For a response to some of today’s confused preachers who seem to think that the Jamaa’ah is the group of Muslims that only calls themselves “the Muslims” and nothing else, read this.
[6] Collected by Imaam al-Laalakaa’ee in Sharh Usool Ali’tiqaad (#160).
[7] The great Companion Ibn Mas’ood died in the year 32, during the Caliphate of ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (may Allaah be pleased with both of them). He told his student, ‘Amr ibn Maymoon, “Verily, the majority of the people are the ones splitting away from the Jamaa’ah! Verily, the Jamaa’ah is what is in accordance with the Truth, even if you were alone (i.e. the only one upon the Truth).” It was reported by al-Laalakaa’ee in Sharh Usool Ali’tiqaad (no.160), and Ibn al-Qayyim quoted it in I’laam al-Muwaqqi’een (5/388).
[8] For examples, review Soorah Hood (11:25-49) and Soorah Nooh (71:1-28).
[9] The Sawaad A’tham (السواد الأعظم) is a phrase that means “the main body” or “the huge gathering”. It is used by the scholars as a synonym for the Jamaa’ah.
[10] Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said in I’laam al-Muwaqqi’een (5/389): “All of the people were in contradiction (to the Truth) in the time of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, except for a small group. They were the Jamaa’ah themselves (of that time). The judges, the muftees, and the Caliph of that time and his followers were all in opposition (to the Truth). It was Imaam Ahmad by himself who was the Jamaa’ah!”
[11] I’laam al-Muwaqqi’een (5/389)
[12] Note: This does not necessitate that Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah must always be a minority. They have had strong points in history, and the very Sunnah of Allaah within the creation is that the level of guidance among His servants fluxuates, due to the Wisdom He chooses to test His servants with. People revive and renew Islamic beliefs and practices periodically (at the head of every century, for example, as established in authentic narrations).
In the reality that we live in, consider the condition of the Muslims today, and how the Ash’arees alone claim – for example – to make up the vast majority of today’s Muslims. (This claim is not established in reality.) Consider the reality of the spread of innovation and how many Muslims attach themselves to it, whether it be Khurooj, Shiasm, Soofism, Ikhwanism, Ash’arism, etc., and this is while many of them make claims that they are from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. The reality of their beliefs and practices is so commonly in contrast to the claims and the labels.
[13] Faydh al-Qadeer (2/21)
http://www.bakkah.net/en/avoiding-the-misguided-sects-the-prophetic-solution.htm