The Excellence of the Salaf and the Obligation of Following them:
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: “The best of mankind is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”
Reported by Al-Bukhaaree (2652) and Muslim (2533) in their Saheehs.
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: “The Fire will not touch any Muslim who saw me, or has seen the one who saw me.”
Authenticated by At-Tirmidhee (3858), Ad-Diyaa’ (C.f. Fayd-ul-Qadeer, 9867), Al-Albaanee (Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 5958; An-Naseehah, p.246-249; Muhaddith-ul-`Asr, p.54) and Su`ood As-Saa`idee (Fadaa’il-us-Sahaabah, 1/301-304).
It was also reported by Ibn-us-Sakan (C.f. Al-Isaabah, 2/492-493/5619).
Al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah (radiyallaahu `anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“I advise you to have taqwaa (piety and righteousness) and to listen and obey, even if a (freed) Abyssinian slave is appointed over you. Whoever amongst you lives after me will see much discord. Therefore, hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Khulafaa’ (caliphs) after me. Adhere to it and cling to it by your teeth, and beware of newly invented matters (in the Religion) for every bid`ah* is a dalaalah*.”
* Innovation in religion.
** Deviation, misguidance, heresy.
Authenticated by At-Tirmidhee (2676), Al-Bazzaar (C.f. Jaami` Bayaan-il-`Ilm, 2306), Al-Haakim (1/95-97), Aboo Nu`aim (C.f. Tuhfat-ut-Taalib, 46; Al-Mu`tabar, p.78; Jaami`-ul-`Uloom, 2/109), Ibn Hibbaan (5), Ibn `Abdil-Barr (Jaami` Bayaan-il-`Ilm, 1758, 2306), Aboo Ismaa`eel Al-Harawee (Dhamm-ul-Kalaam, ), Al-Baghawee (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 102), Ad-Daghoolee (C.f. Tuhfat-ut-Taalib, p.163; Al-Mu`tabar, p.78; Muwaafaqat-ul-Khubr-il-Khabar, 1/139), Al-Ishbeelee (Al-Ahkaam, 1/119), Ad-Diyaa’ (Ittibaa`-us-Sunan wa-Jtinaab-il-Bida`, Qaaf 79/1), An-Nawawee (Riyaad-us-Saaliheen, 157; Al-Arba`oon, 28; Al-Adhkaar, ? ), Ibn Taymeeyah (Al-Iqtidaa’, 2/83), Ibn-ul-Qayyim (I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 3/478, 5/581), Ibn Katheer (Tuhfat-ut-Taalib, 46), Az-Zarkashee (Al-Mu`tabar, 30), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-Badr, 9/582), Ibn Hajar (Muwaafaqat-ul-Khubr-il-Khabar, 1/136), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 2455; As-Saheehah, 937, 2735; Al-Mishkaah, 165; Zilaal-ul-Jannah, 26-34; Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh, p.88-89), `Abdul-Qaadir Al-Arnaa’oot (Al-Arba`oon, 34), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Riyaad-us-Saaliheen, 157), Al-Hilaalee (Bahjat-un-Naazireen, 157; Basaa’ir Dhawish-Sharaf, p.67-69; Saheeh Riyaad-is-Saaliheen, 154; As-Sunnah, 57-60, p.215-228), Mashhoor Salmaan (I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 3/478, 5/137-138), Al-Halabee (Riyaad-us-Saaliheen, 161), Az-Zuhairee (Al-Arba`oon, 28), Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Tawdeeh-ul-Usool, p. ) and others.
Ahmad (Masaa’il Abee Daawood, p.277) also alluded to its authenticity.
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
(1)-“The Jews divided into seventy-one sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy in the Fire. The Christians divided into seventy-two sects, seventy-one of which will be in the Fire and one in Paradise.
By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam)! My Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects,-(1) (2)-all of which will be in the Fire except one!”-(2) It was said:
“O Messenger of Allaah, who are they?” (3)-[in another narration: “Which is that sect?”]-(3) He replied:
(4)-“Those who are upon what Me and my Companions are today.”-(4) And in another narration:
(5)-“They are the Jamaa`ah-(5), (6)-the Hand of Allaah is with the Jamaa`ah.”-(6) And in another narration:
(7)-“The greatest of them as a fitnah (trial) upon my Ummah will be a people who make analogies in the religion using their opinion, thus allowing the Haraam and prohibiting the Halaal!”-(7)
An authentic hadeeth:
(1)–(1) This first part of the hadeeth was graded authentic by too many scholars to mention here. All those who authenticated the following narrations and wordings, also authenticated this first part.
(2)-(2)
(3)-(3)
(4)-(4) Authenticated by At-Tirmidhee (Al-Jaami`, 2641; See also: Takhreej-ul-Ihyaa’, 4/1879; Tuhfat-ul-Ahwadhee, 7/400), Ibn-ul-`Arabee (Ahkaam-ul-Qur’aan, 3/365), Al-Baghawee (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 1/213), Al-Jauraqaanee (Al-Abaateel, 283 ), Ad-Diyaa’ (Al-Mukhtaarah, 7/277), Ibn Katheer (At-Tafseer, 11:118, 98:6), Al-Fattanee (Tadhkirat-ul-Mawdoo`aat, 1/15), `Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Hasan (Qurrat-ul-`Uyoon, p.7; Ad-Durar-us-Sanniyyah, 11/518), Al-Albaanee (Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 169; Saheeh-ul-Jaami`, 5343; Sharh-ut-Tahaawiyyah, p. ; Salaat-ul-`Eedayn, p. ), Ibn Baaz (Fataawal-Lajnah, 4360/3), `Abdul-Qaadir Al-Arnaa’oot (Jaami`-ul-Usool, 7491), `Abdul-Muhsin Al-`Abbaad (Al-Kutub war-Rasaa’il, 7/267), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 1/213; Sharh-ut-Tahaawiyyah, 1/400), Al-Hilaalee (As-Sunnah, 47; Dar`-ul-Irtiyaab, ), Mashhoor Salmaan (Al-I`tisaam, 3/157-158), Al-Halabee (Al-Muntaqan-Nafees, p.32), Al-Huwainee (Duroos: At-Tareeq min Hunaa; Subul-un-Najaah; Salaah-ul-Aabaa’), Anees Taahir (Mukhtasar-ul-Ahkaam, 1703), `Abdullaah Al-Bukhaaree (Sabb-ul-`Adhaab, p.256), Faisal Al-`Uqayyil (Zawaa’id-ut-Tirmidhee, 202) and others.
Ibn `Abdul-Barr (C.f. Tafseer-ul-Qurtubee, 5/242), Ibn Taymeeyah (Majmoo`-ul-Fataawaa, 3/345), Al-`Iraaqee (Takhreej-ul-Ihyaa, 4/1879), Al-Haithamee (Al-Majma`, 1/189), Ibn Hajar (Al-Lisaan, Tarjamah Mu`aadh ibn Yaaseen Az-Zayyaat), As-Sakhaawee (Al-Maqaasid, 158), Al-Mubilee (Al-`Alam-ush-Shaamikh, p.512), Az-Zarqaanee (Mukhtasar-ul-Maqaasid, 316), Al-Mubaarakfooree (Tuhfat-ul-Ahwadhee, 7/400) and others also alluded to its authenticity.
(5)-(5)
(6)-(6)
(7)-(7) Authenticated by Al-Haakim (4/430), Ibn Hazm (Al-Muhallaa, 1/62; Ar-Rasaa’il, 3/213; Al-Ihkaam fee Usool-il-Ahkaam, 8/1068; Al-Ihkaam fee Usool-il-Qur’aan, p. ), Al-Judai` (Adwaa’ `alaa Hadeeth-il-Iftiraaq, p.21-22; Al-Ibaanah, ), `Amr Saleem (Usool Manhaj Ahl-il-Hadeeth, p.306), `Abdullaah Al-Ansaaree (Dhamm-ul-Kalaam, 2/188-193) and others.
Its authenticity was also alluded to by Aboo Shaamah (Mukhtasar-ul-Mu’ammal, p.64), Ibn Taymeeyah (Al-Fataawal-Kubraa, 3/228-229; Bayaan-ud-Daleel, p. ), Adh-Dhahabee (Al-Meezaan, 4/268; Taareekh-ul-Islaam, Tarjamah Nu`aim ibn Hammaad, 221-230 H ), Ibn-ul-Qayyim (I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 2/458; Raf`-il-Yadayn, p.96; C.f. Al-I`tisaam, 3/160), Al-Haithamee (Al-Majma`, 1/179) and Ash-Shaukaanee (Al-Fath-ur-Rabbaanee, 5/2218).
`Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “The Jamaa`ah is that which coincides with the Truth, even if you are alone.”
Authenticated by Al-Albaanee (Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 1/135/171), Al-Hilaalee (Al-Bid`ah, p.80), `Amr Saleem (Usool Manhaj Ahl-il-Hadeeth, p. 323 ) and others.
