Following
the way of the Salaf is the way which has been legislated in the
Qur'aan and Sunnah.
The Prophet (e) said to his daughter Faatimah (z):
"Indeed, I am for you a blessed Salaf."1
When asked about which was the correct and acceptable way of understanding Islaam, the Prophet(e) replied by saying:
"That which I and my Companions are upon."2
Similarly, Allaah says in the Qur'aan that He is pleased with the Companions "and also those who follow them exactly (in faith)." [9:100]
As such, He said regarding the Prophet (e) and his Companions:
"So if they believe as you (i.e. the Salaf) believe, they are indeed rightly guided." [2:137]
All of the orthodox scholars of Islaam followed the way of the Salaf in understanding religion. Early scholars such as Imaam al-Awzaa'ee, who died 157 years after the Prophet's (e) emigration to Madeenah, said:
"Be patient upon the Sunnah, and stop where the people stopped, and say what they said, and refrain from what they refrained from, and follow the path of your righteous Salaf; for verily, sufficient for you is what was sufficient for them."3
Today, one of the famous Sunnee schools of jurisprudence is named after a scholar named Aboo Haneefah (d. 159H). Millions of Muslims all over the world ascribe themselves to his school of jurisprudence; those who the media would term "mainstream" Muslims. Regarding adherence to the Salafee methodology, he said,
"Adhere to the narrations and way of the Salaf, and beware of newly invented matters (in religion), for all of it is innovation."4
The orthodox scholars who came after these early generations also followed the understanding of the Salaf in religious matters. Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H) said: "It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee (d. 385H) that he said:
"There is nothing more despised by me than 'ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetoric)." I (adh-Dhahabee) say: The man never entered into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor did he enter into argumentation (i.e. philosophy);5 he did not delve into that. Rather, he was Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)."6
The present day scholars who stick to the mainstream understanding of Islaam also ascribe themselves to the way of the Salaf. Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable of scholars still alive today. Regarding Salafiyyah (Salafism), he made the remark:
"It is not a party from amongst the various parties; those which are called "parties" today¼Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people who are upon the way of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger(e) and his Companions were upon; and it is not a party from amongst the contemporary groups present today."7
Footnotes:
1 Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 2652).
2 Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee (3/54). Related by Ismaa'eel
3 Ibnul-Fadl in al-Hujjah (6/A-B).
4 Related by as-Suyootee in Sawnul-Mantaq wal-Kalaam (p. 32).
5 This statement does not come from the standpoint of being narrow-minded. On the contrary, any open minded individual will research the authenticity of any claim that something constitutes revelation from the Creator. If this claim is found to be true and its texts require the person to submit to its decrees, it would not be from wisdom to then proceed to search for contradicting knowledge that leads to uncertainty. Most philosophers would not try to claim that philosophy leads to certain knowledge. For that reason, you will find some philosophers looking at objects and discussing whether or not they are actually in existence.
Philosophizing and leaving the texts and understanding of the Salaf is what leads groups like al-Qaa'idah to establish new methodologies in religion. Consequently, conjecture is something which is censured in Islaam.
"They follow nothing but conjecture; and verily, conjecture avails nothing against the truth." [53:28]
6 Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa' (16/457).
7 Refer to the cassette, "at-Tahdheer min al-Bid'ah" second cassette, delivered as a lecture in Hawtah Sadeer (Saudi Arabia), 1416H.
Taken from "The Wahhabi Myth" page 52-53
The Prophet (e) said to his daughter Faatimah (z):
"Indeed, I am for you a blessed Salaf."1
When asked about which was the correct and acceptable way of understanding Islaam, the Prophet(e) replied by saying:
"That which I and my Companions are upon."2
Similarly, Allaah says in the Qur'aan that He is pleased with the Companions "and also those who follow them exactly (in faith)." [9:100]
As such, He said regarding the Prophet (e) and his Companions:
"So if they believe as you (i.e. the Salaf) believe, they are indeed rightly guided." [2:137]
All of the orthodox scholars of Islaam followed the way of the Salaf in understanding religion. Early scholars such as Imaam al-Awzaa'ee, who died 157 years after the Prophet's (e) emigration to Madeenah, said:
"Be patient upon the Sunnah, and stop where the people stopped, and say what they said, and refrain from what they refrained from, and follow the path of your righteous Salaf; for verily, sufficient for you is what was sufficient for them."3
Today, one of the famous Sunnee schools of jurisprudence is named after a scholar named Aboo Haneefah (d. 159H). Millions of Muslims all over the world ascribe themselves to his school of jurisprudence; those who the media would term "mainstream" Muslims. Regarding adherence to the Salafee methodology, he said,
"Adhere to the narrations and way of the Salaf, and beware of newly invented matters (in religion), for all of it is innovation."4
The orthodox scholars who came after these early generations also followed the understanding of the Salaf in religious matters. Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H) said: "It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee (d. 385H) that he said:
"There is nothing more despised by me than 'ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetoric)." I (adh-Dhahabee) say: The man never entered into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor did he enter into argumentation (i.e. philosophy);5 he did not delve into that. Rather, he was Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)."6
The present day scholars who stick to the mainstream understanding of Islaam also ascribe themselves to the way of the Salaf. Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan is considered to be one of the most knowledgeable of scholars still alive today. Regarding Salafiyyah (Salafism), he made the remark:
"It is not a party from amongst the various parties; those which are called "parties" today¼Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people who are upon the way of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger(e) and his Companions were upon; and it is not a party from amongst the contemporary groups present today."7
Footnotes:
1 Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 2652).
2 Authenticated by al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee (3/54). Related by Ismaa'eel
3 Ibnul-Fadl in al-Hujjah (6/A-B).
4 Related by as-Suyootee in Sawnul-Mantaq wal-Kalaam (p. 32).
5 This statement does not come from the standpoint of being narrow-minded. On the contrary, any open minded individual will research the authenticity of any claim that something constitutes revelation from the Creator. If this claim is found to be true and its texts require the person to submit to its decrees, it would not be from wisdom to then proceed to search for contradicting knowledge that leads to uncertainty. Most philosophers would not try to claim that philosophy leads to certain knowledge. For that reason, you will find some philosophers looking at objects and discussing whether or not they are actually in existence.
Philosophizing and leaving the texts and understanding of the Salaf is what leads groups like al-Qaa'idah to establish new methodologies in religion. Consequently, conjecture is something which is censured in Islaam.
"They follow nothing but conjecture; and verily, conjecture avails nothing against the truth." [53:28]
6 Siyar A'laamun-Nubalaa' (16/457).
7 Refer to the cassette, "at-Tahdheer min al-Bid'ah" second cassette, delivered as a lecture in Hawtah Sadeer (Saudi Arabia), 1416H.
Taken from "The Wahhabi Myth" page 52-53
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