The Creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah
Addressed to: Ḥaḍrat Khwājah Muḥammad Taqī (may Allah have mercy on him)
After praise, blessings, and the conveying of salutations…
To have love for the true dervishes, to be connected with them, to yearn for their company, to incline towards their noble character — all of these are among the great blessings and lofty gifts from Allah Most High. The Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ said:
“A person will be with the one he loves.”
In these days, the topic of imāmah — the succession of the Prophet ﷺ — has become a subject of much debate. Everyone speaks on it based on their own assumptions and opinions. Therefore, a few lines are written to clarify the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah’s position and to outline the truth about opposing views.
O noble soul!
One of the identifying signs of Ahl al-Sunnah is belief in the superiority (afḍaliyyah) of the two Shaykhs — Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr and Ḥaḍrat ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them) — along with love for the two sons-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ — Ḥaḍrat ʿUthmān and Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with them both).
To believe in the superiority of Shaykhayn (Abū Bakr and ʿUmar) and simultaneously possess love for the Khatanayn (sons-in-law) is a mark of Ahl al-Sunnah. This position is unanimously affirmed by the Companions (ṣaḥābah) and the early generations. Imām Shāfiʿī, among others, transmitted this consensus. Imām Abū’l-Ḥasan al-Ashʿarī also stated that the superiority of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar over the rest of the Ummah is certain and definitive.
Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī (may Allah ennoble his face) himself, during his caliphate, declared publicly before a large gathering:
“Abū Bakr and ʿUmar are the best individuals of this Ummah.”
This has been documented by scholars such as Imām al-Dhahabī and reported by Imām al-Bukhārī. ʿAlī further stated:
“After the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the best of people is Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then another man.”
When his son Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah asked, “Then you, O father?” he replied,
“No, I am just a common Muslim among the believers.”
The consensus and mass transmission of the superiority of the Shaykhayn is so established that denial of it stems from either ignorance or malice.
Even a prominent early Shīʿī, ʿAbd al-Razzāq, admitted that when he could no longer find any legitimate reason to oppose, he submitted and said:
“When ʿAlī himself granted superiority to the Shaykhayn, how can I oppose him?”
Due to historical strife during the caliphates of ʿUthmān and ʿAlī (may Allah be pleased with them), much discord had spread among the Muslims. Therefore, love for these two sons-in-law was also counted among the signs of Ahl al-Sunnah — so that no ignorant person would harbor ill suspicion or enmity toward the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Thus, love for Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī is a condition for being counted among Ahl al-Sunnah.
Whoever lacks it is not Sunni — but is, in fact, Kharijī.
And whoever goes to extremes in love for ʿAlī — attributing to him what is not proper, reviling the other Companions, and opposing the way of the Salaf — such a person is called Rāfiḍī (rejector), one who turns away from the path of truth.
Ahl al-Sunnah follow the moderate path — avoiding both extremes of Rāfiḍīs and Khawārij.
As Ḥaḍrat ʿAlī himself said, echoing the words of the Prophet ﷺ:
“My example is like that of ʿĪsā (Jesus). The Jews became his enemies and even slandered his pure mother, while the Christians exaggerated in his love until they raised him to a rank not befitting of him.”
Then ʿAlī said:
“Two groups will be destroyed concerning me: one that loves me excessively and attributes to me what I do not possess, and another that hates me and falsely accuses me.”
Thus, those who believe love for ʿAlī is exclusive to the Rāfiḍīs are gravely mistaken.
True Sunnis are the true lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt.
It is not love for ʿAlī that constitutes Rafd (rejection), but hatred for Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿUthmān, and severing ties with the Companions — that is true deviation.
Clarification:
In this comprehensive and respectful letter, Imām Rabbānī (may Allah sanctify his secret) lays out the beliefs of the true path — the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah — and refutes the extremes of both Rāfiḍīs and Khawārij with wisdom and evidence, without insult or inflammatory language.
He writes:
“Love for the Ahl al-Bayt is the wealth of Ahl al-Sunnah; opponents are unaware of this truth and ignorant of their balanced love.”
He further states:
“Those who truly love the Ahl al-Bayt — they are the Ahl al-Sunnah; in reality, they are the truest group among the Ahl al-Bayt.”
May Allah grant us true love for all the noble Companions and the blessed Ahl al-Bayt, and keep us firm upon the balanced path. Āmīn.