Ahle hadeeth movement What and Why?

Ahle hadeeth : In the eyes of others

(أَهْلُ الْحَدِيْثِ عِنْدَ غَيْرِ الْمُسْلِمِ)

To introduce Ahle hadeeth, the renowned scholars of the University of Oxford in England, one of the best educational institutions of the present world say:

AHL-I-HADITH: The followers of the prophetic traditions. Who profess to hold the same view as the early Ashab-al-hadith or Ahl-al-hadith (as opposed to Ahl-al-ray). They do not hold themselves bound by ‘Taklid'.... But consider themselves free to seek guidance in matters of religious faith and practices from the authentic traditions which together with the Quran are in their view only worthy guide for the true muslims.

The Ahle hadith try to go back to first principles and to restore the original simplicity and purity to faith and practices. Emphasis is accordingly laid in particular on the reassertion of Tawhid and the denial of occult powers and knowledge of the hidden things (Ilm-al-ghayb) to any of his creature. This involves a rejection of the miraculous powers of Saints and of the exaggerated veneration paid to them. They also make every effort to eradicate customs either to innovation (bid‘a) or to Hindu or non-Islamic systems.

In all these, their reformist programmes bear a striking resemblance to that of the Wahhabis of Arabia and as a matter of fact their adversaries often nickname them Wahhabis.[1]


[1]. Encyclopaedia of Islam, Laiden, Brill 1960, P. 1/259.