As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam

As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam or the greatest majority is something which the Shariah has emphasised in order to practice Deen. To disassociate from As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam represents misguidance and the result is very harmful. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Follow As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam (the greatest majority) because the one who will isolate himself from As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam will be thrown into Hell."

Problems such as conducting the Khutbah of Jummah in Creole, considering three Talaaq that were given all at once as one Talaaq, not acknowledging the Salah of Tarawih or not accepting the 20 Rak'aat of Tarawih, all this represent disassociation from As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam (the greatest majority), which is very grave.

To form As-Sawaad-ul-A'zam, only people who have Taqwa (piety) and 'Ilm-e-Saheeh (correct knowledge) are to be considered. When the greatest majority of such people accept a certain practice, this itself is a proof that this practice is correct and is in accordance to the Shariah. Besides this, there is no need for further proof. Very often, we tend to ignore this aspect which makes us commit mistakes that we should not. And very often, it makes us say things that are incorrect or inappropriate in regards to great people. Nonetheless, in reality, we are the ones who are wrong due to our ignorance of certain principles. Worse still, we do not acknowledge our ignorance. Instead, we label the great people as ignorant. It is like looking in the mirror and seeing a mark on our face, and believing that it is the mirror that has a mark. 

[English version of "As-Sawaad-ul-a'zam" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.12]