Posts Tagged ‘salaf’
Fruits of knowledge
Posted Dec 20, 2011 by Aboo Thaabit with No Comments
Here are some quotes from the famous book Jaami’ul Bayaan al-’ilm wa fadhlihi by the great scholar Ibn ‘AbdilBar
1. Aboo Hurayrah: ”It is more beloved for me to sit a little while, learning my religion, than for me to pray the entire night up until dawn” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1. page 60]
2. al-Hasan al-Basree: ”The scholar is better than the one who is Zaahid (very religious) and worships a lot” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1. page 61]
3.‘Umar bin al-Khattaab: ”That one thousand worshippers who fast during the day and pray during the night, all die, is easier to bare than the death of one single scholar who understands the halaal from the haraam.” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1. page 65]
4. Sufyaan ath-Thawree: ”There is no deed better than seeking knowledge – if the intentions are pure” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1. page 63]
5. al-Azdi: ”I asked Ibn ‘Abbaas about Jihaad whereupon he replied ‘Do you wish to know something better than Jihaad? Build a Masjid and teach the people their obligations in Islaam and the Sunnah’ “‘ [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 76]
6. ‘Umar bin ‘AbdilAzeez: ”He who acts without knowledge, causes more harm than benefit” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 66]
7. ‘Abdullaah bin al-Mubaarak: ”Allaah gave Prophet Suleymaan a choice between either knowledge or power, and he chose knowledge above power. And because he did that Allaah granted him power as well.” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 114]
8. al-Hasan al-Basree: ”The entire world is a place of darkness except the gatherings of the scholars!” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 114]
9. Luqmaan al-Hakeem: ”O my dear son, seek knowledge whilst you are still young, seeking knowledge at an old age is difficult” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 174]
10. Sufyaan ath-Thawree: ”Knowledge will bring honour to you in this world and the hereafter” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 118]
11. az-Zuhree: ”Knowledge is a treasure, the key to that treasure is asking questions” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 176]
12. Sa’eed bin al-Mussayib: ”I would travel days and nights in search of one single hadeeth” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 188]
13. Imaam Maalik: ”Knowledge is not gained until one tastes poverty (ie seeking knowledge is not easy)” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 194]
14. Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee: ”I was born an orphan (without a father) and my mother was poor so she did not have money to buy paper for me, so I would look for bones of dead animals to write on” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 157]
15. ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood: ”No one is born a scholar, knowledge comes with studies” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 200]
16. az-Zuhree: ”Whoever wishes to gain ALL knowledge at once and become a scholar over night, that knowledge will leave him quickly, rather take things one step at a time” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 206]
17. az-Zuhree: ”Knowledge is lost through forgetfulness and no revision” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 213]
18. Aboo Dardaa’: ”The one thing I fear the most about being questioned on the day of Judgment is that it will be said ‘You had the knowledge, but what did you do with it?’ ” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 5]
19. Aboo Dardaa’: ”Why do I see you hungry for food but fed up with knowledge?” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 1 page 305]
20. Qaasim bin Muhammad; ”That my tongue is cut off is more beloved to me that for me to speak without knowledge” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 114]
21. Aboo Bakr as-Sideeq: ”Which sky will shield me and which earth will bare me, if I was to say about the Book of Allaah, that which I had no knowledge of?” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 111]
22. ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab: ”Learn the Sunnah and learn the Arabic language” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 322]
23. Ibn ‘Abbaas: ”He who answers ALL questions is insane! [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 315]
24. Ibn ‘AbdilBar: ”None of the people of innovation interpreted the Qur’aan based upon the Sunnah, this is why they went astray and led others astray too” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 369]
25. al-Hasan al-Basree: ”Few actions according to the Sunnah will always be better than many actions based upon innovation” [Jaami'ul Bayaan al-'ilm wa fadhlihi volume 2 page 372]
TRANSLATED BY: ABOO THAABIT, ISMAA’EEL BIN MUHAMMAD NOOR
MUHARRAM
1433AH
The Salaf
Posted May 10, 2011 by Aboo Thaabit with 35 Comments
al-Qalshaanee:
as-Salaf as-Saalih (the pious predecessors) are the first generation (and the other two who came after) who were well grounded in knowledge. Those who followed the guidance of the Prophet, safeguarding his Sunnah.
Allaah selected them to become companions of His Prophet, and chose them to aid this religion, they struggled for the sake of Allaah in its truest sense and never tired in advising the Muslim Ummah, sacrificing themselves in order to please Allaah.
And Allaah praised them in His book:
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاء عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاء بَيْنَهُمْ
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and those who are with him (his companions) are firm against the non believers (yet) merciful amongst each other. [al-Fat-h v. 29]
And His statement:
لِلْفُقَرَاء الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا وَيَنصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ
For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allaah and [His] approval and supporting Allaah and His Messenger, [there is also a share]. Those are the truthful. [al-Hashr v. 8]
And Allaah mentioned the Muhajireen and the Ansaar in those verses (and the following ones) praising those who came after them and showing that His pleasure lies in following their footsteps.
Similarly He warned against a severe punishment against those who go against their way (the way of the companions) Allaah said:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him, and follows other than the way of the believers – We will make him responsible for his choice and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination. [an-Nisaa v. 115]
So it is upon us to follow them with regards to what they taught us about the religion. And we practise Islaam the way they practised it whilst making du’aa for them as Allaah commanded us:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاؤُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
As for those who came after them, they say, O our Lord forgive us our sins and (the sins of) our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any resentment towards those who have believed, our Lord, verily You are Kind and Merciful. [al-Hashr v. 10]
[an-Nubad al-Waafiyyah p. 11]
He whispered in my ear…
Posted Dec 07, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 2 Comments
‘Alee bin Kharsham said:
I saw Wakee’ bin al-Jarraah and he did not have any books with him even though he would memorise that which we did not memorise and I was amazed by this, so I asked him.
I said, O Wakee’, you do not walk with a book nor do you write on paper yet you memorise more than us! Whereupon Wakee’ responded by saying – whispering into my ear – O ‘Alee! If I were to tell you about the illness that causes forgetfulness will you then act upon it? (i.e. cease doing it) I replied, Yes by Allaah!
He said, Leaving off sin, for by Allaah I have not seen anything more beneficial with regards to memorising than leaving off sin.
[Siyaar 'Alaam an-Nubalaa volume 6 page 384]
He killed 300 with one arrow.
Posted Nov 02, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 4 Comments
Alhamdulilah in Islaam we are in no need of Hollywood or its special effects. Our heroes are the companions of the Prophet and their stories are true.
‘Uthmaan bin Abee ‘Aatikah said:
The enemy threw petrol (bombs) against the people (the Muslims) so Mu’aawiyyah said ‘If they are doing this, then retaliate in the same way’ So both parties started hurling petrol (bombs) at each other.
At sea, one Roman soldier prepared to throw a pot full of petrol against the ship of Aboo al-Ghaadiyyah, but Aboo al-Ghaadiyyah sent an arrow flying and killed the man on the spot causing him to fall with the pot of petrol consequently setting his own ship ablaze. Thus the fire devoured the entire ship and all its crew, they were 300 in number.
After that incident people used to say, the arrow of Aboo al-Ghaadiyyah killed 300 men.
[Taken from Siyar 'Alaam an-Nubalaa by Imaam ath-Thahabee]
Virtues of Sufyaan ath-Thawree
Posted Oct 06, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 1 Comment
Yahya bin Ayyub al-’Aabid: I heard them in the city of Marw saying “ath-Thawree has arrived! ath-Thawree has arrived! ath-Thawree has arrived!” So I went out to look and there I saw a young boy who had just started growing a beard.
‘AbdurRazzaq: Sufyaan said, “My heart never deceived (i.e. I never forgot) me in anything I put in it.”
ath-Thahabee: The best chain of narrators in Iraaq is, Sufyaan – Mansoor – Ibraaheem – ‘Alqamah.
Shu’bah, Ibn ‘Uyaynah, Aboo ‘Aasim and Yahya bin Ma’een amongst others all said: Sufyaan ath-Thawree is the Aamir-ul-Mu’mineen fil hadeeth.
‘Abdullaah bin Mubaarak: “I wrote (hadeeth) from 1100 Shaykhs, and I did not write from anyone better than Sufyaan. I never met anyone better than Sufyaan.”
Yunuus bin ‘Ubeeyd: “I never saw anyone better than Sufyaan.” So it was said to him, but you met Sa’eed bin Jubayr, Ibraaheem an-Nakha’ee and ‘Ata bin Abee Rabaha aswell as Mujaahid? Whereupon he replied, “It is as I said, I never saw anyone better than Sufyaan”
Shu’bah: “Sufyaan increased mankind both in Wara’ (piety) and ‘Ilm (knowledge)”
Aboo Mu’aawiyah: “I have never seen anyone who knew more about al-’Amash’s hadeeth than ath-Thawree”
Yahya bin Sa’eed: “Sufyaan knows the hadeeths of al-’Amash better than al-’Amash himself!”
al-Fudhayl bin ‘Iyyaadh: “Sufyaan was by Allaah more knowledgeable than Aboo Haneefah”
Bishr al-Haafi: “Sufyaan was in our time in the same status that Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar were in their time.”
Aboo Bakr bin ‘Ayyaash: “When I see a person in the company of Sufyaan ath-Thawree I automatically think highly of him”
Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal: “Do you know who the (real) Imaam is? It is Sufyaan ath-Thawree, no one has a higher place than him in my heart”
Yusuf bin Asbaat: Sufyaan was asked a question once whilst trading, he replied, “Leave me because my heart is preoccupied with Dirhams”
Yusuf bin Asbaat: “Whenever Sufyaan ath-Thawree used to remember the hereafter he would urinate blood.”
Yahyha al-Qattaan: I heard Sufyaan ath-Thawree saying, “Verily the worst occupation is to seek the dunya through the actions of the hereafter”
Yahya bin Yamaan: Sufyaan ath-Thawree said, ”Money is the disease of this world and the doctor is the Scholar. If the Doctor himself accumulates the disease when will the people be cured then?”
[Taken from the book "Siyaar 'Alaam an-Nubalaa"]
If you knew mankind, you’d never complain to them.
Posted Oct 06, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 4 Comments
The ignorant one complains about Allaah to the people! And this is the worst type of ignorance, because if he truly knew his Lord he would have never complained, and if he knew (the nature) of people he wouldn’t complain to them.
Some of the salaf once saw a man complaining to another about his difficulties and poverty whereupon they said, “O so and so! Verily you did not gain from this complain of yours anything but the fact that you complained about one that shows mercy to you (i.e. Allaah) to one that doesn’t show you any mercy at all (i.e. man)”
So the wise person complains TO Allaah (not ABOUT Allaah), and the best of them complains about their own shortcomings to Allaah not complaining about other peoples shortcomings.
So the three different levels are:
1. The worst – He who complains about Allaah to mankind.
2. The middle – He who complains about the people to Allaah.
3. The best – He who complains about his own shortcomings to Allaah.
[Taken from the book Fawaa-id al-Fawaa-id by Ibn al-Qayyim]
Virtues of the Companions
Posted Sep 08, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 1 Comment
Source: www.khalduun.com
Virtues of the Companions
Allaah the Most High said:
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا
And thus We made you into a community Wasat so that you may be witnesses against people and the Messenger be a witness against you. [Surah al-Baqrah verse 143]
And Allaah the Most High said:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ
You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind
[Surah Aale ‘Imraan verse 110]
The Messenger of Allaah – May Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said:
“Al-Wasat means Trustworthy.” [al-Bukhaaree 3161]
Narrated by ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood – May Allaah be pleased with him – that the Messenger of Allaah – May Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said:
“The best of generations is my generation, then those after them and then those after them.” [al-Bukhaaree 2509, Muslim 2533]
Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee said:
“Chapter: What has been reported regarding Allaah’s mention and the mentioning of His Messenger in affirming the trustworthiness of the companions and that there is no need in questioning about them since this is only needed with regards to those after them.
Every hadeeth that is completely connected in its chain all the way back to the Messenger of Allaah – May Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – is not required to be acted upon until the trustworthiness of each person in the chain is established.
And it is required to look into the affairs of each individual (in the chain) except for the Companions who link the hadeeth to the Messenger of Allaah – May Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – because their trustworthiness is already established by Allaah as He informed us about their purity and that He chose them as mentioned in the Qur’aan.
Allaah the Most High said:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ
You are indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind [Surah Ale ‘Imraan verse 110]
And He said:
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُواْ شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا
And thus We made you into a community Wasat so that you may be witnesses against people and the Messenger be a witness against you. [Surah al-Baqrah verse 143]
And this statement even though it might look general it is actually specific. And it is said that it refers to the Companions rather than any other people.” [al-Kifaayah p. 46]
Benefits:
Firstly: The trustworthiness of this Ummah and those who follow their salaf is to such a degree that Allaah made them witnesses against people’s deeds and creeds.
Secondly: The virtue of this Ummah and its superiority over other nations. And the Companions have the biggest right from amongst this Ummah to this attribute.
Thirdly: Declaration of the virtue of the Companions –May Allaah be pleased with them all – and that their virtue encompasses all aspects of the religion.
Fourthly: The Companions have the greatest right to be attributed with trustworthiness and virtue since it was upon them the verses were sent down and the verses were talking about them and as for those who came after them then they were just ascribed to the verse because they followed the Companions.
Fifthly: That if they (the Companions) indeed are the best of mankind (after the Prophets) then it is obligatory to follow them.
Sixthly: Explanation of the word al-Wasat and that it was the way of the salaf and what the Companions were upon – May Allaah be pleased with them all -
The Sunnah and its People
Posted Sep 08, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with No Comments
Source: www.khalduun.com
The Sunnah and its People
Allaah the Most High said:
وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And this is my path, straight, follow it and do not follow other paths lest you should deviate from His path. That is what has been ordained for you so that you may achieve Taqwa. [Surah al-An’aam, verse 153]
And He said:
قُلْ هَـذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَاْ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَمَا أَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say; this is my path, I call unto Allaah upon firm knowledge, me and those who follow me. Glory by to Allaah and I am not from amongst the Mushrikeen. [Surah Yoosof, verse 108]
Narrated by al-‘Irbaadh bin Saariyah – may Allaah be pleased with him – that the Prophet – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said:
“Verily whoever amongst you lives after me will see a lot divisions, so stick to my Sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs, hold on to it with your molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters because every new thing is an innovation and verily every innovation is misguidance.”
[Ahmad 126/4, Aboo Daawood 200/4, at-Tirmidhi 44/5, Ibn Maajah 18/1, authenticated by al-Albaanee in as-Saheeh 2735]
Narrated by Aboo Hurayrah – may Allaah be pleased with him – he said that the Prophet – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said:
“I have left behind me amongst you two things, you will never go astray after them – the book of Allaah and my Sunnah – and they will never be separated until I come to the Hawd (pond)”
[ad-Daaraqutnee 245/4, authenticated by al-Haakim 172/1, al-Bayhaqiy in as-Sunan al-Kubraa 114/10, declared Hasan by al-Albaanee in Manzilat as-Sunnah fee al-Islaam p. 18 and in Saheeh al-Jaami’ 2937]
And the pillar of the Sunnah, Abul Qaasim at-Teemee al-Asbahaanee said:
“The scholars of the Arabic language said: as-Sunnah means a path or a way. So when they say such and such person is upon the Sunnah or from the people of the Sunnah it means that he is following the evidence both in his speech and action. Because it is not possible to follow the Sunnah whilst going against Allaah or going against His Messenger.” [al-Hujjah fee bayaan al-Mahajjah 384/2]
Ibn Rajab said:
“as-Sunnah is a path that is threaded upon which includes everything that the Prophet – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and his righteous companions either believed in or spoke or acted according to, and this is the complete Sunnah. And this was the practice of the salaf in old times; they did not use the term as-Sunnah except to mean every aspect of it. This is what has been reported from al-Hasan, al-Awzaa’ee, al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyyaadh.
Whilst many recent scholars use the term to refer to the aspect of the creed since this is the essence of the religion and whoever objects to the creed is in grave danger.” [Jaami’ ‘Uloom wal Hikam 263/1]
Ibn Hazm said:
So the ahl as-Sunnah are the People of the truth and whoever goes against them is from the ahl-Bid’ah (people of innovation) because they (the ahl as-Sunnah) are the companions – may Allaah be pleased with them all – and everyone who threads upon the same path from the pious Taabi’een – may Allaah have mercy upon them – and the People of Hadeeth and whoever followed them from amongst the scholars, generation after generation until our day. Including whoever strives to be like them from among the common folk in the lands of the Far East and to the west – may Allaah have mercy upon them all – [al-Fasl fee al-Milal wa al-Hawa wa an-Nahl 90/2]
Benefits:
Firstly: The Sunnah is the way shown by the Prophet – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – both in speech and action.
Secondly: The actions of the companions fall underneath the definition of as-Sunnah.
Thirdly: The People of the Sunnah are those who follow the evidence of the Prophet – May Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and follow his companions in all matters of the religion.
Fourthly: Linking the Qur’aan with Sunnah, and the Sunnah with the Qur’aan.
Who are the Salaf?
Posted Sep 08, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with No Comments
Source: www.khalduun.com
Who are the Salaf?
Allaah the Most High said:
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُواْ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
And those first foremost from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar and those who followed them in goodness, Allaah has been pleased with them and they have been please with Him and prepared for them are gardens underneath which rivers flow wherein they will abide in forever, that is the great victory. [Surah Tawbah, verse 100]
Narrated by ‘Abdullaah bin Mas’ood – May Allaah be pleased with him – that the Messenger of Allaah – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him – said:
“The best of generations is my generation, then those after them and then those after them. Then there will come a people, their testimony preceding their oaths and their oaths preceding their testimonies.” [al-Bukhaaree 2509, Muslim 2533]
Narrated by az-Zubayr bin ‘Adiyy he said, we went to Anas bin Maalik – may Allaah be pleased with him – complaining to him about the troubles we faced from al-Hajjaaj whereupon he said:
“Have patience, because there will not come a time but that the time after it is worse until you meet your Lord. I heard it from your Prophet – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him- [al-Bukhaaree 6657]
And Ibn Mas’ood – may Allaah be pleased with him-:
“Whoever amongst you who is going to be a follower then let him be a follower of the companions of Muhammad – may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him- since they had the purest of hearts from amongst this Ummah, and possessed the deepest of knowledge, whilst being the least ceremonious, straightly guided and in the best state. They were people whom Allaah choose for the companionship of His Prophet and for the perfection of this religion, so know their status and virtue and follow them in their footsteps, because they were upon the true guidance.” [Ibn ‘Abdilbar in Jaami’ bayaan al-‘ilm wa fadhlih 1810, Aboo Nu’aym in al-Hilyah 305/1]
Benefits:
Firstly: Definition of what is meant by the word salaf and that it refers to the 3 early generations.
Secondly: That the companions are the best of people, and they are this Ummah’s salaf with regards to goodness.
Thirdly: The goodness of the companions encompasses all aspects of the religion.
Fourthly: Goodness decreases with the passing of time.
Fifthly: Affiliation to the salaf is affiliation to the best of generations as well as being affiliation to the truth.
Are you as quick as ibn 'Uyaynah?
Posted May 25, 2010 by Aboo Thaabit with 1 Comment
Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah said:
My father used to work as a money exchanger in al-Koofah and came under debt so he took us to Makkah whereupon I went to the Masjid when suddenly I saw ‘Amr bin Deenaar, and he narrated to me eight hadiths.
I held his donkey whilst he went inside the masjid and prayed, when he came back out I repeated the hadiths to him.
He then said:
BaarakAllaah feek (to me).
Note: The hadith he learnt on the spot where obviously including the isnaad. Notice that he did not waste anytime.