Based upon this, salafiyyah is taken from the Salaf, they are those who preceded us in goodness and those who follow them in goodness until the day of judgment.”
The noble Shaykh continues,
So those are the Salaf, and this ascription of salafiyyah is ascribing oneself to them (the Companions). The Methodology of the Salaf is obligatory upon every Muslim, their methodology should be salafee, and the meaning of this is accepting and implementing the Book of Allaah, submitting to the command of Allaah in his Book,
“And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur'aan, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!” [Sooratuz-Zumar, 39:55]
Also,
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur'aan), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allaah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islaamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allaah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided. [Soorah Aali-Imraan, 3:103]
And,
Answer the call of your Lord (i.e. accept the Islaamic Monotheism, O mankind, and jinns) before there comes from Allaah a Day which cannot be averted. You will have no refuge on that Day nor there will be for you any denying (of your crimes as they are all recorded in the Book of your deeds). [Sooratush-Shoorah, 42:47]
In addition,
O you who believe! obey Allaah and obey the Messenger… [Sooratun-Nisaa’, 4:59]
‘Following the commands of Allaah and the commands of the Messenger is obligatory amongst us O children of Aadam. And if we find two commands opposing one another, a command from Allaah and command from the creation, whether it is a group, party, gang or deviated belief. Like the ‘aqeedah of:
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The soofiyyah (The Soofees who believe Allaah is everywhere and call upon the Messenger and other than him as a form of intercessor)
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The jahmiyyah (Those who deny the names and attributes of Allaah)
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The mu’tazilah (Those who said that the Qur’aan is created, that the slave created his own action and that Allaah is not seen in the hereafter)
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The rawaafidh (A group from the extremist Shee’ah who curse Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar and they curse the rest of the Companions.)
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The ikhwaaniyyah (the Muslim Brotherhood) or the belief of the Tablighiyyah (Jama’aatut-Tableegh) and other than them from the various calls who have mixed in their calls falsehood and truth.
And as for the truth we accept it from other than these groups, for these groups have mixed falsehood with truth, they remain silent concerning shirk (associating partners with Allaah) and they remain silent concerning bid’ah (innovation in the deen)…
It is obligatory that we distance ourselves from all these groups, and that we follow the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Some may ask, ‘How do we follow the Qur’aan and everyone has claimed that they explain the Qur’aan correctly’?
The answer: the tafseer (explanation) of the Qur’aan has to be taken from the Sunnah, and likewise the Companions and the Tabi’oon (those who came after).
The Shaykh continues by explaining why we must follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam),
“It is not allowed to practice any type of innovation. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) admonished his Companions one day after salaatul-fajr,
From Abee Najeeh al-Irbaadh Ibn Saariyah who said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) addressed us with a serious admonition, and the hearts were softened from it, and the eyes shed tears from it, so we said: O Messenger of Allaah!! This seems to be a farewell admonishment, so advise us. He said: I advise you to fear of Allaah, and listening and obeying even if you are commanded by a slave. For verily whoever lives from amongst you shall see many differences, so cling to my Sunnah, and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs from after me, bite into it with your molar teeth. And beware of newly invented matters, for verily every newly invented matter is a misguided innovation.’
O Slaves of Allaah, Allaah has addressed you; Allaah has commanded you to follow him Book and the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). If one of the students of knowledge finds himself being called the hizbiyyah (partisanship), soofiyyah or any other misguided innovation, then you should ask, ‘what is your proof?’ asking for daleel, rather they won’t have any, they blind-follow men. This should be they way of the student of knowledge, always asking for proof.
Hasan: Related by Aboo Daawood (no. 4597) and Ahmad (4/102) and it was authenticated by al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr in Takhreej Ahaadeethul-Kashaaf (no. 63).
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By al-Allaamah Ahmad Ibn Yahyaa an-Najmee
