Understand Islam The Way Of The Salaf

Alhamdulillah… I am committed to adhering to the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah, and I adopt this principle in my efforts to spread awareness of the authentic Islamic knowledge based on the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih [the Pious Predecessors, the first and best three generations of the followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah send Blessings and Peace upon him)] through the internet. I am aware that whatever I share will not please all people or sects. In fact, I know that some of them will abuse me and criticise me, which I do not mind as I know that pleasing people is something impossible. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure at the expense of people’s wrath (displeasure), Allah will suffice him from the people. And who ever seeks the people’s pleasure at the expense of Allah’s wrath (displeaure), Allah will entrust him to the people (making him rely on them).” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (2414)]

The four Imams, whom the majority of Muslims follow, all of them agree that everyone needs to hold fast to the authentic Sunnah, refer to it, and abandon any statement or opinion that contradicts it, regardless of its popularity. Thus, I am following their guidance and complying with their orders to cling to the authentic Sunnah even if their (the four Imams) views contradict it. In fact, these directions left a great impact on me and encouraged me to avoid blind following or Taqleed (according to Lane’s Lexicon, Taqleed means a man’s following another in that which he says or does, firmly believing him to be right therein, without regard or consideration of the proof, or evidence). Thus, I ask Allah to reward the four Imams abundantly.

It is beneficial to mention here the quotes from the four Imams, as I hope they will remind people who blindly follow the Imams, and even blindly follow those who are less in rank than these Imams and cling to their views as if they were divine or infallible. These quotes are extracted from Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani’s رحمه الله (may Allah bestow His mercy upon him) book: ‘Sifatu Salat an-Nabi’ (Description of the Prophet’s Prayer)

(1) Imam ash-Shafi‘i

i. “There is no one except that he misses or fails to notice an act of Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ; hence if I say or deduce something that opposes the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then the statement of the Prophet ﷺ will be the statement I accept and endorse.”

ii. “Muslims are in agreement that when a person knows of a Sunnah reported from the Prophet ﷺ, it is unlawful for him to leave it favouring someone else’s view.”

iii. “If you find anything in my book that contradicts the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, then take the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and leave what I have said.” In another report: “…then follow the Sunnah and pay no attention to any other view.”

iv. “If the hadith is authentic, then it is the view I adopt.”

v. “You know about the hadith and narrators better than I do; thus if the hadith is authentic, inform me of it, whether it is from Kufah, Basrah or Sham, so that I may take the view of the hadith, as long as it is authentic.”

vi. “Every hadith that scholars of hadith deem authentic and found to oppose what I have said, then I hereby state that I abandon this view in my life and after my death.”

vii. “If you ever find me say something whereas it has been proven authentic that the Prophet ﷺ said otherwise, then know that my mind has lost it.”

viii. “All that I said but it turned out that the Prophet ﷺ said in an authentic report is opposite to what I said, then the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ should be followed and do not follow me.”

ix. “Every (authentic) hadith of the Prophet ﷺ is the view I adopt even if you do not hear it from me.”

(2) Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

i. “Do not (blindly) adopt my views or the views of Malik, ash-Shafi‘i, al-Awza‘i or ath-Thawri, but rather take from where they took (their knowledge).”

ii. “Do not (blindly) adopt the views concerning your religion from any of those people. Take all that has been reported from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions. As for the views of the people after the tabi‘in (the generation after the Companions), you have the choice to take or leave.”

iii. “Follow (i.e. adhering to the Sunnah) is that a person follows all that is reported from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions. As for the views of those who came after the tabi‘in, a man has a choice (to adhere to them or not).”

iv. “The views of al-Awza‘i, the views of Malik, the views of Abu Hanifah are all opinions whose strength is equal in my view. The evidence is established only through (authentic) reports.”

v. “Whoever rejects the (authentic) hadith of the Prophet ﷺ is a person on the edge of doom.”

(3) Imam Abu Hanifah

i. “When a hadith is authentic, then that is my madhhab.”

ii. “It is unlawful for any person to accept my view without knowing the source from where we got them.”

iii. “It is forbidden to use my views to issue verdicts without knowing my evidence.”

iv. “It is forbidden to use my views to issue verdicts without knowing my evidence for we are nothing but humans; we say something today that we may retract tomorrow.”

v. “O Ya’qub (i.e. Abu Yusuf), Woe to you! Do not write all that you hear from me because I may adopt a view today but abandon it tomorrow! And, may conclude a view tomorrow but abandon it the day after tomorrow.”

vi. “If I ever say something that contradicts the Book of Allah and the (authentic) hadith of the Prophet ﷺ , then leave my statement.”

(4) Imam Malik ibn Anas

i. “I am a human; I say things that are correct and I err. Thus, investigate my view; all that which conforms to the Qur’an and Sunnah, accept it, and all that which does not conform to the Qur’an and Sunnah, reject it.”

ii. “The views of people are accepted and rejected except those of the Prophet ﷺ.”

iii. “Ibn Wahb said: ‘I heard Malik responding to a question regarding the ruling on cleansing between the toes during ablution saying: it is not required. I stayed with him until the people left and then said to him: I find the act to be Sunnah. He asked: on what basis? I replied: al-Layth ibn Sa’d, Ibn Lahi‘ah, ‘Amr Ibn al-Harith narrated to me that Yazid Ibn ‘Amr al-Ma‘afiri narrated from Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman al-Hubuli that al-Mustawrid Ibn Shaddad al-Qurashi said: I saw the Messenger of Allah rubbing the area between his toes with his little finger. Malik responded: This is a good hadith that I have not heard of before now. Then, I heard him directing people to cleanse between their toes (during ablution) whenever they asked him about it.’”

HOLD FAST TO THE AUTHENTIC SUNNAH EVEN IF IT MEANS LEAVING THE VIEWS OF THE FOUR IMAMS

When a person holds fast to the authentic Sunnah, even if that means leaving some of the views of the Imams, he is not deemed as opposing their madhhab. Rather, he is deemed a person who adheres to their method and their ways and clings to that which is known not to break. That being said, he who leaves the established Sunnah just because the established Sunnah opposes their views, has indeed disobeyed the Imams and contravened their methods as stated in the previous quotes.

Ibn Rajab رحمه الله said: “It is obligatory upon whoever knows and understands the commands of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to deliver this command to all Muslims and advise them and order them to follow the Prophet’s ﷺ command, even if that means opposing the view of a renowned scholar. This is because the command of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ deserves to be glorified and complied with more than any opposing opinion said by a high ranked person that people look up to. This is why the companions and the succeeding generations refuted every person opposing an authentic Sunnah, and may in some cases be harsh in their refutation; not because they disliked the opponent scholar, whom in fact they loved and glorified, but because their love of the Messenger ﷺ is greater and dearer to them, and his command is more superior than the command of anyone else. Thus, when the command of the Messenger ﷺ opposes the command of anyone else, his command takes precedence even if the opposing view is adopted by a scholar who people look up to and glorify, who is in such a case forgiven for the mistake (as he erred unintentionally).”

WILL IMAM MAHDI FOLLOW ANY OF THE FOUR IMAMS OR SUFI TARIQAH?

When Imam Mahdi and Prophet Isa عليه السلام (Peace be upon him) appear in the future, will they follow one of the four madhhabs, a Sufi tariqah, or adhere directly to Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah?

Will Muslims at that time follow one of the four madhhabs, Sufi tariqahs, or follow Imam Mahdi?

Will there be a new sect name that will be labelled for those who pledge allegiance to Imam Mahdi or will they be called ‘Muslims’?

Will the four madhhabs and Sufi tariqahs still be relevant at that time if all opinions and matters related to Islam are entrusted to Imam Mahdi, who will be followed by Prophet Isa عليه السلام by the command of Allah?

Considering the questions above, is it justifiable to advise an ignorant person to follow only a particular madhhab or Sufi tariqah, or instead to adhere directly to the authentic teachings of Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah according to the understanding of the Salaf.

THE CORRECT WAY OF LEARNING THE RELIGION

To adhere directly to the authentic teachings of Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah does not mean we do not rely on others when learning the religion. When we wish to enquire regarding a particular religious matter, seek the answer from those whom we are certain they are adhering to the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih. Undoubtedly, we need to learn the religion from qualified teachers or scholars, but make sure to verify the source of knowledge or information from the person we are learning to ensure it is derived from only two sources; Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah.

To learn Islam and then put it into practice, the only correct way is to verify the source of knowledge or information from the person we are learning; ensuring its authenticity. The major reason for the spreading of bid‘ah (innovation) in Islam is when a Muslim follows another in that which he says or does regarding a certain religious matter, firmly believing him to be correct therein, without considering the proof, or evidence that can only be found in the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“I have left you with two things and you will never go astray as long as you hold on to them: the Book of Allah (Al-Qur’an) and Sunnah of His Prophet (As-Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ).” [Muwatta’ Malik]

LABEL YOURSELF AS A ‘MUSLIM’

People who strictly follow a particular madhhab or Sufi tariqah are often labelled accordingly (e.g. Qadiriyyah, Naqshbandiyyah, Chishtiyyah, Tijaniyyah, and others). Even those who do not adhere to a particular madhhab but instead follow the teachings of Islam based on the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih are labelled by some Muslims as “Wahhabis” or “Salafis”.

I do not call myself a “Salafi”. I have been labelled as such before, as if the term “Salafi” were the name of a sect. I do not follow any sect. I call myself a Muslim who strives to adhere to the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih. Allah says:

“…It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’an), that the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) shall be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind…” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj, verse 22:78]

Allah says in another place in the Noble Qur’an:

“And who is better in speech than he who invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’”[The Noble Qur’an, Surah Fussilat, verse 41:33]

Know that our Ummah will split into seventy-three sects so be wary not to join any sect. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us:

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy are in the Hellfire. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one are in the Hellfire and one of them is in Paradise. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy-two are in the Hellfire.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the ones in Paradise?” The Prophet said, “Al-Jamaa‘ah (The united community or main body of the Muslims).” [Sunan Ibn Majah (3992)]

Follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and obey him. Do not follow practices that have no basis in Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah.

I pray that Allah guides us to adhere strictly to Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah, and study them as much as possible. I pray that He protects us from being influenced by the Ahlul-Bid‘ah (the innovators) that are prevalent in our Ummah. I also pray that Allah increases us in beneficial knowledge, grants us enthusiasm in seeking it, and bestows upon us true understanding of the pure teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Aameen.

[Adapted from Sheikh Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani’s رحمه الله book: ‘Sifatu Salat an-Nabi’ (Description of the Prophet’s Prayer)]