THE MEANING OF AHLE QIBLAH OR THE PEOPLE OF THE QIBLAH

“We (i.e. the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jama'ah) do not brand the people of the Qiblah as kaafir.”

There exists some confusion regarding this statement of the Ulama-e-Haqq. Some people who are not versed in the principles of the Shari'ah claim that it is improper to brand as kaafir a person as long as he accepts the Islaam ic Qiblah (i.e. performs Salaat), no matter what beliefs he may be subscribing to. However, this notion is highly erroneous. The requirements for validity of Imaan and Islaam are not confirmed to belief in only the direction of the Qiblah or in any particular belief or practice of Islaam .

Islaam is a fully detailed, specific and unambiguous Deen or divine way of life comprising all facets of life.

Those who subscribe fully to all requirements of Islaam are termed Ahle Qiblah. Those who refute or deny even a single established belief or practice of Islaam are not among the people of the Qiblah, even if they perform Salaat, fast, go for Hajj, pay Zakat and render all practices of Islaam . In other words, only Muslims are called Ahle Qiblah. A Muslim who accepts even a single kufr belief or kufr practice leaves the fold of Islaam – he makes his exit from Islam and no longer qualifies for the designation of Ahle Sunnah. Example: A man subscribes to all beliefs and practices of Islaam , but he believes the universe to be eternal or he denies the physical resurrection of human bodies on the Day of Qiyaamah or he denies the physical existence of Jannat and Jahannum – such a person is undoubtedly a kaafir. He is not among the Ahle Qiblah even if he performs Salaat facing the direction of the Qiblah.

In the terminology of the Shari'ah the phrase “Ahle Qiblah” has technical application. It is not a literal term referring to anyone who faces the Islaam ic Qiblah and performing Salat. In the language of the authorities of the Shari'ah, ‘Ahle Qiblah' refers to only such people who accept all requirements of Imaan .