al-al). Second, kata al-sunnah.
Etymologically (lughawi) the word al-sunnah has the meaning al- thariqah (way and behavior), both the way and the behavior are right or wrong. While the terminology, the path taken by the Prophet saw and his companions (ma ana ‘alaihi al- yauma wa ashhabi). In this case, al-Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said: What is meant by the word al-sunnah by scholars who become role models is the path taken by the Prophet and his companions who survived the resemblance (syubhat) and lust.
"Ibn Rajab's statement concludes that the Ahlussunnah are a group that follows the teachings of the Prophet and the teachings of his companions. This understanding is actually a standard understanding in the term Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah among scholars. This can be seen by paying attention to the statements of several scholars, such as the statement of al-Imam Abu al-Baqa ’Ayyub bin Musa al-Husaini al-Hanafi (w. 1094 H/1683 M), quoted by Hadhratusysyaikh Kiai Hasyim Asy'ari the following:: "Sunnah as stated by Abu al-Baqa 'in the book of al-Kulliyyat, his essay, linguistically is the way, even though it's not approved.
While al-sunnah according to the term syara 'is the name for the path and behavior that is approved in the religion taken by the Prophet saw or people who can be an example in religion such as the companions -radhiyallahu ‘anhum-, based on the words of the Prophet saw, "Follow my sunnah and the sunnah of Khulafaur Rashidin after me." The three words of al-jama'ah.
Etymologically the word al-jama'ah are people who maintain togetherness and collectivity in achieving a goal, as the opposite of the word al-furqah, which means people who are dispersed and isolate themselves from their group. While the terminology, The scholars are of the view that al-Jama'ah is the majority group of Muslims. From the explanation above, it can be concluded that Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah are Muslims who follow in the footsteps of the Prophet and his companions and are followed by the majority group of Muslims..
That's the meaning of Ahlus- the sunnah of Wal-Jama'ah in terminology. On the other hand, Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah is also identical with the followers of al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi schools.. This is as confirmed by al-Hafih Muhammad Murtadha al- Zabidi, leading hadith expert: "When Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah dise- But then what is meant is the followers of the al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi schools.
"Kiai Hashim Ash'ari also confirmed in his book Risalah Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah: “Al-Syihab al-Khafaji said in his book- sim al-Riyadh, "The survivors are Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah." And… them (Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah) is Abu al- Hasan al-Ash'ari and his followers who are Ahlussunnah and leaders of the scholars. Because Allah SWT made the scholars of Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah as the bearers of religious teachings to mankind.
They are the reference of the Muslims in religious affairs. They are what is meant by the words of the Prophet saw: "Indeed, Allah will not- lead my people astray. " While in jurisprudence, Ahlussunnah Wal- Today's congregations are united under the auspices of the four schools of jurisprudence. In this case, Kiai Hasyim Asy'ari said:, "As for Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah, is an interpreter, hadith scholars and jurists, because those who follow the guidance of religion and adhere to the sunnah of the Prophet saw and the teachings of Khulafaur Rashidin after him.
They are the safe group. The scholars say, the survivors today are gathered in the four schools of jurisprudence, namely the Hanafi madhhab, Shafi’i, Ma- liki and Hanbali. While people who come out of these four madhhabs in the present, then he is one of the heretics." From the explanation above, it can be concluded that the Ahlussunnah Wal-Jama'ah is a group that follows the al-Asy'ari and al-Ash'ari schools of thought.- Maturidi in the field of faith and follow one of the four schools in the field of jurisprudence, namely the Hanafi madhhab, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali. In the field of tashawuf or morality following the concepts of Hujjatul Islam al-Ghazali and al-Quthb Abu al-Hasan al-Syadzili. Walla- hu'alam bisshawab. (radar)