This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri's book Aamad Mustafa ﷺ.
The Importance of Following the Sunnah and Understanding the Salaf
The safety of faith is possible by following the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, otherwise, one becomes misguided and strays from the right path. The right path is also called the way of the believers, meaning the path of the Companions, the Followers (Tabi‘in), and the Imams of guidance, in the same manner and method as they followed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It is obligatory upon you to follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the same way. This is the path of salvation, and in it lies safety and comfort. Allah the Exalted says:
وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَى وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّى وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا
“For whoever turns away from the clear guidance after it has been made clear to him, and opposes the Messenger and follows other than the way of the believers, We will leave him in his transgression, and he will burn in Hell – an evil destination.”
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa: 115)
◈ Allama Abdul Rahman bin Nasir Saadi (may Allah have mercy on him, died 1376 AH) writes:
ويدل مفهومها على أن من لم يشاقق الرسول، ويتبع سبيل المؤمنين، بأن كان قصده وجه الله واتباع رسوله ولزوم جماعة المسلمين، ثم صدر منه من الذنوب أو الهم بها ما هو من مقتضيات النفوس، وغلبات الطباع، فإن الله لا يوليه نفسه وشيطانه بل يتداركه بلطفه، ويمن عليه بحفظه ويعصمه من السوء، كما قال تعالى عن يوسف عليه السلام : كذلك لنصرف عنه السوء والفحشاء إنه من عبادنا المخلصين أى بسبب إخلاصه صرفنا عنه السوء، وكذلك كل مخلص، كما يدل عليه عموم التعليل
From this verse it is established that whoever does not oppose the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and follows the way of the Salaf, seeks the pleasure of Allah, strives to follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and remains connected with the Muslims, then if by the demands of human nature he commits a sin or intends to sin, the Generous Owner will not leave him at the mercy of Satan, rather He will protect him by His grace and kindness and guard him from evil, as Allah said regarding Yusuf (peace be upon him): كَذَلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ “We removed from him his evil and immorality, for he was one of Our sincere servants.” This means that due to his sincerity, We removed evil from him. The general meaning of the verse indicates that all sincere people are included.
Reference: Tafsir As-Saadi p. 202
Only those who connect with the pious predecessors and follow the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will be successful. The understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah that is authentic is that upon which the scholars of Hadith have agreed.
◈ Imam Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him, died 157 AH) said:
عليك بآثار من سلف، وإن رفضك الناس ، وإياك ور أى الرجال، وإن زخرفوه بالقول، فإن الأمر ينجلي، وأنت على طريق مستقيم
“Remain attached to the beliefs of the Salaf, even if good people boycott you and the opinions of the innovators seem appealing, still keep away from them, because the truth has become clear and you are on the straight path.”
Reference: Sharaf Ashab al-Hadith by Al-Khatib: 6, Ash-Shari’ah by Al-Ajuri: 127, and its chain is authentic
◈ Allama Abu al-Muzaffar Sam’ani (may Allah have mercy on him, died 489 AH) said:
شعار أهل السنة اتباعهم السلف الصالح، وتركهم كل ما هو مبتدع محدث
“The slogan of Ahl as-Sunnah is to follow the pious predecessors and avoid every new innovation.”
Reference: Al-Hujjah fi Bayan al-Mahjah: 395/1
◈ Our master Hudhayfah bin Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يكون بعدي أئمة لا يهتدون بهداي، ولا يستنون بسنتي، وسيقوم فيهم رجال قلوبهم قلوب الشياطين فى جثمان إنس
“After me, leaders of innovations will arise; they will be rebels against divine revelation and deviators from my Sunnah. They will appear as humans outwardly but inwardly they will be devils.”
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 1847
To avoid these people and the innovations they create, it is necessary to follow the understanding of the Salaf. Allah the Exalted has made the faith of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) the standard for the faith of later generations. This is the pure spring from which whoever drinks is never disappointed.
Otherwise, no matter how many claims of love for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are made, they are not truthful in their love. Loving the Prophet ﷺ does not mean that we keep introducing innovations into his religion every day. Rather, the standard of love is the conduct of the Companions, the Followers, and the Imams of Islam.
Keeping in mind the conduct of the predecessors of the Ummah, we have raised the question whether the birthday of anyone can be celebrated as an Eid or not? Then we searched for the answer and penned it down, pointing out the methodology of the Salaf under the mercy of Allah. Praise be to Allah who granted us the ability to complete an important task. We pray that the Owner blesses our effort and guides the Ummah of Muhammad out of the labyrinth of innovations and makes them followers of the way of the Salaf. آمين
غلام مصطفي ظهير امن پوري عفا الله عنه
