How to keep steadfast on the way of the Salaf (pious predecessors) ?
Salaf: The first three generations of Muslims;
i.e., the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet),
Tabi'oon (successors of the Sahabah) and
Taba at-Tabi'oon (successors of the Tabi'oon)
in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger
which is reported in Saheeh al-Bukharee,
“The best of generations is my generation,then those
who follow them,then those who follow them and
then there will come a people in whom there will be no good."
Question : What are the Sharee'ah principles that a Muslim should follow in order to keep oneself committed and steadfast on the way of the Salaf as-Saleh (the righteous predecessors) and avoid deviation and misguidance from it and from being effected by erroneous ways?
Reply by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan,
“In brief,
1. One should refer to the people of knowledge and Baseerah (clear understanding), learn from them and consult them about what comes to their minds and give precedence to their(i.e.,the scholars') opinion in it.
2. To deliberate concerning issues and not hasten in them, and avoid haste in issuing rulings concerning the people,
Allah says, "O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done."[Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 6]
"...Verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islam), 'You are not a believer' - seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favors (i.e. guided you to Islam), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what you do."[Soorah an-Nisa (4): 94]
'be cautious' means verify what reaches you.
3. Then if what has reached you is verified and established, then it is to be treated in a manner that will rectify and reform and not in a manner that is violent or complicated. Allah's Messenger said, "Give good tidings to the (people) and make things easy(for them), teach(them), and do not repel (them)." [ Saheeh Muslim (4960)]
In all circumstances, issues are to be treated with wisdom, deliberation and patience, and it is not suitable for every person to plunge into subjects in which he hasno authority or expertise.
4. Similarly, it is from the principles that one equips himself with the beneficial knowledge through attending the gatherings of the people of knowledge and paying attention to their opinions, and reading the books of the Salaf as-Saleh and biographies of the reformers from the Salaf of this Ummah and its scholars –
How they solved issues, exhorted and admonished?
How they used to enjoined the good and forbade the evil?
and their manner of giving rulings concerning issues.
All this has been recorded in biographies and past narratives of what occurred in the lives of reformers, "Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding." [Soorah Yusuf (12):111]
A Muslim should study the biographies of the Salaf as-Saleh, their circumstance and their way of dealing with issues, until he follows their foot-steps, and should not pay heed to those who are hasty and ignorant, who agitate people without proper understanding.
Many booklets, lectures and articles are published these days by the ignorant about issues of the Sharee'ah; they incite people, order the people with that which neither Allah nor His Messenger has ordered - (they may do this) with good intentions, but examples are not set by good intention (alone), rather an example is taken from that which is correct. And the truth is what agrees with the Qur'aan and the Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of the Salaf. And the people are, as the Messenger said that they commit mistakes, and they sin, so the correct is taken and the wrong is abandoned.”[Muntaqa Fatawa Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzanal-Fawzan(q.465, p.455)]
Salaf: The first three generations of Muslims;
i.e., the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet),
Tabi'oon (successors of the Sahabah) and
Taba at-Tabi'oon (successors of the Tabi'oon)
in accordance with the hadeeth of the Messenger
which is reported in Saheeh al-Bukharee,
“The best of generations is my generation,then those
who follow them,then those who follow them and
then there will come a people in whom there will be no good."
Question : What are the Sharee'ah principles that a Muslim should follow in order to keep oneself committed and steadfast on the way of the Salaf as-Saleh (the righteous predecessors) and avoid deviation and misguidance from it and from being effected by erroneous ways?
Reply by Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan,
“In brief,
1. One should refer to the people of knowledge and Baseerah (clear understanding), learn from them and consult them about what comes to their minds and give precedence to their(i.e.,the scholars') opinion in it.
2. To deliberate concerning issues and not hasten in them, and avoid haste in issuing rulings concerning the people,
Allah says, "O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done."[Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 6]
"...Verify (the truth), and say not to anyone who greets you (by embracing Islam), 'You are not a believer' - seeking the perishable goods of the worldly life. There are much more profits and booties with Allah. Even as he is now, so were you yourselves before till Allah conferred on you His Favors (i.e. guided you to Islam), therefore, be cautious in discrimination. Allah is Ever Well-Aware of what you do."[Soorah an-Nisa (4): 94]
'be cautious' means verify what reaches you.
3. Then if what has reached you is verified and established, then it is to be treated in a manner that will rectify and reform and not in a manner that is violent or complicated. Allah's Messenger said, "Give good tidings to the (people) and make things easy(for them), teach(them), and do not repel (them)." [ Saheeh Muslim (4960)]
In all circumstances, issues are to be treated with wisdom, deliberation and patience, and it is not suitable for every person to plunge into subjects in which he hasno authority or expertise.
4. Similarly, it is from the principles that one equips himself with the beneficial knowledge through attending the gatherings of the people of knowledge and paying attention to their opinions, and reading the books of the Salaf as-Saleh and biographies of the reformers from the Salaf of this Ummah and its scholars –
How they solved issues, exhorted and admonished?
How they used to enjoined the good and forbade the evil?
and their manner of giving rulings concerning issues.
All this has been recorded in biographies and past narratives of what occurred in the lives of reformers, "Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding." [Soorah Yusuf (12):111]
A Muslim should study the biographies of the Salaf as-Saleh, their circumstance and their way of dealing with issues, until he follows their foot-steps, and should not pay heed to those who are hasty and ignorant, who agitate people without proper understanding.
Many booklets, lectures and articles are published these days by the ignorant about issues of the Sharee'ah; they incite people, order the people with that which neither Allah nor His Messenger has ordered - (they may do this) with good intentions, but examples are not set by good intention (alone), rather an example is taken from that which is correct. And the truth is what agrees with the Qur'aan and the Sunnah in accordance with the understanding of the Salaf. And the people are, as the Messenger said that they commit mistakes, and they sin, so the correct is taken and the wrong is abandoned.”[Muntaqa Fatawa Shaikh Salih ibn Fawzanal-Fawzan(q.465, p.455)]