Usage of Word Salaf

7/29/2019 Usage of Word Salaf

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1. Prophet Muhammad (d. 11H)Aisha reported: We, the wives of Allaahs Prophet , were with him

(during his last illness) and none was absent there from that Fatima, who walked after

the style of Allaahs Messenger , came there, and when he saw her he

welcomed her saying: You are welcome, my daughter. He then made her sit on hisright side or on his left side. Then he said something secretly to her and she weptbitterly and when he found her (plunged) in grief he said to her something secretly forthe second time and she laughed.

I (Aisha) said to her: Allaahs Messenger has singled you amongst the women (of thefamily) for talking (to you something secretly) and you wept. When Allaahs

Messenger recovered from illness, I said to her. What did AllaahsMessenger say to you?

Thereupon she said: I am not going to disclose the secret of Allaahs Messenger ().

When Allaahs Messenger died, I said to her: I adjure you by the rightthat I have upon you that you should narrate to me what Allaahs Messenger

said to you.

She said: Yes, now I can do that (so listen to it). When he talked to me secretly for thefirst time he informed me that Gabriel was in the habit of reciting the Quran alongwith him once or twice every year, but this year it had been twice and so heperceived his death quite near, so fear Allaah and be patient (and he told me) that he

would be a befitting SALAF (forerunner) for me and so I wept as you saw me. Andwhen he saw me in grief he talked to me secretly for the second time and said:Fatima, are you not pleased that you should be at the head of the believing womenor the head of this Umma? I laughed and it was that laughter which you saw.

[Sahih Muslim, The Virtues of the Companions (Book 31), CHAPTER: THE MERITSOF FATIMA, DAUGHTER OF ALLAAH'S APOSTLE (SALLALLAAHU ALAYHI WASALLAM), No. 6004]Narrated Aisha:

He added, But this year he (referring to Gabriel due to hadith in Sahih Muslimabove) reviewed it with me twice, and therefore I think that my time of death has

approached. So, be afraid of Allah, and be patient, for I am the best SALAF(predecessor) for you (in the Hereafter).

Fatima added, So I wept as you (Aisha) witnessed. And when the Prophet saw me inthis sorrowful state, he confided the second secret to me saying, O Fatima! Will younot be pleased that you will be chief of all the believing women (or chief of thewomen of this nation i.e. my followers?)

[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, The Book of Asking Permission, No. 5885]


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2. Ayyub Al-Sakhtiyani (130H)Whoever loves Abu Bakr has upheld the religion, whoever loves Umar has made the

way clear, whoever loves Uthman is enlightened by the light of Allah, and whoever

loves Ali has taken the firmest handhold. Whoever speaks well of the Companions of

Allahs Messenger Allahs peace and blessings be upon him is clear of hypocrisy(nifaq), but whoever belittles any one of them or dislikes [any one of them] forsomething he did, then he is a heretic (mubtadi), an opponent of the Sunnah and theSALAF (Righteous Predecessors), and it is feared that none of his deeds will be raisedto the heavens until he loves all of [the Companions] and his heart is clear towardsthem.

[Ibn Abi Zamanin, Usul Al-Sunnah article 189]3. Abu Haneefah (d.151H)Stick to the athaar (narrations) and the way of the SALAF and beware of newlyinvented matters, for all of it is innovation.

[Related by as-Suyootee in Sawnul-Mantaq wal-Kalaam (p.32)]4. Abdur-Rahmaan al-Awzaaee (d. 157H)Hold fast to the narrations of the SALAF, even if people were to abandon you.Beware of the opinions of the people, no matter how much they beautify it with their

speech.

[Related by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadee in his excellent book Sharafu Ashaabul-Hadeeth(p.7)]al-Awzaaee also said:Fortify your soul with having patience upon the Sunnah. And stop at where thepeople (i.e. the Salaf) have stopped. And derive your statements from where they

drew their statements (i.e. the Quraan and Sunnah). And be satisfied with what theywere satisfied with. And tread the path of your SALAF AS-SAALIH (PIOUSPREDECESSORS), for indeed you will be sufficed by what sufficed them.

[Reported by Ismaa'eel Ibn al-Fadl in Al-Hujjah fee Bayaan-il-Mahajjah with anauthentic chain of narration]5. Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d.241H)Ninety men from the Taabieen, the scholars of the Muslims and of the SALAF and theJurists of the various cities are [unanimously] agreed that the Sunnah upon which theMessenger of Allaah ( ) died is: [then he listed 14 points]

[Tabaqaatul-Hanaabiliah, 1/130-131]


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6. Abu Jafar at-Tahawi (d. 321)And the early scholars from the SALAF (the early predecessors), and the Taabieen(successors) who came after them: the people upon good and the narrations, and the

people of Fiqh and discernment; are not to be mentioned except with fine words;

and whoever speaks ill of them then he is not upon the correct path.

[Aqeedah Tahawiyyah, point 203]7. Abu Muhammad Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani (d.386)He said while discussing the affairs of the Religion that the Muslim nation hasunanimously agreed upon and the aspects of the Sunnah that if opposed is consideredinnovation (bidah) and misguidance, [This requires] total submittance to theSunnah. It is not to be opposed by opinion or averted by way of analogy. The way

the texts were interpreted by the righteous SALAF, then we interpret them in the samefashion; and whatever way they applied them, then we apply them in the same way

and whatever they abandoned then we abandon. We refrain from what theyrefrained from and we follow them in what they have explained.

[al-Jami (p.117) of Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani]8. al-Laalikaaee (d. 418H)That which is most obligatory upon a Muslim: Knowledge of the aspects of the creed

of the Religion and what Allaah has obligated upon HisServants including the understanding of His Tauheed and of His Attributes, andbelieving in His Messengers with evidences and with certainty.

And arriving at [all of] that and seeking evidences for them with clear proofs. Andamong the mightiest of statements and clearest of proofs andunderstandings is:

[1] The Book of Allaah, the Manifest Truth[2] Then the Saying of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)[3] And of his Companions, the chosen, pious ones[4] Then that which the SALAF US-SAALIH were unanimously agreed upon[5] Then holding fast to all of that and remaining firm upon it till the Day ofJudgement[6] Then turning away from the innovations and from listening to them fromamongst those things the astray people have invented

[Sharh Usool ul-I'tiqaad (1/9)]9. Aboo Uthmaan as-Saboonee (449H)The scholars of the Ummah and in particular the aaimmah from the SALAF,raheemahumullaah, did not disagree that Allaah, The Most High, is over His Throneand the Throne is above the seven heavens. They affirm what Allah, the Most High,


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has affirmed, and believe in what He, The Lord, the Most Majestic, has informed uswith.

['Aqeedatus-Salaf as'haabul-Hadeeth - The Creed of the (Pious) Predecessors & thePeople of Hadeeth, Chapter 5 : Allaah Istiwaa over his throne, point 22]10. Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d.463H)He said in his treatise al-Kalaam fis-Sifaat,As for speech concerning the Attributes, then whatever is related about them from

the authentic Sunan in the madhhab of the SALAFmay Allaah be pleased with themall is to be affirmed and conveyed upon its apparent (dhaahir) meaning, and thekayfiyyah (modality) and tashbeeh (resemblance) must be negated from it.

[Recorded by Ibn Qudaamah in Dhammut-Ta'weel (p. 17-18)]11. Al-Asbahaanee (d.535H)The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the SALAFUS-SAALIH and abandon allthat is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen.

[Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364]12. As-Samaanee (d.562H)We have been commanded to follow and we have been encouraged with this. Wehave been forbidden from innovating (bidah) and severely warned against suchbehaviour. The hallmark of the People of the Sunnah is their adherence to AL-SALAFAL-SALIH (the Pious Predecessors) and their abandonment of everything thatconstitutes an innovation (mubtada) or a matter from the Religion that appearswithout precedent (muhdath)

[al-Intisar l i Ahl al-Hadith of Abu al-Muzaffar al-Sam'ani by way of the book Sawn al-Mantaq wa al-Kalam (p.158)]As-Samaanee also said in al-lnsaab (3/273):

AS-SALAFI: this is an ascription to the SALAF and following their ways, in that whichis related from them.

lbn al-Atheer (d.630H) said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab (2/162), commentingupon the previous saying of as-Samaanee:And a group were known by this ascription.

13. Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee (d.620H)Abu Dawood reported in his Sunan that the Prophet said:

Indeed what is between one level of heaven and (another) level of heaven is a


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distance of such and such He continued until he mentioned:And above that is the Throne. And Allaah, the One free of all defects, is above that.

This and what is similar to it is from what the SALAF, may Allaah have mercy of them,have unanimously agreed upon reporting and accepting. And we do not incline

towards rejecting it, or toward distorting its meaning (taweel), or towards makingcomparisons to it, nor towards likening it.

[Lumut-ul-Itiqaad (Sufficiency in Creed) of Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee,Chapter/Section: Mentioning Some of the Ahaadeeth of Allaah's Attributes, points 18 -19]14. lbn Taymiyyah (d.728H)There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhhab) of the SALAF,who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that fromhim by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhhab) of the SALAF isnothing but the Truth (Haqq).

[Majmoo al-Fataawaa 4:149]15. Adh-Dhahabee (d.748H)It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more

despised by me than ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and theological rhetoric). I say:

No person should ever enter into ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, heshould be SALAFEE(a follower of the Salaf).[Siyar 16/457]Adh-Dhahabee also said concerning the biography of Muhammad Ibn Muhammad al-Bahraanee, He was a good SALAFEEwith respect to the Religion.[Mu'jamush-Shuyookh (2/280)]He also said about Imaam Abul-Abbaas bin Majd al-Maqdisi, He was reliable and

trustworthy, intelligent, SALAFIand pious[Siyar 23/118]16. Ibn al-Qayyim (d.751H)Our Shaykh said, The reality of disbelief has been married to immoral innovation(bidah) and they have given birth to a state of loss in the life of this world and thehereafter. If he overcomes this imposing obstacle and escapes it with the light of theSunnah, and he seeks to stay clear of it by truly adhering to the Sunnah and by

emulating those who have passed from the illustrious SALAF from the Companions


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and their students who followed them in goodness, and it is rare for these latergenerations to produce one of these types of people

[Madarij al-Salikin (1/223)]17. Ibn Kathir (d.774H)His tafsir of:

and then He rose over (Istawa) the Throne[Surah Al-A'raf (7):54]

the people had several conflicting opinions over its meaning. However, we followthe way that our SALAF (righteous predecessors) took in this regard, such as Malik, Al-Awzai, Ath-Thawri, Al-Layth bin Sad, Ash-Shafii, Ahmad, Ishaq bin Rahwayh and

the rest of the scholars of Islam, in past and present times. Surely, we accept theapparent meaning of, Al-Istawa, without discussing its true essence, equating it (withthe attributes of the creation), or altering or denying it (in any way or form).

And his tafsir of:

The Most Gracious Istawa the Throne[Surah Ta-Ha (20):5]

discussion concerning this has already preceded in Surat Al-Araf, so there is no needto repeat it here. The safest path to take in understanding this, is the way of theSALAF (predecessors). Their way was to accept that which has been reportedconcerning this from the Book and the Sunnah without describing it, reinterpreting it,resembling it to creation, rejecting it, or comparing it to attributes of the creatures.

[Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Section:The Qur'an is a Reminder and a Revelation from Allah]18. Ash-Shatibi (d.790H)The SALAFUS-SALIH, the Companions, the tabieen and their successors knew theQuraan, its sciences and its meanings the best.

[al-Muwafiqat (2/79) of ash-Shatibi]19. Ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi (d. 792H)And whoever hears the hadiths of the Messengersalla Allahu alayhi wa sallam- and

the words of the SALAF, will find innumerable evidences of Allahs Elevation, andthere is no doubt that when Allah created the creation, He did not create them in Hisdivine Essence, Exalted is Allah from this!

[Sharh al-'Aqeedah al-Tahawiyah by Ibn Abil-`Izz al-Hanafi (1/372,379-380)]


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20. Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852H)..the saying of who said: the way of the SALAF is safer and the way of the Khalaf iswiser is not correct, because he thought that the way of the SALAF is only the belief inthe Lafz (words/letters) of the Quran and Hadith without having understanding of it ,

(and) the way of the Khalaf is to derive the meanings of the texts that are turnedaway from their haqiqa with different types of majaz (figurative meaning); so the onewho said this combined between the ignorance of the way of the SALAF and theclaiming of the way of the Khalaf, and it is not like he thought/assumed. The SALAFhad utmost knowledge of what befits Allah, and had the utmost glorification,obedience to His commands and submission to what He intended/willed, and the onewho took the path of the Khalaf is not sure that his tawil is what is intended, and hecant be positive of the correctness of his tawil.

[Fath al Bari sharh Sahih al Bukhari, Book of Tawhid, 1st chapter, 2nd hadith in itsexplanation]Stated al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr about Abu Amr Ibn as-Salaah, He was extremely strongand given to devotion, SALAFIin the generality (of his affairs)[Siyaar 23/142]21. As-Suyooti (d. 911H)Stated as-Suyooti about Ibn as-Salaah, He was SALAFI, abstemious and was of soundcreed

[Tabaqaat al-Huffaadh p.500]22. As-Safaareenee (d.1188H)What is meant by the madh-hab (belief) of the SALAF is that which the Companions,may Allaah be pleased with them, adhered to, as well as the distinguished ones who

followed them upon goodness, their successors and the Imaams of the Religion those who received testimony as to their leadership, were known for their great statusin the Religion and whose words are taken by the people after the SALAF, apart fromthose who are accused of innovation or renowned for unacceptable ascriptions suchas the Khawaarij, Rawaafid, Qadariyyah, Murjiah, Jabariyyah, Jahmiyyah,Muatazilah, Karaamiyyah and those similar to them.

[Lawaami'-ul-Anwaar: (1/20)]23. Muhammad Ibn Abdul-Wahhaab (d.1206H)After mentioning the hadith ending in Ukashah has preceded you which is recorded

in the two Sahihs (Bukhari and Muslim), the following important points/benefits

derived from this hadith were noted:


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* That the SALAFused to keep away from riyaa and anything that might lead to it * The profound knowledge of the SALAF[Kitab at-Tauheed, Chapter: The one who fulfils tawhid enters paradise withoutreckoning]24. Abdur Rahmaan as-Sadee (d.1376H)Know that from the agreed upon principles by the SALAF and the Imaams of thisUmmah (Muslim nation) is belief in His Names and Attributes and the verdictsconcerning those Attributes.

[His Tafsir of the Qur'aan: Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan fee Tafseer Kalaam al-Mannaan, Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatihah]25. Muhammad Naasir-Uddin al-Albaanee (d.1420H)as for the one who ascribes himself to the SALAF AS-SALIH collectivelythen heascribes himself to that which is protected from mistakes

[Al-Asaalah Magazine (no.9/p87)]


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Q & A related to the Salaf
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Posted: December 17, 2010 in SalafTags:ahl ul-hadith,ahlus sunnah wal-jamaah,firqatun najiyah,salaf,salafi,saved sect,sunni0

2 Votes

SOURCE :http://calgaryislam.com/The following questions are answered and addressed:

What or who is Salaf? What is Salafiyyah? Who is a Salafi? Is it another party/group? What is the call of Dawatus-Salafiyyah? Allaah Has Named us Muslims, So Why Ascribe Ourselves to the Salaf? So Who Are Ahl ul-Hadith?

WHAT OR WHO IS A SALAF?The word Salaf is a shortened version of the word Salafus-Saalih, which means theRighteous Predecessors. It refers specifically to the first three generations of Islaam.The first, the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam & his Sahaabah (companions). Thesecond, the Taabieen (the followers of the companions). The third, the Tabaaat-Taabieen (the followers of the followers of the companions). Generally, this termrefers to all those pious predecessors who followed the way of the Salaf and whohave preceded us in time.WHAT IS SALAFIYYAH?It i s the way of following the Salaf, in creed/belief, speech and actions, regardless oftime or location. It is to understand and implement the religion as was understoodand implemented by the Salaf. Following it exactly to the best of ones ability, and tobeware and refrain from that which opposes it.WHO IS A SALAFI?The person who ascribes and adheres to the way of the Salaf. Just like the one born ina certain country is called the countryman of that country, due to his ascription to it.In other words the person who says I am one who ascribes myself to the way of
http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/category/salaf-2/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/category/salaf-2/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahl-ul-hadith/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahl-ul-hadith/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahl-ul-hadith/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahlus-sunnah-wal-jamaah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahlus-sunnah-wal-jamaah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahlus-sunnah-wal-jamaah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/firqatun-najiyah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/firqatun-najiyah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/firqatun-najiyah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salaf/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salaf/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salaf/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salafi/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salafi/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salafi/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/saved-sect/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/saved-sect/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/saved-sect/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/sunni/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/sunni/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/sunni/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/q-a-related-to-the-salaf/#respondhttp://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/q-a-related-to-the-salaf/#respondhttp://calgaryislam.com/http://calgaryislam.com/http://calgaryislam.com/http://calgaryislam.com/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/2010/12/17/q-a-related-to-the-salaf/#respondhttp://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/sunni/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/saved-sect/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salafi/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/salaf/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/firqatun-najiyah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahlus-sunnah-wal-jamaah/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/tag/ahl-ul-hadith/http://realtruthaboutislam.wordpress.com/category/salaf-2/


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Salafus-Saalih, who are the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam & his Sahaabah, theTaabieen, and the Tabaaat-Taabieen in creed, speech and actions. It should benoted that a mere claim is not sufficient to establish the proof that one adheres to it.IS IT ANOTHER PARTY/GROUP?No it is NOT a party from among the parties, regardless of what people may claim. Itis only an ascription to the Salafus-Saalih and their methodology, and calling to thisnoble methodology. It has NO Imaam, except for Abul-Qaasim Muhammad ibnAbdillaah sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam.Shaikh Salih al-Fawzaan was asked, Is Salafiyyah a hizb (party) from amongst theparties. 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 Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah. It is not a hizb (party) from amongst the various parties,those which are called parties today. Rather they are the Jamaaah, the Jamaaahupon the Sunnah and upon the Deen (religion). They are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaaah.The Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said, There will not cease to be a groupfrom my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those whoforsake 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 theHellfire 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. HenceSalafiyyah is a group of people (i.e. the Salafis) upon the madhhab of the Salaf, uponwhat the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions were upon andit is not a hizb from amongst the contemporary groups present today.Rather it is the very old Jamaaah, from the time of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihiwasallam) which inherits (this way) and continues, and which never ceases to be uponthe manifest truth until the establishment of the Hour, as he (sallallaahu alaihiwasallam) has informed (us). (Cassette: at-Tahdheer min al-Bidah second cassette,delivered as a lecture in Hawtah Sadeer, 1416H).WHAT IS THE CALL OF DAWATUS-SALAFIYYAH?It is the pure religion which calls to Tauheed (singling out Allaah) and sincerity ofworship. The call of all the prophets and messengers. Allaamah Ubayd al-Jaabiree.ALLAH HAS NAMED US MUSLIMS, SO WHY ASCRIBE OURSELVES TO THESALAF?This doubt was very beatifully answered by Imaam al-Albaani in his discussion withsomeone on this subject, recorded on the cassette entitled, I am Salafi, and here is apresentation of the vital parts of it:


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Shaikh al-Albaani: When it is said to you, What is your madhhab, what is yourreply?Questioner: A Muslim.Shaikh al-Albaani: This is not sufficient!.Questioner: Allaah has named us Muslims and he recited the saying of Allaah MostHigh, He is the one who has called you Muslims beforehand. (al-Hajj 22:78)Shaikh al-Albaani: This would be a correct answer if we were in the very first times(of Islaam) before the sects had appeared and spread. But if we were to ask, now,any Muslim from any of these sects with which we differ on account of aqeedah, hisanswer would not be any different to this word. All of them the Shiite Rafidi, theKhaariji, the Nusayri Alawi would say, I am a Muslim. Hence, this is not sufficientin these days.Questioner: In that case I say, I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah. Shaikh al-Albaani: This is not sufficient either.Questioner: Why?Shaikh al-Albaani: Do you find any of those whom we have just mentioned by wayof example saying, I am a Muslim who is not upon the Book and the Sunnah? Whois the one who says, I am not upon the Book and the Sunnah?At this point theShaikh then began to explain in detail the importance of being upon the Book andthe Sunnah in light of the understanding of the Salaf us-SaalihQuestioner: In that case I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah with theunderstanding of the Salaf us-Saalih.Shaikh al-Albaani: When a person asks you about your madhhab, is this what youwill say to him?Questioner: Yes.Shaikh al-Albaani: What is your view that we shorten this phrase in the language,since the best words are those that are few but indicated the desired intent, so we say,Salafi?End of quotation.Hence, the point is that naming with Muslim or Sunni is not enough, sinceeveryone will claim that. And Imaam al-Albaani emphasised the importance of thetruth being distinguished from the falsehood from the point of view of the basis ofmanhaj and aqidah, and that is taking from the Salaf us-Saalih, as opposed to the


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various sects and groups whose understandings are based upon those of their mentorsand leaders and not that of the Salaf, fundamentally.SO WHO ARE AHL UL-HADITH?Author: Shaikh Rabee bin Haadee al-MadkhaleeSource: Makaanat Ahl ul-Hadith(trans. by Bilal Davies, forthcoming SP release)They are those who proceed upon the way of the Companions and those whofollowed them in righteousness, in clinging to the Book and the Sunnah, biting ontothat with their molar teeth, and letting them (i.e., the Quraan and the Sunnah) takeprecedence over any statement or code and conduct whether in belief, or acts ofworship such as dealings and transactions, mannerisms, politics or social life.They are those who are firm in regards to the fundamentals of the religion and itssubsections, upon that which Allaah sent down and revealed upon his servant andMessenger Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam). They are those establishing thecall to that with all effort, sincerity and firm will.They are those carrying the knowledge of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam),expelling from it the distortions of those who have exaggerated (in its regard) and theundue claims of the people of falsehood and the interpretations of theignorant ones.They are those who are observant and lie in wait for every group that has deviatedfrom the way of Islaam, like the Jahmees and the Mutazilees and the Khawaarij andthe Rawaafidh and the Murjiah and the Qadriyyah and all of tho se who havedeviated from the way of Allaah and have followed their desires in every time andplace they not affected by the reproach of the blamers, in the cause of AllaahTheyare the group that the Messenger of Allaah has praised and commended in his saying,There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truthnot being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose themuntil the hour is established. [1]They are the Saved Sect firm upon that which the Messenger and his Companionswere upon, those who have been distinguished and defined by the Messenger ofAllaah when he mentioned that this Ummah shall divide into seventy three sects allgoing to the Hell-fire except one and it was said, Who are they, O Messenger ofAllaah? He said, They are those who are upon that which I and my Comapnionsare upon.And this is not something we say in exageration or a mere claim, but verilywe speak a reality that the text of the Quraan and the Sunnah bears witness to,which history bears witness to, and to which their (i.e., the Ahlul-Hadeeths)statements, their state of affairs, their writings and works also bear witness to.They are those who put before their eyes the statement of Allaah:And hold fast, all ofyou together, to the rope of Allaah. [2]And His statement:And let those who opposethe Messengers commandment beware lest some fitnah befall them or a painfultorment be inflicted on them. [3]


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They are the most staunch in distancing themselves from opposing the command ofthe Messenger and the most distant from fitnah. They are those who make theirconstitution:But no, by your Lord! They can have no faith, until they make you (OMuhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)) judge in all disputes between them, andfind in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept them with fullsubmission. [4]They are those who give to the Quraan and the Sunnah their true worth and give itthe honour and veneration it deserves, giving priority to them over all the statementsof mankind, and give precedence to their guidance over the guidance of all thepeople, and they judge by them in all affairs with complete pleasure, with chestswhich are expanded and free of restraint or constriction, and they submit to Allaahand His Messenger (with) a complete submission in their aqeedah and their worshipand their dealings.They are those concerning whom the statement of Allaah holds true:The only sayingof the faithful believers when they are called to Allaah and His Messenger (sallallaahualaihi wasallam) to judge between them, is that they say, We hear and we obey,and such are the prosperous ones.[5]They after all of the Comapanions and at the head of them the rightly guidedCaliphs are the leaders of the taabieen and at the head of them: Saeed ibn al-Musayyib (d. 90H), Urwah ibn Zubair (d. 94H), Alee ibn al -Hussain Zain al-Aabideen (d. 93H), Muhammad ibn Hanafiya (d. 80H), Ubaydullaah ibn Abdillaahibn Utbah ibn Masood (d. 94H or later), Saleem ibn Abdillaah ibn Umar (d. 106H),Qaasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abee Bakr as-Sadeeq (d. 106H), al-Hasan al-Basree (d.110H), Muhammad ibn Sireen (d. 110H), Umar ibn Abdul -Azeez (d. 101H) andMuhammad ibn Shihaab az-Zuhree (d. 125H).Then the Atbaaat-Taabieen and at the head of them: Imaam Maalik (d. 179H), al-Awzaaee (d. 157H), Sufiyaan ibn Saeed ath-Thawree (d. 161H), Sufyaan ibn Uyayna(d.198H), Ismaaeel ibn Ubya (d. 193H), Layth ibn Sad (d. 175H) and AbooHaneefah an-Numaan (d. 150H).Then those who followed them and at the head of them: Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak(d. 181H), Wakee ibn al-Jarraah (d. 197H), the Imaam Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafiee (d. 204H), Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee (d. 198H), Yahya ibn Saeed al -Qataan (d.198H) and Afaan ibn Muslim (d. 219H).Then their students who followed them in this methodology, and at the head ofthem: the Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H), Yahya ibn Maeen (d. 233H) andAlee ibn al-Madeenee (d. 234H).Then their students like al-Bukhaaree (d. 256H), Muslim (d. 261H), Abee Haatim (d.277H), Abee Zara (Aboo Zurah?) (d. 264H), Aboo Daawood (d. 275H), at -Tirmidhee (d. 279H) and an-Nasaaee (d. 303H).


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Then those who proceeded in their way in the generations that preceded them, likeIbn Jareer (at-Tabaree?) (d. 310H), Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311H), ad-Daaraqutnee (d.385H) in his time, al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) and Ibn Abdul-Barr an-Niwaaree (d. 463H).And Abdul-Ghanee al-Maqdasee (d. 620H), Ibn Salaah (d. 643H), Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H), al-Mizzee (d. 743H), adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H), Ibn Katheer (d. 774H) andtheir contemporaries who lived in their time and those who came after them, andfollowed their footsteps in holding on to the Book and the Sunnah up until thepresent day.These are who I mean by Ahlul-Hadeeth.

NOTES[1] Hadeeth saheeh, collected by Muslim (3/1523), Ahmad (5/278-279), AbooDawood (3/4), Tirmidhee (4/420), Ibn Maajah (1/4-5), Haakim (4/449-450), at-Tabaraanee in Mujam al-Kabeer (7643) and Aboo Daawood at-Tayaalisi (p. 94, no.689). Authenticated by al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah (270-1955).

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