The Sunnah

THE SUNNAH

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All praise is for Allaah who guided us to Islaam, blessed us with it
and
placed us in the best nation. We ask Him to grant us that we keep to
that
which He loves and is pleased with and, avoid that which He hates and
which
angers Him.
 
Point 1

Know that Islam is the Sunnah, and the Sunnah is Islaam [1] and one
of them
cannot be established without the other.
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. The Prophet said, "He who turns away from my Sunnah is not from me."
Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 7/1-2/no.l), Muslim (Eng. Trans.
2/703/n0.3236) and an-Nasaa'ee.

Abu Hurairah said that Allaah's Messenger said, "All of my Ummah will
enter
Paradise except those who refuse." It was said, "Who will refuse?"
He
replied. "Whoever obeys me enters Paradise and whoever disobeys me
has
refused." Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 9/284/n0.384).

Imaam az-Zuhree (the famous taabi'ee, d.124H) said,"The people of knowledge
who came before us used to say,'Salvation lies in clinging to the Sunnah.'"
Reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (no.96).

Imaam Maalik said,"The Sunnah is like the Ark of Noah. Whoever embarks
upon
it reaches salvation and whoever refuses is drowned." Quoted by Shaikh
ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah in Majmoo' ul-fataawaa (4/57).
 
 Point 2

From the Sunnah is clinging to the Jamaa'ah.[1] Whoever desires other
than
the Jamaa'ah and departs from it then he has thrown off the yoke of
Islaam
from his neck and he is astray, leading others astray.[2]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. 'Umar, radiallaahu' anhu reports that the Prophet said, "Stick to
the
Jamaa'ah and beware of splitting, for Shaitaan is found along with
the single
person but is further from two. Whoever desires the centre of Paradise
then
let him stick to the Jamaa'ah. He whose good deed pleases him and his
evil
deed causes him to feel bad then he is a believer." Reported by Ahmad
(1/18),
at-Tirmidhee (no. 2165) al-Haakim (1/114) and is declared saheeh by
Shaikh
al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no. 1116).

Anas, radiallaahu 'anhu, reports that the Prophet said, "Indeed the
Children
of Israa'eel divided into seventy one sects and my Ummah will divide
into
seventy two sects, all of them will be in the fire except one and that
is the
Jamaa'ah." Reported by Ibn Maajah (no. 3993) and declared saheeh by
Shaikh
al-Albaanee.

2. Alluding to the hadith of Ibn 'Abbaas, radiallaahu 'anhummaa, who
said:
Allaah's Messenger said,"He who sees from his ruler something he dislikes,
let him be patient with him, for he who splits away from the Jamaa'ah
by a
handspan and then dies, dies a death of Jaahiliyyah" and in a narration,
"then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck." Reported
by
al-Bukhaaree (trans. 9/145), Muslim and Ahmad and the other narration
by
at-Tirmidhee (no. 2867) and Ahmad (4/130). Refer to Sharh
ul-'Aqeedat-Tahaawiyyah (379-382), checked by Shaikh Naasir ud-deen
al-Albaanee.
 
Point 3

The foundation upon which the Jamaa'ah is built is the Companions of
Muhammad
May Allaah's Mercy be upon them all. They are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah,[1]
so whoever does not take from them has gone astray and innovated[2]
and every
innovation is misguidance, and misguidance and its People are in the
Fire.[3]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. As is shown by the hadeeth of at-Tirmidhee (no. 2641): 'Abdullaah
ibn 'Amr
said: The Messenger of Allaah said,"What happened to the Children of
lsraa'eel will happen with my Ummah, just as one shoe resembles the
other, to
the point that if one of them had intercourse with his mother openly,
there
would be someone who did that in my Ummah. The Children of Israa'eel
split
into seventy two sects and my Ummah will split into seventy three sects,
all
of which are in the Fire except one sect." They asked, "Which is that
one,
O Messenger of Allaah?" He replied, "That which I and my Companions
are
upon." Declared hasan by Shaikh al-Albaanee.

2. It is authentically reported that Allaah's Messenger said,"Stick
to my
Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after me, cling
to that
with your molar teeth and beware of new matters, for every innovation
is
misguidance." Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daawood (Eng. trans. 3/1294/no.4590),
at-Tirmidhee (no. 2676), Ibn Maajah (no. 42), ad-Daarimee (no. 96)
and Ibn
Abee 'Aasim in as-Sunnah (no. 54). Shaikh al-Albaanee declares, "Its
isnaad
is saheeh, its narrators reliable."

3. Jaabir, radiallaahu'anhu, reports that the Prophet would say in his
khutbah, "... The most truthful speech is the Book of Allaah. The best
way is
the way of Muhammad. The worst of affairs are the novelties and every
novelty
is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance
is
in the Fire." Reported by an-Nasaa'ee (3/188). It is declared saheeh
by
Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheeh Sunan in-Nasaa'ee (no. 1487).

Abu Shaamah (d.665H) said,"The order to stick to the Jamaa'ah means
sticking
to the truth and its followers; even if those who stick to the truth
are few
and those who oppose it are many; since the truth is that which the
first
Jamaa'ah from the time of the Prophet and his Companions, radiallaahu
'anhum,
were upon. No attention is given to the great number of the people
of
futility coming after them." (Al-Baa'ith 'alal-Bida'h wal-Huwaadith,
p.l9).
 
Point 4

'Umar ibn al-Khattaab, rahimahullaah, said, "There is no excuse for
anyone
going astray thinking that he is upon guidance. Nor for abandoning
guidance
thinking it to be misguidance, since the affairs have been made clear,
the
proof established[1] and the excuse cut off."[2] That is because the
Sunnah
and the Jamaa'ah have consolidated and safeguarded all of the Religion.
It
has been made clear to the people, so it is upon the people to comply
and
follow.[3]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Al-'Irbaad ibn Saariyah, radiallaahu'anhu, reports that the Prophet
said,
".... I have left you upon clear guidance. Its night is like its day.
No one
deviates from it after me except that he is destroyed." Reported by
Ahmad,
Ibn Maajah (no. 43) and al-Haakim. It is declared saheeh by Shaikh
al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no. 937).

2. Reported by Ibn Battah in, al-lbaantul-Kubraa (no. 162) by way of
Awzaa'ee
that it reached him that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab said it. However, its
chain is
munqati' (disconnected).

Al-Marwazee reports in as-Sunnah (no. 95) that 'Umar ibn 'Abd Allah-'Azeez
said, "There is no excuse for anyone, after the Sunnah, to be misguided
upon
error which he thought was guidance."

3.'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood radiallaahu 'anhu, said, "Follow and do not
innovate, for you have been given that which is sufficient and every
innovation is misguidance." Reported by Abu Khaithamah in Kitaab Ul-'Ilm
(no.
540) and declared saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee.
 
Point 5

May Allaah have mercy upon you. Know that the Religion is what came
from
Allaah, the Blessed and Most High. It is not something left to the
intellect
and opinions of men. Knowledge it is what comes from Allaah and His
Messenger, so do not follow anything based upon your desires and so
deviate
away from the Religion and leave Islaam. There will be no excuse for
you
since Allaah's Messenger explained the Sunnah to his Ummah and made
it clear
to his Companions and they are the Jamaa'ah, and they are the Main
Body
(as-Sawaad ul-A'dham), and the Main Body is the truth and its followers.[1]

So he who contradicts the Companions of Allaah's Messenger sallallahu
alaihiwasallam in any of the affairs of the Religion, then he has fallen
into
disbelief.[2]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. lmaam Ahmad reports in his Musnad (4/278) with hasan isnaad narration
of
Nu'maan ibn Basheer: Abu Umaamah al-Baahilee, radiallaahu 'anhu, said,
"Stick
to the main body (as-Sawaadul - a'dham), so a man said, "What is the
'Main
Body'? So Abu Umaamah said,'This Ayah(54) in Soorah an-Noor:

"But if you turn away,he Muhammad is only responsible for the duty placed
on him and you for that placed on you."

Ibn Mas'ood, radiallahu 'anhu, said,"The Jamaa'ah is what conforms to
the
truth, even if you are alone." Reported by Ibn'Asaakir in Taareekh
Dimashq
with a saheeh isnaad as pointed out by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaat
(1/61).

2. Allaah, the Most High, did not only warn against opposing His Messenger
sallallahu alaihiwasallam, but also warned against the following of
any way
other than that of the first Believers: the Companions, radiallaahu
'anhum,
amongst whom the Qur'aan was sent down and who learned directly from
the
Messenger sallallahu alaihiwasallam. Allaah, the Most High says:

If anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly
conveyed to him and follows a path other than that of the Believers
(i.e. the
Companions), We shall leave him in the path he has chosen and land
him in
Hell. What an evil refuge! (Surah an-Nisaa' (4):115)

So he who totally abondons their way and instead follows the way of
the
devils, like the extreme Raafidess, Baatinees and the extreme Soofees
who
worship others besides Allaah, then he has left the religion.
 
Point 6

Know that the people never introduce an innovation until they abandon
its
like from the Sunnah.[1] So, beware of newly invented matters, since
every
newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance
and misguidance and its people are in the Fire.

FOOTNOTES:

1. Hassan ibn 'Atiyyah, rahimahullaah, said,"A people never introduce
an
innovation into their Religion except that Allaah takes away its like
from
their Sunnah and then does not restore it to them until the Day of
Resurrection." Reported by ad-Daarimee and declared saheeh by Shaikh
al-Albaanee in al-Mishkaat (1/66/no.188).
 
 Point 7

Beware of small innovations because they grow until they become large.[1]

This is the case with every innovation introduced in this Ummah. It
began as
something small, bearing resemblance to the truth which is why those
who
entered it were mislead and then were unable to leave it. So it grew
and
became the religion which they followed and thus deviated from the
Straight
Path and left Islaam.[2]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. A striking example of how small innovations lead a person into committing
major innovations is found in the narration reported by ad-Daarimee
in his
Sunan (1/79):

'Amr ibn Salmah said: We used to sit by the door of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood
before the Morning Prayer, so that when he came out we would walk with
him to
the mosque. (one day) Abu Moosaa al-Ash'aree came to us and said, "Has
Abu
'Abd ar-Rahmaan come out yet?" We replied, "No." So he sat down with
us until
he came out. When he came out, we all stood along with him, so Abu
Moosaa
said to him, "O Abu 'Abd ar-Rahmaan! I have just seen something in
the mosque
which I deemed to be evil, but all praise is for Allaah, I did not
see
anything except good." He enquired, "Then what is it?" (Abu Moosaa)
replied,
"If you live you will see it. I saw in the mosque people sitting in
circles
awaiting the Prayer. In each circle they had pebbles in their hands
and a man
would say 'repeat Allaahu Akbar a hundred times.' So they would repeat
it a
hundred times. Then he would say, 'say Laa ilaaha illallaah a hundred
times.'
So they would say it a hundred times. Then he would say, 'say Subhaanallaah
a
hundred times.' So they would say it a hundred times." (Ibn Mas'ood)
asked,
"What did you say to them?" (Abu Moosaa) said, "I did not say anything
to
them. Instead I waited to hear you view or what you declared." (Ibn
Mas'ood)
replied, "Would that you had ordered them to count up the evil deeds
they
acquired and assured them that their good deeds would not be lost!"
Then we
went along with him (Ibn Mas'ood) until he came to one of these circles
and
stood and said, "What is this which I see you doing?" They replied,
"O Abu
'Abd ar-Rahmaan! These are pebbles upon which we are counting takbeer,
tahleel and tasbeeh." He said, "Count up your evil deeds. I assure
you that
none of your good deeds will be lost. Woe to you, O Ummah of Muhammad
(saws)!
How quickly you go to destruction! These are the Companions of your
Prophet
and who are widespread. There are his clothes which have not yet decayed
and
his bowl which is unbroken. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Either
you are
upon a Religion better guided than the Religion of Muhammad (saws)
or that
you are opening the door of misguidance." They said, "O Abu 'Abd ar-Rahmaan!
By Allaah, we only intended good." He said, "How many there are who
intend
good but do not achieve it. Indeed Allaah's Messenger said to us 'A
people
will recite the Qur'aan but it will not pass beyound their throats.'
By
Allah! I do not know, perhaps most of them are from you." Then he left
them.

Umar ibn Salmah (the sub-narrator) said "We saw most of that people
fighting
against us on the day of Nahrawaan, along with the Khawaarij".

Authenticated by Sh. Saleem al-Hilaalee in al-Bid'ah (pp. 26-29).

2. The scholars differentiate between those innovations which take a
person
outside the fold of Islaam (al-Bid'atul-Mukaffirah) and those which
do not.
So this is not to be understood unrestrictedly.
 
Point 8

May Allaah have mercy upon you! Examine carefully the speech of everyone
you
hear from in your time particularly. So do not act in haste and do
not enter
into anything from it until you ask and see: Did any of the Companions
of the
Prophet (saws) speak about it or any of the scholars? So if you find
a
narration from them about it, cling to it, do not go beyond it for
anything[1] and do not give precedence to anything over it and thus
fall into
the Fire.
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Imaam al-Awzaa'ee, rahimahullaah, said, "Knowledge is what comes
from the
Companions of Muhammad (saws) and that which does not come from a single
one
of them is not knowledge". Refer to Jaami 'Bayaanil - 'Ilm of Ibn 'Abdul
Barr
(2/36).
 
 Point 9

Know that leaving the correct path occurs in two ways. Firstly : that
a man
strays from the correct path intending nothing but good, so his error
is not
to be followed since it leads to destruction. (Secondly), a man who
deliberately opposes the truth and acts contrary to the Pious ones
who came
before him, he is astray, leading others astray, a rebellious devil
within
the Ummah. It is a duty upon those who know of him to warn the people
against
him and to explain his condition to them so that no one falls into
his
innovation and is destroyed.[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

[1. This is an important point that many people miss these days including
some of the people who ascribe themselves to the Tablighi Jamaat. Know,
that
a bird flies on 2 wings. Thus is Islam - on one side there is Amru
bil-Ma'ruf
(commanding the good) and on the other side there is Nahyaa anil-Munkar
(prohibiting the bad). The bird can't fly with one wing. Similarly,
Islaam is
not complete with only commanding of the the good. There needs to be
simultaneously - prohibition of the falsehood. Those who have read
the Quran
and studied the Sunnah and have pondered over the wisdom of the creation,
are
one on this matter. Ed. of Salaf-us-Salih Page]
 
 Point 10

May Allah have mercy upon you! Know that a servant's Islaam is not complete
until he follows, attests to and submits to (the truth). So anyone
who claims
that there remains anything from Islaam not sufficiently explained
by the
Companions of Allaah's Messenger, has falsely accused them, has split
from
them and spoken ill of them. He is an innovator, astray and leading
others
astray, introducing into Islaam that which is not from it.[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Ibn Mas'ood, radiallaahu 'anhu, described the Companions of the Messenger
of Allaah (saws) saying, "Allaah looked into the hearts of the servants
and
found the heart of Muhammad (saws) to be the best of hearts, so He
chose him
for Himself and sent with him His Revelation, then He looked into the
hearts
of the servants after the heart of Muhammad (saws) and found the hearts
of
his Companions to be the best of the hearts of the servants, so He
made them
the helpers of His Prophet, fighting for His Religion. So that which
the
Muslims hold to be good is good with Allaah and that which they hold
to be
bad is bad with Allaah." Reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad(1/379)
and
declared hasan by Shaikh al-Albaanee in ad-Da'eefah(2/17).
 
 Point 11

May Allaah have mercy upon you! Know that the Sunnah is not a matter
for
analogies or reasoning with examples, and desires are not to be followed
in
it. Rather, it is just a case of affirming the narrations from Allaah's
Messenger (saws), without asking how, explaining or saying: 'Why?'
or 'How?'
 
 Point 12

Debating, arguing and disputing are innovations which throw doubt into
the
heart, even if the person reaches the truth and the Sunnah[1].
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Allaah, the Most High says:

"None dispute about the signs of Allaah, except those who disbelieve."
(Soorah Ghaafir 40:4)

At-Tirmidhee reports a hasan hadeeth from Abu Umaamah, who said: "Allaah's
Messenger (saws) said, "A people never went astray after being upon
guidance
except through disputation." Then Allaah's Messenger (saws) recited
this Ayah
: "This they set forth to you, only by way of argument. Nay, but they
are a
contentious people." (Soorah az-Zukhruf 43:58)

Al-Aajurree reports in ash-Sharee'ah (p.57) that a man came to al-Hasan
(al-Basree) and said, "O Abu Sa'eed! Let me debate with you about the
Religion." Al-Hasan replied, "As for me, I know my religion, If you
have lost
your Religion then go and look for it."

'Umar ibn 'Abdul-'Azeez, rahimahullaah, said, "He who allows his Religion
to
be open to disputing will frequently change over." See Jaami' Bayaanil
'Ilm
(2/113)
 
 Point 13

May Allaah have mercy upon you! Know that speculative speech about the
Lord,
the Most High, is a newly invented matter and is an innovation and
misguidance. Nothing is to be said about the Lord except what He, the
Mighty
and Majestic, described Himself with in the Qur'aan and what the Messenger
of
Allaah (saws) explained to his Companions. So, He, the Mighty, is One:

"There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing".[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Soorah ash-Shoora (42):11
 
Point 14

Our Lord is the First without any 'when' and the Last without any end.
He
knows what is secret and what is more hidden. He ascended over His
'Arsh
(Throne) and His knowledge is in every place and no place is free of
His
knowledge.[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Many Aayaat of the Qur'aan and ahaadeeth of the Prophet (saws) affirm
that
Allaah is above His Throne. Numerous sayings have been reported from
the
Pious Predecessors emphasising this important belief. See Where is
Allah by
Sheikh Mahmud Murad.
 
 Point 15

No one says about the attributes of the Lord, the Most High, 'Why?'
except
one who doubts about Allaah, the Blessed and Most High. The Qur'aan
is the
Speech of Allaah, His Revelation and Light. It is not created, since
the
Qur'aan is from Allaah and that which is from Allaah is not created.
This was
what Maalik ibn Anas, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and the Scholars before and
after them
said and debating about it is disbelief.[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. The Qur'aan is the Speech of Allaah, hence it is an attribute of
Allaah.
All of Allaah's attributes have been with Him eternally.

Imaam Maalik said, "The Qur'aan is the speech of Allaah. It is not created."
Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee in Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahl is-Sunnah (no.414).

Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about the one who says that the Qur'aan
was
created, so he said, "(He is) a disbeliever." Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee
in
Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahl is-Sunnah (no.449).
 
 Point 16

To have Faith in seeing Allaah on the Day of Resurrection. They will
see
Allaah with the eyes of their heads[1]. He will take account of them
without
anyone acting on His behalf or any interpreter [2].
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Allaah says:

"Some faces that Day shall be shining and radiant. Looking at their
Lord".
(Soorah al-Qiyaamah 75:22-23)

Shuaib reports that Allaah's Messenger (saws) said, "When the people
of
Paradise enter Paradise, Allaah, the Blessed and Most High, will say
'Do you
wish for anything extra that I may give you?' They will say 'Have You
not
brightened our faces? Have You not entered us into Paradise and saved
us from
the Fire?' So He will remove the screen and they will not have been
given
anything more beloved to them as looking at their Lord, the Mighty
and
Majestic." Reported by Muslim (Eng. trans. 1/114/no. 347) and others.

Hanbal said: I spoke to Abu 'Abdullaah, meaning Ahmad (ibn Hanbal) about
seeing Allaah (ar-Ru'yah). He said, "They are authentic ahaadeeth.
We have
Faith (Eemaan) in them and affirm it. We have Faith in and affirm everything
reported from the Prophet (saws) with good chains of narration." Reported
by
al-Laalikaa'ee in Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahl is-Sunnah (no.889).

2. 'Adiyy ibn Haatim reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "There is
not one
of you except that Allaah will speak to him on the Day of Resurrection,
there
being no interpreter between Him and him." Reported by al-Bukhaaree
(Eng.
trans. 8/358/no.547), Ahmad and at-Tirmidhee.
 
 Point 17

To believe in the Balance (Meezaan) on the Day of Resurrection, upon
which
good and evil will be weighed. It has two scales and a tongue.[1]
 
FOOTNOTES:

1. Allaah, the Most High, says:

"As for him whose balance (of good deeds) will be heavy, he will live
a
pleasant life (in Paradise). But, as for him whose balance (of good
deeds)
will be light, he will have his home in a pit (i.e. Hell)". (Soorah
al-Qaari'ah 101:6-7)

Abu Hurairah, radiallaahu 'anhu, reports that Allaah's Messenger (saws)
said,
"Two words are most beloved to the Most Merciful, light upon the tongue
and
heavy upon the Balance: Subhaanallahi wa bihamdihi and Subhaanallahil
'Adheem." Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 9/489-490/no.652).

The 'Hadeeth of the Parchment': "Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al 'Aas said:
I heard
Allaah's Messenger (saws) say, "Allaah will take out a man from my
Ummah
before the creation on the Day of Resurrection and ninety-nine scrolls
will
be unrolled for him. Each one as long as the eye can see. Then He will
say
'Do you deny any of this? Have my watchful scribes wronged you?' He
will
reply 'No, O my Lord!' So, He (Allaah) will say 'Do you have any excuse
(or
any good deed)? So he will reply 'No, O my Lord!' So, He (Allaah) will
say
'Rather you do possess a good deed with Us and you will not be wronged
this
Day.' So a parchment is brought containing 'I bear witness that none
has the
right to be worshipped except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad
is His
Slave and Messenger.' So He (Allaah) will say 'Witness the weighing.'
So he
will reply 'O my Lord! What is this parchment compared to those great
scrolls?' So He (Allaah) will say 'Indeed you will not be wronged.'
So the
scrolls will be placed on one scale and the parchment on the other
scale. So
the scrolls will be lighter and the parchment heavier. Nothing will
outweigh
the name of Allaah." Reported by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah.
Shaikh
al-Albaanee declared it saheeh in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee.

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