As Salaf as Saalih (the Pious Predecessors) - Explanation of the Salaf
As Salaf as Saalih
(the Pious Predecessors)
Explanation of the Salaf
"And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger
(Muhammad s.a.w.s ) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way (i.e. the Prophet and his companions) We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination."
[Verse 115 of Surah Nisaa]
The word "Salaf" is a condensation of "Salaf-as Saalih" which means "The Pious Predecessors". The Salaf are the first three generations of Islam:
1) The Prophet and his Companions
2) The Taabi'een (the generation after them)
3) The Atbaa'tul- Taabi'een (the generation after the taabi'een)
The Taabi'een never met the Prophet, but met the sahaabi (companions).
So who are the people that follow the Salaf-as-Saalih? They are termed as "Salafi" or "Salafiyyah".
In the Cassette, "at-Tahdheer min al-Bid'ah" , Shiekh Saleh al Fowzan was asked:
"Is Salafiyyah a hizb (party) from amongst the parties. And is ascribing to them (i.e. the Salafis) a blameworthy thing?"
To which he replied:
"As-Salafiyyah (i.e. the Salafis) is the Saved Sect, and they are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. It is not a hizb (party) from amongst the various parties, those which are called "parties" today. Rather they are the Jamaa'ah, the Jamaa'ah upon the Sunnah and upon the Deen (religion). They are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said,
"There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose them" and he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said, "And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire but one". They said, which one is this O Messenger of Allaah? He replied, "They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon today".
Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people (i.e. the Salafis) upon the madhhab of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions were upon and it is not a hizb from amongst the contemporary groups present today. Rather it is the very old Jamaa'ah, from the time of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) which inherits (this way) and continues, and which never ceases to be upon the manifest truth until the establishment of the Hour, as he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has informed (us)."
In his Chapter of ascription to the Salaf from "Haadhihi Mafaaheemunaa", Sheikh Saalih Aal ash-Sheikh says:
"Muslims are of two groups: Salafis and Khalafis. As for the Salafis, then they are the followers of Salaf us-Saalih (first three generations of Muslims). And as for the Khalafis, then they are the followers of the understanding of the Khalaf and they are also called Innovators - since everyone who is not pleased and satisfied with the path of the Salaf us-Saalih, in knowledge and action, understanding and fiqh, then he is a khalafi, an innovator."
The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of Mankind is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them." (Related by Imam Bukhaari)
The term Salafiyyah or Salafi was not used that the time of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) because they were on the true path of Islaam. But as Hizbs started to arise and sects became more prevalent, the need for further ascription arose. Therefore it is not Bid'ah to label ones self a Salafi.
The point is to distinguish ourselves from the factions that exist in Islam.
The prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her):"How excellent a Salaf I am for you." (Related by Muslim)
Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan was asked "Is the one who gives himself the title of 'as-Salafi' considered to have set up a 'hizb'?". To which he replied, "There is no harm in labelling oneself with Salafiyyah when it is in truth.
However how evil is it to label yourself from amongst the Salaffiyah but then have the 'Aqeedah and Manhaj of that other than it?
Brothers and Sisters, it is imperative that we grab hold to the rope of Allaah and follow His messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him)
As-Sam'aanee said in al-lnsaab: "As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them." lbn al-Atheer said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab, commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam'aanee: "And a group were known by this ascription." So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam'aanee, or before him.
Imaam adh-Dhahabee said in "Siyar": "It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than 'ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: He never entered into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, was a Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)."
Ibn Taymiyyah said: "There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq)."
Imaam al-Asbahaanee said: "The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen." [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah]
Imam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah) said: "Adhere to the athar (narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation" [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam]
*REJECTED SUNNAH VS BEAUTIFIED OPINION:: It is reported that Al-Awzâ’î said, “Follow the narrations [ways] of those who have preceded (the Salaf) even if people reject you; and beware of people’s opinions, even if they beautify them for you.” [Al-Âjurrî, Kitâb Al-Sharîrah Vol.1 p138; Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol.3 p373.]
(the Pious Predecessors)
Explanation of the Salaf
"And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger
(Muhammad s.a.w.s ) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way (i.e. the Prophet and his companions) We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination."
[Verse 115 of Surah Nisaa]
The word "Salaf" is a condensation of "Salaf-as Saalih" which means "The Pious Predecessors". The Salaf are the first three generations of Islam:
1) The Prophet and his Companions
2) The Taabi'een (the generation after them)
3) The Atbaa'tul- Taabi'een (the generation after the taabi'een)
The Taabi'een never met the Prophet, but met the sahaabi (companions).
So who are the people that follow the Salaf-as-Saalih? They are termed as "Salafi" or "Salafiyyah".
In the Cassette, "at-Tahdheer min al-Bid'ah" , Shiekh Saleh al Fowzan was asked:
"Is Salafiyyah a hizb (party) from amongst the parties. And is ascribing to them (i.e. the Salafis) a blameworthy thing?"
To which he replied:
"As-Salafiyyah (i.e. the Salafis) is the Saved Sect, and they are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. It is not a hizb (party) from amongst the various parties, those which are called "parties" today. Rather they are the Jamaa'ah, the Jamaa'ah upon the Sunnah and upon the Deen (religion). They are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah. The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said,
"There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose them" and he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said, "And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire but one". They said, which one is this O Messenger of Allaah? He replied, "They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon today".
Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people (i.e. the Salafis) upon the madhhab of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions were upon and it is not a hizb from amongst the contemporary groups present today. Rather it is the very old Jamaa'ah, from the time of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) which inherits (this way) and continues, and which never ceases to be upon the manifest truth until the establishment of the Hour, as he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has informed (us)."
In his Chapter of ascription to the Salaf from "Haadhihi Mafaaheemunaa", Sheikh Saalih Aal ash-Sheikh says:
"Muslims are of two groups: Salafis and Khalafis. As for the Salafis, then they are the followers of Salaf us-Saalih (first three generations of Muslims). And as for the Khalafis, then they are the followers of the understanding of the Khalaf and they are also called Innovators - since everyone who is not pleased and satisfied with the path of the Salaf us-Saalih, in knowledge and action, understanding and fiqh, then he is a khalafi, an innovator."
The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best of Mankind is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them." (Related by Imam Bukhaari)
The term Salafiyyah or Salafi was not used that the time of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) because they were on the true path of Islaam. But as Hizbs started to arise and sects became more prevalent, the need for further ascription arose. Therefore it is not Bid'ah to label ones self a Salafi.
The point is to distinguish ourselves from the factions that exist in Islam.
The prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her):"How excellent a Salaf I am for you." (Related by Muslim)
Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan was asked "Is the one who gives himself the title of 'as-Salafi' considered to have set up a 'hizb'?". To which he replied, "There is no harm in labelling oneself with Salafiyyah when it is in truth.
However how evil is it to label yourself from amongst the Salaffiyah but then have the 'Aqeedah and Manhaj of that other than it?
Brothers and Sisters, it is imperative that we grab hold to the rope of Allaah and follow His messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him)
As-Sam'aanee said in al-lnsaab: "As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them." lbn al-Atheer said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab, commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam'aanee: "And a group were known by this ascription." So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam'aanee, or before him.
Imaam adh-Dhahabee said in "Siyar": "It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than 'ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: He never entered into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, was a Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)."
Ibn Taymiyyah said: "There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq)."
Imaam al-Asbahaanee said: "The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen." [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah]
Imam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah) said: "Adhere to the athar (narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation" [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam]
*REJECTED SUNNAH VS BEAUTIFIED OPINION:: It is reported that Al-Awzâ’î said, “Follow the narrations [ways] of those who have preceded (the Salaf) even if people reject you; and beware of people’s opinions, even if they beautify them for you.” [Al-Âjurrî, Kitâb Al-Sharîrah Vol.1 p138; Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol.3 p373.]
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