Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad Ibn Hajr al-Haytami (d.974/1567; Rahmatullah Alayh) defined the SUNNI MUSLIMS in his book "FATH AL-JAWAD" as follows: "A Mubtadi (innovator) IS the person who does NOT have the Aqeedah conveyed UNANIMOUSLY by the Ahl as-Sunnah. This unanimity WAS transmitted by the two GREAT Imams ABU'L HASAN al-ASHARI (d.324/936; Rahmatullah Alayh) AND ABU MANSUR al-MATURIDIYYA (d.333/944; Rahmatullah Alayh) AND the Scholars who followed THEIR path..." Shaykh al-Islam Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Haytami {Rahmatullah Alayh} ALSO said in his book "Al-FATAWA al-HADITHIYYA (pg 205): "Man of BID'AH means one whose beliefs are DIFFERENT from the Alh as-Sunnah faith. The Ahl as-Sunnah faith IS THE FAITH OF ABU'L HASAN al-ASHARI, ABU MANSUR al-MATURIDI AND those who followed them. One who brings forth something which is NOT approved by Islam becomes a man of BID'AH..."
Af'Waun Al-HaNaFi Mu'Meen Masha Allah,what u quote from imam ibn hajar ash shafie is absolutely correct. u must be alim, thanks for spreading the truth. this fatwa should be spread to all muslims especially when the wahabi wrong belief is attacking the mass muslim
