Did the Messenger (peace be upon him) command us to follow the great majority (al-Sawad al-A'tham), and what does it mean, and are they the Ash'aris who claim to be the great majority throughout the centuries?

The Prophetic Hadith: "So if you see disagreement, then adhere to the largest group (Al-Sawad Al-A'zam)" has a weak chain of narration. Many hadiths have been narrated that command adherence to the Muslim community and forbid division.

The claim that the Ash'aris are the largest group is incorrect, because the common people of the Ummah, who have not engaged in theological discourse (ilm al-kalam), are upon the creed of the Salaf.

Multitudes are not a proof of truth; truth is that which conforms to the evidence, even if its adherents are few. Thus, the community (jama'ah) and the largest group (Al-Sawad Al-A'zam) is whoever conforms to the truth, even if he is alone, and the majority of people may depart from the truth.

The Ash'aris are the closest of the theological sects to the methodology of the People of the Sunnah.