The first requirement of being a Muslim is to have iman (belief, faith). The correct belief depends on believing according to the creed of Ahl As-Sunnat. The first duty of men and women that are discreet and pubescent is to learn the credential knowledge written in the books of the Ahl as-Sunnat scholars and to believe accordingly. To achieve salvation in the Hereafter is conditional upon believing what they conveyed. Those who will be saved from Hell are those who follow the path they follow. Those who follow the path of Ahl as-Sunnat scholars are called (Sunni) or (Ahl as Sunnat). See the forty-sixth letter on page five hundred fifty three in the Turkish book (İslâm Ahlakı – Ethics of Islam)!
It is declared in a hadith-i sherif, “My Ummat will part into seventy-three groups. Only one of them will be saved from Hell and the others will perish, they will go to Hell.” Each of these seventy-three groups claims to obey Islam. Each group says that it is the one that will be saved from Hell. It is declared in the fifty fourth ayat of Surat-ul-Mu’minun and in the thirty-second ayat of Surat-ur-Rum, purporting: “Each party rejoices, supposing that it is on the true path.” However, among these various groups, the sign, the symptom of the one that will be saved is given by our Prophet “sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam” as follows: “Those who are in this group are those who follow the way which I and my Sahaba follow.” One who does not love anyone of the Ashab-i kiram has deviated from the Ahl as-Sunnat. A person who does not hold the belief of the Ahl-as-sunnat has become either an Ahl-i bid’at, a heretical Muslim, or a mulhid, a disbeliever.
The Signs of Holding the Creed of Ahl As-Sunnat:
Allahu ta’ala is pleased with Muslims who believe according to vthe creed of Ahl as-Sunnat. There are many conditions to have a belief in this manner. Ahl-as Sunnat scholars explain them as follows:
1- It is necessary to believe in the six tenets of belief in the amantu. That is, it is necessary to believe in Allahu ta’ala’s existence and His Oneness, His having no partner or match, in His angels, in His books, in His prophets, in the Day of Resurrection and Judgement, and in qadar and that good (khair) and evil (sharr) are from Allah. (These are stated in the amantu prayer.)
2- It is necessary to believe that the Qur’an al-karim is theWord of Allahu ta’ala and it is the last and final Book sent by Him
3- A Believer must never have a doubt as to his/her iman.
4- It is necessary to love greatly all the Ashab-i kiram who were honored by believing in and seeing our Prophet ’alaihis-salam while he was alive. It is necessary to never speak ill of his four caliphs, any member of his household or his esteemed wives.
5- It is necessary not to deem acts of worship a part of iman [belief]. That is, it is not permissible to call a Muslim who does not perform acts of worship and who commits sins a kafir [disbeliever]. A person who deems harams unimportant, who does not care about them or who makes mockery of Islam will lose his iman.
6- It is necessary not to call people who say they are Ahl-i qibla and who believe in Allahu ta’ala and His Prophet Muhammad ’alaihis-salam, disbelievers. Even if they have some heretical tenets. [However, if a tenet of belief of a person who is in name ahl-i qibla is the opposite of a definite source whose meaning is clear, then this belief is kufr. In this case he is a disbeliever, even if one performs namaz and carries out other acts of worship.
7- It is permissible to perform namaz led by an imam who is known for not having committed sins openly. This verdict is valid about commanders and governors who conduct Friday prayers as well.
8- Muslims must not rebel against their commanders, administrators. Rebellion is tantamount to causing fitna and fitna cause various calamities. We should pray that they will do good deeds and we should advise them – with gentle words- to abstain from their corrupt, sinful deeds
9- While performing ablution, even if there is no excuse or strong necessity, it is permissible for both men and women to make masah (rubbing one’s wet hands) on mests (A mest is a waterproof shoe covering that part of the foot which is fard to wash in ablution) instead of washing feet. It is not permissible to make masah over naked feet or socks.
10- It is necessary to believe that the Mi’raj [Hadrat Muhammad’s ascent to the Heavens] took place with body and soul. Anyone who says, “the Mi’raj is a state, that is, it happened in a dream,” has deviated from the Ahl as-Sunnat. In the next world, Muslims in Paradise will see Allahu ta’ala. On the Day of Judgement, first prophets, then pious, good persons will intercede. Questioning in the grave is true. Torments in the
grave will be inflicted on both the body and the soul. Karamats [wonders which Allahu ta’ala creates outside His law of causation through the hands of His dear slaves] of the awliya are true. Karamat are extraordinary states seen in Allahu ta’asla’s beloved slaves. They are things which are out of His Custom. That is, they are not in the boundaries of physical, chemical or biological laws. Karamats are so innumerable that they cannot be denied. Souls in their graves hear and understand what the living say or do. Sending the rewards of reciting of the Qur’an al-karim, giving charity and even all our worships, to the souls of the deceased, is beneficial to them. It causes either easing or ridding of their punishments. Believing in all of these is one of the signs of holding the Ahl as- Sunnat creed.