WHO COINED THE TERM "AHL AS-SUNNAH WA AL-JAMA'AH"?

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Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you,

Dr. Tijani As-Samawi [the famous Shi'a revert from Sunnism] writes in his book "Then I Was Guided" [Page 170]:

لقد بحثت في التاريخ فلم أجد إلا أنهم اتفقوا على تسمية العام الذي استولى فيه معاوية على الحكم بعام الجماعة وذلك أن الامة إنقسمت بعد مقتل عثمان الى قسمين شيعة علي , وأتباع معاوية . ولما استشهد الامام علي واستولى معاوية على الحكم بعد الصلح الذي أبرمه مع الامام الحسن وأصبح معاوية أمير المؤمنين سمي ذلك العام بعام الجماعة .

إذاً فالتسمية بأهل السنة والجماعة دالة على اتباع سنة معاوية والإجتماع عليه وليست تعني اتباع سنة رسول الله . فالائمة من ذريته وأهل بيته أدرى وأعلم بسنة جدهم من الطلقاء . وأهل البيت أدرى بما فيه وأهل مكة أدرى بشعابها ولكننا خالفنا الائمة الإثني عشر الذين نص عليهم رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) واتبعنا أعداءهم .

ورغم اعترافنا بالحديث الذي ذكر فيه رسول الله إثني عشر خليفة كلهم من قريش إلا أننا نتوقف دائماً عند الخلفاء الأربعة ولعل معاوية الذي سمانا بأهل السنة والجماعة كان يقصد الإجتماع على السنة التي سنها في سب علي وأهل البيت التي استمرت ستين عاما ولم يقدر على إزالتها إلا عمر بن عبد العزيز وقد يحدثنا بعض المؤرخين أن الأمويين تآمروا على قتل عمر بن عبد العزيز وهو منهم لانه أمات السنة وهي لعن علي بن أبي طالب

"I researched history and found that they agreed to designate the year in which Muawiya seized power as the 'Year of Unity' [عام الجماعة]. This was because the Muslim community had split into two factions after the murder of Uthman: the supporters of Ali and the followers of Muawiya. After the martyrdom of Imam Ali and Muawiya’s assumption of power following his peace agreement with Imam Hasan, Muawiya became the Commander of the Faithful, and that year was called the 'Year of Unity.'

Therefore, the term 'Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah' indicates those who followed the practices of Muawiya and united under him, rather than following the Sunnah of the Messenger of God.

The Imams from the Prophet’s descendants and his Ahl Al-Bayt [specific family] were more knowledgeable about his Sunnah than those who were liberated [after the Conquest of Mecca]. The Ahl Al-Bayt are more knowledgeable about their own matters, just as the people of Mecca know its paths best. Yet, we deviated from the Twelve Imams whom the Messenger of God [peace be upon him and his family] designated, and we followed their enemies.

Despite acknowledging the hadith in which the Messenger of God mentioned twelve successors, all from Quraysh, we often focus only on the first four caliphs. Perhaps when Muawiya labelled us as 'Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah,' he meant unity around the practices he established—such as cursing Ali and the Ahl Al-Bayt — a practice that continued for sixty years and was only abolished by Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. Some historians tell us that the Umayyads conspired to assassinate Umar bin Abd Al-'Aziz, even though he was one of them, because he abolished the practice of cursing Ali bin Abi Talib." [1] 

May you remain in peace and safety.

References

[1] Then I was guided, Dr. At-Tijani As-Samawi, Pages 170-171

The original text in Arabic can be found here

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Question

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Answer

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Who coined the term 'Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah'?

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