The first thing which distinguishes the Ahl us-Sunnah wal- Jama'ah from all those besides them is the methodology with which they acquire their sciences (of the Deen) and the source of the Truth from which they derive their beliefs, concepts, actions of worship, dealings (with the people), their mode of conduct and their manners. The source of Knowledge and Truth in all the various branches of knowledge with the Ahl us-Sunnah is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). No words other than the words of Allah come first and no guidance other that the guidance of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) comes first.
2. There is no one who is free from making mistakes (in the Deen) except the Messenger of Allah.
The Ahl us-Sunnah do not regard anyone as being safe from error as regards the Deen except the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The scholars are not free from making mistakes but rather the words of everyone can either be accepted or rejected except those of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Therefore the words and statements of the scholars of the Ahl us-Sunnah by necessity follow or are in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and do not precede or go ahead of it.
3. The Ijma' (consensus) of the Salaf us-Salih (Pious Predecessors) is regarded as a Shari'ah proof which is necessary to hold on to for those who come after them.
And the Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah believe that the most knowledgeable of the creation as regards the Deen of Allah after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) are the Companions and the Salaf us-Salih. Whatever they united/agreed upon from any of the affairs or matters of the Deen is free from being wrong and it is not [permissible] for anyone to leave it. Their Ijma is a Shari'ah proof which it is obligatory to hold on to for those who come after them. All those who stick to their Ijma are [therefore] those who adhere strictly to their Jama'ah (group).
4. They do not accept or affirm any speech or Ijtihad (Jurisprudence) except after having thrown it against these three sources: The Book, the Authentic Sunnah and Ijma' of the Salaf.
The Ahl us-Sunnah hold on to the [Sunnah] which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) came with and adhere to the [Jama'ah] of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they are the Companions and whoever follows their way and adopts their methodology. They do not accept any Ijtihad or any speech regardless of whom it comes from except after having referred it to the Book, the Authentic Sunnah and the Ijma of the Salaf.
5. They do not contradict the Quran or the Sunnah with their 'Aql (Intellect) or opinions or analogies.
And (therefore) the Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah do not rely upon, follow or cling except to the knowledge and the practice of the Salaf us-Salih and whoever takes from them, sticks to their Jama'ah and travels upon their trail and binds (and restricts) himself to their principles/foundations. And this is because the Companions learned the Tafsir (explanation) of the Quran and the Hadith from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), then taught it to the Tabien but did not put themselves before Allah and His Messenger with an opinion, ones taste, ones intellect, sudden enlightenment or other such things.
6. The Jama'ah (The Group that is united upon the Truth, which the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) came with, in terms of speech and action) is the means of Deliverance in this life and in the Hereafter.
The Ahl us-Sunnah therefore, hold fast to the Jama'ah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) turning away from the places of separation and difference, clinging tightly to the totality of the Book, the Sunnah and Ijma (unanimous agreement of the companions), whilst being far from the places of obscurity and unclarity (in the Book and the Sunnah) which separates and divides the united. And (this is because) the Jama'ah in (their estimation) is the means of Deliverance in this life and the Hereafter.
7. They do not make obligatory the acquaintance with a particular type of knowledge upon him who is incapable and which is befitting for the capable person only.
And the Ahl us-Sunnah believe in what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came with in its entirety, however, they differentiate between the one who is capable and the one who is not with regards to knowing what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) came with in a detailed way. And this is a mighty principle: many trials have befallen (the Ummah) due to absence of its understanding.
Peace and Blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his Companions and all those who follow in their footsteps until the Day of Resurrection.
Reference:
By Sheikh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah
The additional text in italics after each point is a summary of the words of Ibn Taymiyah in his Majmu' al-Fatawa
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