Sayings of the Salaf » Bid’ah

Guilty by Association

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:33:24 +0000

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î – Allâh 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-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 420.

It is reported that when Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – came to Basrah he started to look into the matter of Al-Rabî’ – i.e. Ibn Sabîh
⁽¹⁾ – and his status amongst the people. [Sufyân] 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 Allâh’s pre-decree).” He said, “Then he is a Qadarî (like them).”

Ibid. article 421.

⁽¹⁾Al-Rabî’ b. Sabîh is described in biographies as being a truthful reporter, but with a bad memory; a devout worshipper and a mujâhid.

It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh 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 (nifâq).

Ibid. article 429.

Be with the Carriers of Books

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:56:57 +0000

It is reported that Imâm ‘Abd Al-Rahmân b. Mahdî – Allâh have mercy on him – said, following a mention of the Sȗfîah (Sufis):

Do not sit with them, nor with the followers of Kalâm.⁽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-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ article 483.

(1) Speculative theology, drawn from foreign philosophy and logic, as practiced by sects such as the Jahmia and Mutazila.

(2) Arabic al-qamâtir: covers or folders used to keep written material. ‘Carriers of books’ refers to the scholars and students who occupied themselves with Islamic knowledge and hadîth.

Brotherhood or Bigotry?

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:33:47 +0000

It is reported that Sufyân Al-Thawrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

If you loved a man for Allâh and then he innovates in Islâm and you don’t hate him for it, you never [truly] loved him for Allâh.

Abû Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 7:34.

Love and Praise for the Companions

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:05:18 +0000

It is reported that Ayyûb Al-Sakhtiyânî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

Whoever loves Abû Bakr has upheld the religion, whoever loves ‘Umar has made the way clear, whoever loves ‘Uthmân is enlightened by the light of Allâh, and whoever loves ‘Alî has taken the firmest handhold. Whoever speaks well of the Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – is clear of hypocrisy (nifâq), 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 Abî Zamanîn, Usûl Al-Sunnah article 189.

Falsehood that leads to Falsehood [Al-Kalam, dialectical, speculative theology]

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:29:48 +0000

Abd Al-Rahmân b. Mahdî reports:

I entered upon Mâlik b. Anas when a man was asking him about the Qur`ân. [Imâm Mâlik] said, “Perhaps you are a companion of Amr b. ‘Ubayd. May Allâh curse ‘Amr, for he was the one who innovated this bid’ah of Kalâm . If Kalâm was knowledge, the Companions and their Followers would have spoken it, like they spoke about the regulations and laws [of Islam]. But [Kalâm] is falsehood that leads to falsehood.”

Abul-Fadl Al-Muqri`Al-Râzî, Ahâdîth fî Dham Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî p96.
Al-Harawî, Dham Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî no.874.