The Majority is not a Proof that something is Correct
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From the greatest of their principles was that they would be deluded by
the majority, using that to determine the correctness of a matter. They
would also determine the falsehood of something if it was strange and
that its adherents were few. So Allaah brought them the opposite of
that, clarifying this in many places of the Qur'aan.

the explanation
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From the characteristics of the people of the Days of Ignorance is that
they would view the majority as proof that something was true and the
minority as proof hat something was false. So according to them,
whatever the majority of the people was upon, that was the truth. And whatever
the minority was upon, that was not the truth. In their eyes, this was
the balance used to determine truth from falsehood. However, this is
wrong, for Allaah says: ?And if you obey most of those on earth, they
will mislead you far away from Allaah?s path. They follow nothing but
conjecture, and they do nothing but lie.?

And He says: ?But most of mankind know not.?

And He says: ?And most of them We found to be not true to their
covenant, but most of them We found indeed to be evil sinners.?

So the balance is not the majority and the minority. Rather, the
balance is the truth. So whoever is upon the truth, even if he is by himself,
he is the one who is correct and deserves to be emulated. And if the
majority of the people are upon falsehood, then it is obligatory to
reject them and not be deceived by them. So consideration is given to the
truth. This is why the scholars say: ?Truth is not known by way of men,
but rather men are known by way of the truth.? So whoever is upon the
truth, then he is the one we must follow and emulate.

In Allaah?s stories about the prior nations, He informs us that it is
always the minority that is upon the truth, as Allaah says: ?And no one
believed with him except for a few.?

And in a hadeeth in which the nations were presented to the Prophet, he
(sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam) said that he saw a prophet that had a
small group of followers with him, and a prophet that had a man or two
men following him, and another prophet that had no one with him. So
consideration is not given to which opinion or view has the most followers.
Rather, consideration is given to its being either true or false. So
whatever is true, even though a minority of the people or no one is upon
it ? so long as it is the truth ? it must be adhered to, for indeed it
is salvation. Falsehood is not aided by the fact that it has a majority
of people following it, ever. This is a determining measure that the
Muslim must always abide by.

The Prophet (sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam) said: ?Islaam began strange
and it will return back to being strange as it began.? This will occur
at the time when evil, calamities and misguidance increase. So no one
will remain upon the truth except for the strange ones amongst the
people and those who extract themselves from their tribes (for the sake of
their religion). They will become strangers in their society. The
Messenger (sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam) was sent while the whole world was
submersed in disbelief and misguidance. And when he called the people,
only one or two answered his call. It was only until later on that they
grew to be many. The tribe of Quraish, not to mention the whole of the
Arabian Peninsula and the whole world, was upon misguidance. And the
Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ?alayhi wa sallam) was the only one
calling the people. So those that followed him were few with respect to the
entire world.

So consideration is not given to the majority. Consideration is only
given to what is correct and to achieving the truth. Yes, if the majority
of the people are upon correctness, then that is good. However, the way
of Allaah is that the majority of the people is always upon falsehood.

?And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.?


?And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away
from Allaah?s path. They follow nothing but conjecture, and they do
nothing but lie.?