7⃣. The great scholars generation after generation all called to following the way of the Salaf.
Al-Awzā’i states: “Be patient upon the Sunnah and stop where the people (i.e. The Salaf) stopped and speak with what they spoke, avoid what they avoided and traverse the way of the Salaf, what is good for you is that which was good for them.” [Ash-Sharī’ah, p.58]
He also said: “Stick to the narrations of those who preceded (Salaf) even if the people reject you! And beware of the opinions of men even if their speech is adorned for you.”
Imam Ahmad stated: “The Usul of the Sunnah with us is: to hold firm to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were upon and leave off innovation.”
8⃣. If we do not follow their way, then we will go astray; because rather than interpreting the texts through their understanding, we will end up interpreting them according to our own intellect and desires.
Ibn Abil-’Izz al-Hanafi said: “Nothing caused the rejection of the Khawarij, nor the departure of the Mu’tazilah, nor the rejection of the Rawafidh, and the splitting of the Ummah into 73 sects except corrupt and false interpretations.” [Sharh ’Aqidah at-Tahawiyyah, p. 189]
Similarly, Sheikh Albani rahimahullah said: “So whoever claims that he follows the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and that he doesn't follow the Salaf As-Saalih, and he expresses in both words and actions that: "They are men and we are also men" [i.e. the Companions and them are equal], then this person is in deviance and misguidance. Why - because he did not accept these texts, which we related to you just now. Did he follow the "Way of the Believers"? No. Did he follow the Companions of Allaah's Messenger? No. What did he follow? He followed his desire, and he followed his intellect. Is one's intellect infallible and free from error? The answer is no. Therfore, he is upon clear misguidance. I believe that the reason for the many inherited differences found in the well-known sects of the past and the differing that has come about recently today is due to the lack of returning back to this third source, which is the Salaf As-Saalih.” [lecture entitled, This is our call]
In summary: The manhaj of the Salaf is like Noah's ark; whoever embarks on it and clings to it will be saved, and whoever abandons it will perish.
Note: The terms: Salafiyyah, Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, Al-Firqah An-Nājiyaj, At-Tai'fah Al-Mansurah, Ahlul-Hadith, ashabul-hadith, all refer to the same group of people.
Al-Awzā’i states: “Be patient upon the Sunnah and stop where the people (i.e. The Salaf) stopped and speak with what they spoke, avoid what they avoided and traverse the way of the Salaf, what is good for you is that which was good for them.” [Ash-Sharī’ah, p.58]
He also said: “Stick to the narrations of those who preceded (Salaf) even if the people reject you! And beware of the opinions of men even if their speech is adorned for you.”
Imam Ahmad stated: “The Usul of the Sunnah with us is: to hold firm to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were upon and leave off innovation.”
8⃣. If we do not follow their way, then we will go astray; because rather than interpreting the texts through their understanding, we will end up interpreting them according to our own intellect and desires.
Ibn Abil-’Izz al-Hanafi said: “Nothing caused the rejection of the Khawarij, nor the departure of the Mu’tazilah, nor the rejection of the Rawafidh, and the splitting of the Ummah into 73 sects except corrupt and false interpretations.” [Sharh ’Aqidah at-Tahawiyyah, p. 189]
Similarly, Sheikh Albani rahimahullah said: “So whoever claims that he follows the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and that he doesn't follow the Salaf As-Saalih, and he expresses in both words and actions that: "They are men and we are also men" [i.e. the Companions and them are equal], then this person is in deviance and misguidance. Why - because he did not accept these texts, which we related to you just now. Did he follow the "Way of the Believers"? No. Did he follow the Companions of Allaah's Messenger? No. What did he follow? He followed his desire, and he followed his intellect. Is one's intellect infallible and free from error? The answer is no. Therfore, he is upon clear misguidance. I believe that the reason for the many inherited differences found in the well-known sects of the past and the differing that has come about recently today is due to the lack of returning back to this third source, which is the Salaf As-Saalih.” [lecture entitled, This is our call]
In summary: The manhaj of the Salaf is like Noah's ark; whoever embarks on it and clings to it will be saved, and whoever abandons it will perish.
Note: The terms: Salafiyyah, Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, Al-Firqah An-Nājiyaj, At-Tai'fah Al-Mansurah, Ahlul-Hadith, ashabul-hadith, all refer to the same group of people.