Who are the People of the Sunnah and the Community (Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah)? And if they are not the Ash'aris and the Maturidis, then who are they? And why is accusing them of innovation considered an accusation of disbelief?

Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah follow the methodology of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, his Companions, and the Successors in belief, word, and deed. They believe in the pillars of faith, affirm what Allah has affirmed for Himself or His Messenger, negate what Allah has negated from Himself or His Messenger, and do not declare a perpetrator of a major sin to be a disbeliever. They surrender their hearts and tongues to the Companions, and they enjoin good and forbid evil.

The Ash'aris are a sect attributed to Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, who went through three stages. His final stage conformed to the methodology of Ahl al-Sunnah, and those who followed it agreed with Ahl al-Sunnah in most of their views.

The Maturidiyyah are a theological sect attributed to Abu Mansur al-Maturidi. They have principles in which they differed from Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah, and their disagreement with the Ash'aris is confined to minor issues.

Declaring someone a disbeliever (takfir) is a legal ruling specific to Allah and His Messenger. No one is permitted to declare a Muslim a disbeliever except after the establishment of proof, the fulfillment of conditions, and the absence of impediments.