بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
WISE SAYINGS OF THE SALAF – OUR RIGHTEOUS PREDECESSORS
This is part three of many parts that I plan to put together comprised with the sayings of the best of the salaf on various purtinent topics. In this second part we will be covering the very important topic of “Bid’ah – Innovations and Newly Introduced Matters in Worship and Islam”. In sha Allah the reader will be able to grasp and remember some of these sayings. I have included references for each saying. Unfortunately I am not able to write down every single saying as there are hundreds of thousands of them, so I have picked ones that deal with a broad spectrum of every topic it relates to. Some of the sayings are by some of your favourite thinkers and ulama from the first 3 generations of Islam.
SAYINGS ON BID’AH – INNOVATIONS – NEW WAYS OF IBADAH
AND MATTERS NEWLY BROUGHT IN TO ISLAM
HOW TO AVOID THEM AND WHAT BRINGS THEM ON
We Take Our Religion from the Companions
ʿAbbād b. Al-ʿAwwām narrates:
Sharīk b. ʿAbdillāh came to us around fifty years ago, and we said to him, “O Abū ʿAbdillāh, here amongst us there are people from the Muʿtazilah who reject these āḥādīth [like]: ‘Allāh descends to the lowest heaven’, and ‘the people of Jannah will see their Lord’. So Sharīk narrated to me around ten such narrations, then said: ‘As for us, we have taken our religion from the sons of the Tābiʿīn, from the Ṣaḥābah. Who have they taken from?’”
Al-Ḏahabī, Al-ʿUluw. Graded ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī in Mukhtaṣar Al-ʿUluw article 146.
Will Allah Punish Me for Praying? [Bidah]
Imām Sa’īd b. Al-Musayyib – Allāh have mercy on him – once saw a man praying more than two rak’ah after the beginning of Fajr, making many bows and prostrations, and so he forbade him.
The man said, “O Abu Muḥammad, is Allāh going to punish me for praying?” Sa’īd said, “No, but He will punish you for contradicting the Sunnah.”
Al-Bayhaqī, As-Sunan Al-Kubraa 2:466. graded ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh Al-Albānī. See Irwā Al-Ghalīl 2:236.
Shaykh Al-Albānī writes:
This is one of the superb answers given by Sa’īd b. Al-Musayyib – Allāh have mercy on him. It is a strong weapon against heretics (mubtadi’ah) who recommend many different types of religious innovation in the name of them being dhikr and prayer. They then criticize the followers of the Sunnah for criticizing them, and accuse them of censuring dhikr and prayer, when in fact [Ahl Al-Sunnah] are only criticizing the contravention of the Sunnah in matters such as dhikr and prayer.
Signs of Ahl Al-Bidah
It is reported from Al-‘Abbās b. Al-Walīd that ‘Uqbah said:
I was once with Arṭa’ah b. Al-Mundhir when one of the people in the gathering said, “What do you say about a man who sits with the followers of the Sunnah and mixes with them, but when the followers of Bid’ah are mentioned he says, ‘Spare us from mentioning them, do not talk about them?’” Arṭa’ah said, “He is one of them, do not let him confuse you about his condition.” I felt this was strange, so I went to Al-Awzā’ī – and he used to clarify these matters when they came to him. He said, “Arṭa’ah is right, the matter is as he said; this person forbids talking about [Ahl Al-Bid’ah], so how can [people] be on guard against them if they are not exposed?”
Ibn ‘Asākir, Tārīkh Dimishq 8:15.
Allied Souls
It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
If the people were gathered on one plain, all of them believers, except for two unbelievers amongst them, they would join each other. And if the people were gathered on one plain, all of them unbelievers, except for two believers amongst them, they would join each other.
Ibn Baṭṭah, Al-ʾIbānah Al-Kubrā 1:455
It is also reported that he said:
The souls of people are allied together (like for like), they meet and detect one another like horses do; those that recognise each other come together, and those that disapprove each other, separate. If a believer entered a mosque in which there were a hundred people, amongst them only one other believer, he would end up sitting with him. And if a munāfiq entered a mosque in which there were a hundred people, amongst them only one other munāfiq, he would end up sitting with him.
ibid.
It is reported that Al-Fuḍayl b. ʿAyyād – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
The souls of people are allied together, those that recognise each other come together, and those that disapprove each other, separate; and [thus] it is not possible for a follower of the Sunnah to compromise with an adherent of Bidʿah ever, except out of nifāq (hypocrisy).
Op. cit. 456
Knowing a Man by his Moves
It is reported that Al-A’mash – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
They (the Salaf) never used to ask about [the religious condition of ] a man after knowing three things about him: where and upon whom he entered, where and with whom he walked, and the close company he kept.
Meaning: Knowing these things about a man is more than sufficient for knowing whether he is following the right path on the Sunnah or not.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah article 419.
Humble Heretics
‘Alī b. Abī Khālid – Allāh have mercy on him – reports:
I once said to Aḥmad, “This shaykh – referring to an older man who was with us – is my neighbor. I told him not to keep the company of a certain person, and he would like to hear what you have to say about him: I am referring to Ḥārith Al-Qaṣīr (Al-Ḥārith Al-Muḥāsibī). Many years ago, you saw me with him and told me not to sit with him nor speak with him. I have not spoken to him since that time. This shaykh, however, does sit with him. So what do you say?”
I saw Aḥmad go red with anger, his eyes bulging; I had never before seen him like this. He started to say, “Him! May Allāh do such-and-such to him! Only those well-informed of him know what he really is, only those who really know him know what he is. Al-Mughāzilī, Ya’qūb and so-and-so sat with him, and he caused them to adopt the views of Jahm (Ibn Ṣafwān, leader of the Jahmites). They were destroyed because of him.”
The old man said, “But Abū ‘Abdillāh, he reports ḥadīth, and he is mild and humble; he has done such-and-such [good works].” Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imām Aḥmad) became angry and began repeating, “Let not his humility and softness deceive you”. He also said, “Do not be fooled by his bowed head, he is an evil man; only those well-informed of him through experience know him. Do not speak to him – with all disrespect to him. Are you going to sit with everyone who narrates from Allāh’s Messenger – may the praise and peace of Allāh be upon him – though he be a heretic (mubtadi’)? No, with all disrespect.”
Ṭabaqāt Al-Ḥanābilah, article 325.
Sly Heretics
It is reported that Mufaddal b. Muhalhal – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If the heretic started mentioning his bid’ah right at the beginning of the sitting, you would be on your guard and flee from him, but what he does is begin by mentioning ḥadīth from the Sunnah. Then, he slips his bid’ah in on you. It might then stick to your heart; but when will it leave your heart?
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā, 2:444.
Enemies of the Sunnah
‘Umar b. Al-Khattāb – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
Verily, the followers of opinion are the enemies of the Sunan (the teachings of Allāh’s Messenger as passed down in hadith): they were unable to preserve them and their meanings escaped them, and when asked [questions] they were too embarrassed to say ‘We don’t know,’ so they opposed the Sunan with their opinions.
Ibn Abī Zamanīn, Uṣūl Al-Sunnah article 8; Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharḥ Uṣūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah article 201 et al.
From whom does Knowledge Come?
It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Masʿūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
The people will remain upon goodness as long as knowledge comes to them from the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s praise and peace be upon him, and from their seniors. But when knowledge comes to them from their minors, that is when they will be destroyed.
Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi article 1060.
Note
Being upon a good and right path is based on following the knowledge of the Companions and seniors: scholars and people who adhere to the Sunnah, whereas taking knowledge from minors like ignorants and heretics is a sign of destruction.
Boycotting the Khawarij
Al-Khallāl records that Imām Aḥmad – may Allāh have mercy on him – said about the Khawārij:
Do not sell food or clothes to them, and do not buy from them. And he said, The Khawārij are renegades, an evil people.
Al-Khallāl, Al-Sunnah 1:155
So Harsh?
Aḥmad b. Yūnus reports:
I saw Zuhayr b. Muʿāwiyah come to Zāʾidah b. Qudāmah (d.160H) and speak to him to get him to narrate ḥadīth to a man, so Zāʾidah asked, Is he from Ahl Al-Sunnah? Zuhayr replied, I do not know that he has any bidʿah. Zāʾidah said, No, that is another matter! Is he from Ahl Al-Sunnah? Zuhayr said, Since when have people become like this? Zāʾidah replied, Since when did people curse Abū Bakr and ʿUmar?!
Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī, Al-Jāmiʿ li Akhlāq Al-Rāwī #754.
Falsehood (I’ll take what’s good)
It is reported that Ibrāhīm b. Ad-ham – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
Delving into falsehood removes the ability to recognize the truth from the heart.
Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 8:22.
Dajjal and His Followers
It is reported that Muhammad b. Sīrīn – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If the Dajjāl appears, I believe the heretics (People of Desires, Bid’ah) will follow him.
Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharh Usūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah 1:131
Garbage Opinions
Mālik b. Mighwal said:
Al-Sha’bī once said to me, “When these [people] report to you from Allāh’s Messenger – praise and peace of Allāh be upon him, adhere to it; but when they merely opine, throw it in the trash.”
Al-Dārimī, Al-Sunan 1:78.
Do Not Hook People to Bid’ah
It is reported that Sufyān Al-Thawrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
Whoever hears of a bidʿah, let him not tell it to those who are with him, lest he cast it into their hearts.
Commenting, Al-Dhahabī states, “The majority of the Imāms of the Salaf are upon this; they see that the hearts are weak, and specious arguments ensnare.”
Al-Dhahabī, Siyar ʾAʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ 7:261.
The Danger of Beautifying Mosques and Copies of the Quran
It is reported that Abū Al-Dardāʾ – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
When you adorn your copies of the Qurān and embellish your mosques, destruction will be upon you.
Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqāʾiq, article 746. Shaykh Al-Albānī stated that the chain of transmission of this narration consists of reliable reporters, except he did not know if the reporter Bakr b. Suwādah had heard directly from Abū Al-Dardāʾ. The narration corroborates a similar ḥadīth reported from the Prophet ﷺ himself. See Al-Ṣaḥīḥah ḥadīth 1351.
Not Even if You Have a Response
It is reported that Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
Do not sit with the people of desires (Bidʿah, heresy), even if you think you have a response [to what they say].
Al-Harawī, Dhamm Al-Kalām article 765.
Changing Colours
It is reported that Ḥudhayfah b. Al-Yamān – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
True misguidance is that you approve now what you used to repudiate before (because it was wrong) and repudiate now what you used to approve before; and be aware of changing colours in the religion, for the religion of Allāh is one.
Ibn Baṭṭah, Al-Ibānatu Al-Kubrā ḥadīth 25, and others.
It is reported that ʿAdī b. Ḥātim – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
You will remain upon good as long as you do not start approving of what you used to repudiate and as long as you do not repudiate what you used to know (to be right), and as long as your scholar can speak amongst you without fear.
Op. cit. ḥadīth 26.
Your Companions Tell Us Who You Are
It is reported that Imām Al-Awzā’ī – Allāh have mercy on him – used to say:
Whoever hides his heresy (bid’ah) from us, his companionship is not hidden from us.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā article 420.
It is reported that when Sufyān Al-Thawrī – Allāh have mercy on him – came to Baṣrah he started to look into the matter of Al-Rabī’ – i.e. Ibn Ṣabīḥ (1) – and his status amongst the people. [Sufyān] asked, “What does he believe?” [People] replied, “He believes in nothing but the Sunnah.” He asked, “Who are his companions?” They replied, “The People of Qadr (those who denied Allāh’s pre-decree).” He said, “Then he is a Qadarī (like them).”
Ibid. article 421.
(1) Al-Rabī’ b. Ṣabīḥ is described in biographies as being a truthful reporter, but with a bad memory; a devout worshipper and a mujāhid.
It is reported that Al-Fuḍayl b. ‘Ayyāḍ – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
The souls [of people] are in groups gathered together: those of them that identify with each other come together, and those that are different diverge. It is not possible for an adherent of the Sunnah to incline towards an adherent of Bid’ah except out of hypocrisy (nifāq).
Ibid. article 429.
Four Corruptions
It is reported that Muʿādh b. Jabal – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
“O people, there are four characteristics to come, whoever can avoid reaching them should do so.” [People] asked, “And what are they?” He replied, “There will come a time in which falsehood will rise, and a time will come in which a man will say, ‘By Allāh, I do not know what I am’, he will neither live nor die upon insight (knowledge of what he should be). And a time will come in which a man will start his day on one religion and end it on another. And a time will come when a man will be given wealth from the wealth Allāh provides, in return for saying what is wrong and false and for which Allāh will be angry with him.”
Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh Dimishq 58:442
Four Things the Wise do Not Trust
It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. Al-Mubārak – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
The insightful and wise do not trust that they are safe from four things: a past sin about which it is not known what the Lord Almighty will do, the remaining lifespan wherein it is not known what destruction lies, some (apparent) advantage a person is given but which could be a lure (from Allāh) in recompense for his wrongdoing, a misguidance that has been beautified – so that he thinks it is guidance – and a momentary deviation of the heart, for a person can be stripped of his religion without realizing it.
Al-Dhahabī, Siyar Aʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ 8:406.
Sufi Carriers of Books
It is reported that Imām ‘Abd Al-Raḥmān b. Mahdī – Allāh have mercy on him – said, following a mention of the Ṣȗfīah (Sufis):
Do not sit with them, nor with the followers of Kalām.(1) Be with the carriers of books,(2) for they are like mines, like those who descend: one brings up a gem and another a nugget of gold.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā article 483.
(1) Speculative theology, drawn from foreign philosophy and logic, as practiced by sects such as the Jahmia and Mutazila.
(2) Arabic al-qamātir: covers or folders used to keep written material. ‘Carriers of books’ refers to the scholars and students who occupied themselves with Islamic knowledge and hadīth.
Bigotry?
It is reported that Sufyān Al-Thawrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
If you loved a man for Allāh and then he innovates in Islām and you don’t hate him for it, you never [truly] loved him for Allāh.
Abū Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 7:34.
Love and Praise for the Companions
It is reported that Ayyūb Al-Sakhtiyānī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
Whoever loves Abū Bakr has upheld the religion, whoever loves ‘Umar has made the way clear, whoever loves ‘Uthmān is enlightened by the light of Allāh, and whoever loves ‘Alī has taken the firmest handhold. Whoever speaks well of the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – is clear of hypocrisy (nifāq), but whoever belittles any one of them or dislikes [any one of them] for something he did, then he is a heretic (mubtadi’), an opponent of the Sunnah and the Righteous Predecessors (the Salaf), and it is feared that none of his deeds will be raised to the heavens until he loves all of [the Companions] and his heart is clear towards them.
Ibn Abī Zamanīn, Uṣūl Al-Sunnah article 189.
Isn’t this that time?
It is reported that Al-Fuḍayl b. ‘Ayyād – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
How will you be if you reach a time when you will see people who do not distinguish truth from falsehood, believer from unbeliever, trustworthy from treacherous, nor ignorant from knowledgeable, and neither recognize what is right nor censure what is wrong?
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā 1:188.
After reporting this narration, Imām Ibn Battah (d. 387H) said:
To Allāh we belong and to Him we will return! We have reached that time, we have heard this and have come to know most of it and witnessed it. If a man to whom Allāh has bestowed sound reasoning looks and thinks carefully and ponders the matter of Islām and its people and treads the rightly guided path as regards to them, it will become clear to him that most people have turned back on their heals, deviated from the correct path, and turned away from correct proof. Many people have started to like what they used to hate, allow what they used to forbid and recognize what they used to reject. And for sure – Allāh have mercy on you – this is not the [right] character of the Muslims, nor the behaviour of those who have insight into this religion, and neither of those who believe in it and are certain about it.
And Allah is the source of All strength and success, I will be adding on to this list as I come across more of the sayings of the salaf. in Sha Allah.
We ask Allah for guidance, knowledge and understanding, we ask Him Ta’ala for blessing in the dunya and the akhira.
والله تعالى أعلم
وصلى اللهم وسلم وبارك على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه والتابعين
أخوك أبو ناصر
Zinaid Abu Naser 