Obligation of following the Salaf as-Salih Firstly, from the Noble Qur’an Allah (ta’ala) says: And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment. (at-Tawbah: 100) Through this we extract and understand that Allah (ta’ala) is unreservedly pleased with the Muhajirun and Ansar and is pleased with those who follow them in righteousness. The Companions [Muhajirun and Ansar] have already attained Allah’s pleasure and it is secure, whereas for those who come after them; this is not guaranteed, as it is dependent upon their adherence to the way of the Companions in righteousness. Allah (ta’ala) also says: And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination. (an-Nisa’: 115) Allah has clearly and openly threatened those who follow a different path to the Companions with the punishment of Hell, and in the previous ayah, He promises His pleasure to those who follow them. Secondly, from the Sunnah 1. The statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “The best of people are my generation, then those who succeed them, then those who succeed them” (Bukhari & Muslim) Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) chose the companions to be the companions of the greatest man to walk the face of the Earth, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the Prophet is telling you who the best generation is, this is an indication of their preference, precedence and majestic rank as well as their knowledge of Allah’s laws and intense adherence to the way of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). 2. The Messenger’s statement: “The Jews split up into seventy-one sects, the Christians split up into seventy-two sects and this Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects; all of them are in the Fire except one.” Someone asked: “Which is that one O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Whoever is upon that which I am upon today and my Companions.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad, Ibn Majah) 3. His saying: “…for indeed, those who will still be alive after me will see many differences; so hold fast to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khalifahs after me. Adhere to and cling tightly to it and beware of newly-invented matters (in religion), for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation (in religion) is a deviation.” (Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Darimi) This is a warning to you that there will come a time where there will be appearances of splits and differences; the Prophet is telling his Ummah to stick to his Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khalifahs after him. Thirdly, from the statements of the Salaf as-Salih and their followers 1. Abdullah Ibn Masud, (may Allah be pleased with him), said: People will not cease to be in good as long as knowledge emanating from the Companions of Muhammad and their elders reach them. If however, knowledge comes to them by way of their young and their desires diversify, they will be ruined (AI-Zuhd of Ibn al-Mubarak, p. 281 narration number 815.) 2. He also said: Whoever amongst you seeks to adopt a path, should take to the way of the dead, since the living are not safe and secure from being put to trial. They, the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), possessed the most pious hearts of this Ummah, were the most profound in knowledge and the least constraint of this Ummah. A people whom Allah chose for the companionship of Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the establishment of His religion. So know their rights and adhere to their guidance, for they indeed were upon the straightway (jami Bayan al- Ilm wa Fadhh, 2/97.) 3. He also said: “We emulate and do not set precents, we follow and do not innovate and we will not deviate as long as we hold onto the narrations”. (Sharh Usul Itiqad Ahl al-Sunnah of al-Lalaka’I, narration number 115.) 4. He also said: “Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed”. (Al Bid wa al Nahy anha of ibn Waddah pg. 13.) 5. Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman, (may Allah be pleased with him), said: O assembly of reciters! Remain upright and take to the way of those before you. For by Allah, if you (choose to) follow them then know that you have been outstripped by a long distance, and if you take to the right or left (of their path) then you will be upon severe deviation. (Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm, 2/29) 6. Mujahid (The Great Muffasir Tabi’)said: “The scholars are the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).” (Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm, 2/29) 7. Al-Awza’I said: “Knowledge is that which emanates from the Companions of Muhammad as for anything else besides this, it is not knowledge.” Imam Ahmad also said this. (Jami’ Bayan al-‘Ilm, 2/29) 8. Al-Awza’i also said: “Patiently restrict yourself upon the Sunnah, stop where the people (the Companions) stopped, say what they say and refrain from that which they refrained. Traverse upon the path of your Salaf as-Salih, for indeed what was sufficient for them is sufficient for you.” (Al Shari’ah of al-Ajurri, pg. 58.) 9. Al-Hasan al-Basri was in a gathering when he mentioned the Companions of Muhammad. He then remarked: “They possessed the most pious hearts of this Ummah, were the most profound in knowledge and the least constraint. A people, whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so emulate their character and way, for by the Lord of the Ka’bah, they are upon the straight path”. (Jami Bayan al-‘Ilm 2/97) 10. Imam Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy upon him), was questioned: “What is your comment on the speech innovated by the people regarding al-A’rad and al-Ajsam?” He replied: “Statements of the philosophers! Take to the narrations and the way of the Salaf and beware of every newly-invented matter (in religion) for it is indeed an innovation”. (Sawn al-Mantiq of al-Suyuti, 322.) 11. Al-Awza i said: Hold fast to the narrations of the Salaf even if people abandon you. Beware of the opinions of men, no matter how much they beautify it with their speech, for indeed the matter will become manifest whilst you will be upon the correct straight path concerning it. (Al-Madknai ila al-Satan of al-Bayhaqi, number 233.) 12. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: It is a must upon every Muslim, who testifies that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, that his basic intention be to single out Allah in his worship of Him alone, without any partner and to obey His Messenger. He is to remain upon this, following it wherever he finds it, and he should know that the best of creation after the Prophets are the Companions. He should not therefore, offer absolute and unrestricted allegiance to any one person except the Messenger of Allah. Nor should he offer absolute and unrestricted allegiance to any one group except the Companions; as the Guidance remains with the Messenger, wherever he remains, and it remains with his Companions and no one elses companions, wherever they remain. (Minhaj al-Sunnah 5/262-263) [Islam Made Easy pg. 48-52]
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:49:40 +0000
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