'And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).  (Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions).  Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).50:16-18

The Messenger  (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

'A man might utter a word without thinking about its implications, but because of it, he will plunge into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and west.'(Reported by Bukhaari and Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

'Whoever can guarantee to me what is between his two lips (i.e. guarding the tongue from false speech) and what is between his two legs (i.e. guarding the private parts from fornication), I can guarantee for him Paradise.'[Reported by Bukhaari]

This is enough a reminder for such people of blameworthy envy and hatred.

Sheikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (hafidha-hullaah) commented saying: that is [in the saying of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam)]: 'They are those upon that which I and my Companions are upon today'

He (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) advised that one should be with them, with this Jamaa'ah, with this company of people, with this group; which is upon that which the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon.  However, this requires two affairs:

The First Affair Is: Knowledge; that we learn that which the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon.  As for the Jaahil, he does not learn, whilst thinking that what the one in opposition is upon is what the Messenger was upon, when that is not the case.

The Second Affair Is: To be firm upon that which the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon; because the one who traverses upon the sunnah will receive grief, trouble and intimidation from the people; but he must exercise patience and not turn away from the truth.  He does not bargain (the truth) nor leaves anything of it; and for that reason it has been reported about the one who holds upon his Religion at the end of time, that he is like one holding onto a burning coal or prickles; due to what he will receive of hardship, grief and trouble from the people.  So he requires patience.[2]

'The greatest of reliance and trust in Allaah, is to have reliance and trust with regards to Hidaayah, and in actualizing Tawheed, and making ittibaah of the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and striving against the people of baatil.  This is the Reliance and Trust of the Messengers, and in particular that of their followers.' (Al-Fawaa-id. Page.138)

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[1]Source: Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank (hafidha-hullaah), Explanation of the Creed

[2] Source: Ittihaaful Qaaree Bitta'liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree, Vol2, page68-69

The Second Principle: Allah has commanded Unity in the Religion and He forbade splitting in it; so Allah has clarified this with a clear clarification understood by the common people.

Sheikh Zayd Bin Haadee Al-Madkhalee (hafidha-hullaah) commented saying:

I say: This is truth stated in the Book of Allah, when He (Azza-Wa-Jal) said:

'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.'[3:103]

So Allah has commanded holding onto His Rope, and it is the Firm Religion which the Book of the Lord of the Worlds and the Sunnah of the leader of the first and later Prophets [Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) came with.  And Allaah forbade His Messenger from division in the Religion; because it is the path of the Mushrikoon and the Innovators.  As for those who have understanding in the Religion, from the Book of their Lord and the Sunnah of their Prophet; then indeed they unite upon all of the Religion and do not split; in compliance with the command given to them in the Revelation.

So unity upon the Clear Truth is the path of the Salafus Saaliheen, those who possessed the correct understanding of Allaah's Magnificent Book and the Sunnah of the trustworthy Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam).  Splitting is the path of the people of innovation, those who are misguided and misguiding others; because they are the ones who bring about splitting as a result of deviating from the Siraatal Musta-qeem.

Indeed, Allaah has commanded the Ummah as a whole to traverse a singular path, and that is the Siraatal Musta'qeem, and to be warned against the crooked paths, in his truthful saying:

'And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path.'[6:153]

As for the people of the Qur'aan, the Sunnah and correct understanding,  they embrace this divine commandment in their hearts, tongues and with the actions of their limbs.  They do not turn away from the straight line that leads to Allah and His pleasure.  

As for the people of innovation, then indeed they deviate from that straight line to the other lines on the right and the left, as reported by Jaabir Bin Abdillaah (radiyallaahu-anhu) who said:

'We were sitting with the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), so he drew a straight line in front of him and said, 'this is Allaah's path'.  He then drew lines on the right and left sides of this (straight line) and said, 'these are the path of shaytaan.'  Then he placed his finger on the line in the middle and then recited this ayah:'

'And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path.'[6:153]

Therefore, whoever takes hold of the middle line will be safe and happy, and whoever turns away from the middle line will traverse the deviated lines.  He will fall to destruction in this worldly life, in the Barsakh and in the hereafter.

'And he for whom Allaah has not appointed light, for him there is no light.'[24:40]
[End of quote][1]

[1][Source:Sullamul Wusool Ilaa Bayaan As-Sitta Al-Usool] by Sheikh Zayd Bin Haadee (hafidha-hullaah), page:17-19]

However, the most dangerous of these (above) catergories and the ones who produced the worst consequences were the people of innovation-the spiteful ones that are filled with hatred.  This is since by their plotting scheming and their camouflaging of themselves behind the cover of the Sunnah, they were able to penetrate every barrier.  Thus, they managed to pour into every crack from these schools, universities and masaajid.  And they were able to create a group that carried their ideologies, whether all of it or some of it, and whether intentionally or unintentionally.

So this group-which they had trained and prepared according to the way they saw fit-began to form movements calling the people towards these ideologies in the universities, schools and elsewhere, and upheld it by becoming active in this place and that place.  

And these were crucial and significant times in which the dawah (call) to Allah had a great need for enthusiastic and active individuals that would raise its flag with firmness and conviction, fighting the enemies of falsehood, schemes and plots and thus turning them back upon their heels in disgrace.  

So then using the name of Salafiyyah and the names of justice and fairness, this group was able to present the innovators-those who wage war against the people of Sunnah and Tawheed in their own land-as ones who were oppressed. 
 
So then using the name of Salafiyyah and the names of justice and fairness, this group was able to present the innovators-those who wage war against the people of Sunnah and Tawheed in their own land-as ones who were oppressed.

And corrupted the minds and the beliefs of many of the youth, distorting the image of the Salafi Manhaj and its adherents in the eyes of the youth.  Then the figureheads within this group began calling towards a 'New Methodology' with regards to criticizing the methodologies, ideologies, books and individuals-and they claimed that this was the methodology that was just and fair.  So many of the youth and those who wrote in their favour began to think that such was the correct way.  Rather, they even claimed that it was the Methodology of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa'ah and this spread and circulated in the writings of some of those who ascribed themselves to the Salaf.

And it had an effect on many of the youth, such that they accepted it and clung onto it, thinking that it was the truth and that it was just.  And then unfortunately, that began to become deeply rooted in their hearts and they did not realize that this was a way of thinking that was foreign to Islaam and Muslims.  This view crept into them from their enemies in the same manner that other (deviant) ideologies had crept into Islaamic Societies.

The effects of this methodology became clearly apparent in the conversations, debates, writing and attitudes of many of the youths and teachers.  

So this methodology began to take firm root in the peoples hearts. And from its evil consequences, was that it weakened the Principles of Walaa Wal Baraa [Loyalty and Disassociation] to Allah and for the sake of Allah, and to the Methodology of Allah and those who adhere to it-instead there became manifest the loyalty, love and esteem for the callers, books, ideologies and methodologies that were all far from the Salafi Manhaj, and for their people and not it's people.

Rather, that became the main avenue used in fighting the salafi Manhaj and they changed it with strong determination so that it (the Manhaj) would be replaced from its original form, halting its progression in its tracks after its departure had already taken place.  This (new) methodology had a great influence upon Writers who were one thought were from the best of the Salafis and from virtuous characters, personages and figures.

We ask Allah to grant them the ability to tread the way and methodology of their righteous predecessors in regards to calling to the Clear Methodolgy of the Salaf, the dedicated education of the youth that are upon it and implanting love for it and its followers whether they are dead or alive, and to follow their example and strengthen themselves by affiliating themselves to them. [The End]

Sheikh Saaleh al Fawzaan commented on the above saying: The Siddeeq (the truthful one) is the one given to much truthfulness, and his status is at a level after that of the  Prophets; so the station of Truthfulness is a lofty station, and what is intended by it is adherence to Truthfulness in speech and action.  The Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) made known who the Truthful One is; so he said:

'A man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a Truthful Person'

He is truthful himself and is eager for truthfulness with regards to what the people relate to him.  He does not go along with everything he hears or whatever is said, rather he verifies and is eager for truthfulness; because he is a truthful person.  He neither narrates nor utter except the truth.  This is the Siddeeq (The Truthful One).

And concerning the statement: 'whoever dies upon the Sunnah.'

Sheikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan comments saying:  That is to cling to Islaam.  And what is intended by As-Sunnah is 'Islaam'.   Islaam is the Sunnah, and whoever dies upon it Unknown and there appeared nothing from him in opposition to (that), then indeed he dies as a truthful person.

And concerning his statement: 'Clinging to the Sunnah is Salvation',

that is: clinging to the Sunnah is safety from Fitan and Punishment; and for this reason he (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

'whosoever lives amongst you will see lots of differences, so stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khulafaa.'
  
Allaah (Jalla-Wa-Alaa) said:

'And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah, and be not divided among yourselves'[3:103]

And He (Jalla-Wa-Alaa) said:

'And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path.' [6:153]

This is the advise of Allah and that of His Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and that is to stick and cling to sunnah. 
 
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[Source: Ittihaaful Qaaree Bitta'liqaat Alaa Sharhis Sunnah Lil Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah), Vol:2, page:313-314]