🖋 Based on the original work of Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri (Hafizahullah), with added structure for clarity
“This (i.e., rejection of distortion and denial of Allah’s attributes) is the path of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah and the people of Athar. Whoever deviates from their path has left the Sunnah, and whoever follows them is upon the Sunnah. All praise be to Allah, we are among those who follow them, adhere to their creed, and acknowledge their virtue. May Allah unite us with them in both worlds. The Sunnah is our way, and the scholars of Hadith are our imams. May Allah give us life upon this path and grant us death upon it through His mercy. Indeed, He is Near and Responsive.”
(Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah, 1/260 – Authentic chain)
“We have been commanded to follow and encouraged toward it, and prohibited and warned against innovation. The hallmark of Ahl al-Sunnah is to follow the Salaf al-Salih and to abandon every innovation and newly-invented matter.”
(Al-Hujjah, 1/395; Al-Intisar li Ahl al-Hadith, p. 31)
“Knowledge is not in the abundance of narration, but in following and acting upon it — in emulating the companions and the Tabi‘in, even if one possesses little knowledge. Whoever opposes them is misguided, even if he possesses much knowledge.”
(Al-Hujjah, 2/469)
He also said:
“The matters of religion have been made clear to people. Thus, following is obligatory, for the religion came from Allah, not based on men’s intellects and opinions. The Prophet ﷺ explained the Sunnah to his Ummah and clarified it to his companions. So whoever opposes the companions in any matter of the religion is indeed misguided.”
(Al-Hujjah, 2/472)
“Whoever Allah grants knowledge and faith will realize that the achievements of the later scholars in knowledge and action are inferior to those of the Salaf.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 7/436)
He further stated:
“Every opinion introduced by a later person, if it was not preceded by the Salaf, is certainly an error.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 21/291)
“A scholar, when faced with differing views, must strive and investigate the basis of the matter until he understands it to the best of his ability. If he cannot comprehend it from the Qur’an and Sunnah, then the opinions of the Salaf are better for him than his own opinion.”
(Naqd ‘Uthman ibn Sa‘id al-Darimi ‘ala al-Murisi, p. 665)
“Whatever the Salaf spoke about, remaining silent on it is a shortcoming. And whatever the Salaf remained silent about, speaking on it is an innovation.”
Also:
“Every goodness lies in following the Salaf, and every evil lies in the innovation of those who came after them.”
“The later generation cannot attain the same depth in knowledge as the early predecessors. Whether in practical or theoretical disciplines, the works of the Salaf in reforming both worldly and religious matters are far superior. Their understanding and realization of knowledge were deeper. The Sahabah surpassed the Tabi‘in, and the Tabi‘in surpassed those after them — and so on until today. Whoever studies their biographies, sayings, and stories will see astonishing insights in this regard.”
(Al-Muwafaqat, 1/149)
❖ Imam Ma‘mar ibn Ahmad al-Asbahani (d. 418 AH)
He said:“This (i.e., rejection of distortion and denial of Allah’s attributes) is the path of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah and the people of Athar. Whoever deviates from their path has left the Sunnah, and whoever follows them is upon the Sunnah. All praise be to Allah, we are among those who follow them, adhere to their creed, and acknowledge their virtue. May Allah unite us with them in both worlds. The Sunnah is our way, and the scholars of Hadith are our imams. May Allah give us life upon this path and grant us death upon it through His mercy. Indeed, He is Near and Responsive.”
(Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahajjah, 1/260 – Authentic chain)
❖ Imam Abu al-Muzaffar al-Sam‘ani (426–489 AH)
He stated:“We have been commanded to follow and encouraged toward it, and prohibited and warned against innovation. The hallmark of Ahl al-Sunnah is to follow the Salaf al-Salih and to abandon every innovation and newly-invented matter.”
(Al-Hujjah, 1/395; Al-Intisar li Ahl al-Hadith, p. 31)
❖ Imam Isma‘il ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani (d. 535 AH)
He emphasized:“Knowledge is not in the abundance of narration, but in following and acting upon it — in emulating the companions and the Tabi‘in, even if one possesses little knowledge. Whoever opposes them is misguided, even if he possesses much knowledge.”
(Al-Hujjah, 2/469)
He also said:
“The matters of religion have been made clear to people. Thus, following is obligatory, for the religion came from Allah, not based on men’s intellects and opinions. The Prophet ﷺ explained the Sunnah to his Ummah and clarified it to his companions. So whoever opposes the companions in any matter of the religion is indeed misguided.”
(Al-Hujjah, 2/472)
❖ Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 AH)
He said:“Whoever Allah grants knowledge and faith will realize that the achievements of the later scholars in knowledge and action are inferior to those of the Salaf.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 7/436)
He further stated:
“Every opinion introduced by a later person, if it was not preceded by the Salaf, is certainly an error.”
(Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 21/291)
❖ Imam al-Darimi (200–280 AH)
He said:“A scholar, when faced with differing views, must strive and investigate the basis of the matter until he understands it to the best of his ability. If he cannot comprehend it from the Qur’an and Sunnah, then the opinions of the Salaf are better for him than his own opinion.”
(Naqd ‘Uthman ibn Sa‘id al-Darimi ‘ala al-Murisi, p. 665)
❖ Ahl al-Hadith Perspective
They say:“Whatever the Salaf spoke about, remaining silent on it is a shortcoming. And whatever the Salaf remained silent about, speaking on it is an innovation.”
Also:
“Every goodness lies in following the Salaf, and every evil lies in the innovation of those who came after them.”
❖ Imam al-Shatibi (d. 790 AH)
He beautifully summarized:“The later generation cannot attain the same depth in knowledge as the early predecessors. Whether in practical or theoretical disciplines, the works of the Salaf in reforming both worldly and religious matters are far superior. Their understanding and realization of knowledge were deeper. The Sahabah surpassed the Tabi‘in, and the Tabi‘in surpassed those after them — and so on until today. Whoever studies their biographies, sayings, and stories will see astonishing insights in this regard.”
(Al-Muwafaqat, 1/149)
