Sayings of the Salaf » hadîth

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.

The Integrity of a Man and his Prayer

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:39:50 +0000

It is reported that Abû Al-‘Âliyah – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

I would travel for days to a man to hear [knowledge/hadîth ] from him, and the first thing I would check about him is his prayer: if he performed it properly I would stay and hear [knowledge] from him, but if he neglected it, I would return without hearing from him, and I would say, ‘He will be even more neglectful of other matters.’

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Al-Rihlah fî Talab Al-Hadîth article 22; Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 4:209.

As if I saw The Prophet

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:33:05 +0000

It is reported that Imâm Al-Shâfi’î – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

When I see a man from the Adherents of Hadîth, it is as if I have seen the Prophet – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – alive.

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Sharaf Ashâb Al-Hadîth article 85.

The Narrations are the Religion

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:17:35 +0000

It is reported that Muhammad b. Sîrîn said, “They used to consider themselves on the [right] path as long as they followed al-athar (guidance of the Sunnah and Salaf as passed down in the narrations).”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah Vol.1 p120.

It is reported that ‘Uthmân b. Hâdir said, “I said to Ibn ‘Abbâs: ‘advise me.’ He replied, ‘It is upon you to be upright, follow al-athar, and beware of innovating [in religion].’”

Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ Vol. 1 p214.

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Al-Mubârak said, “Let it only be the narrations (al-athar) that you rely upon, and take from reasoning and opinion that amount that will help you to understand and explain hadîth.”

Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 3 p329.

It is reported that Sufyân Al-Thawrî said, “The narrations (al-âthâr) are the religion.”

And it is reported that he also said, “A man should not even scratch his head except based on a narration.”

Al-Harawî, Dhamm Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî Vol. 2 p264.

It is reported that Al-Musayyib b. Râfi’ Al-Asadî said, “We only follow, we do not innovate; we follow behind and do not start anything [in the religion], and we will never stray as long as we adhere to the narrations.”

Al-Harawî, Dhamm Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî Vol. 2 p265.

Losing Ahl Al-Sunnah

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:09:04 +0000

It is reported that Imâm Ayyûb [Al-Sakhtiyânî] – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “When I hear of the death of a man from Ahl Al-Sunnah, it is as if I have lost a part of my body.”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah, Vol.1 p46.

It is reported that Hammâd b. Zayd said, “When the news of the death of a young man from the followers of hadîth reached Ayyûb, [the sorrow] could be seen on him; and when the news of the death of a man who was mentioned as being a devout worshipper would reach him, [it’s effect] on him was not noticed.”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah, Vol.1 p51.

It is also reported that Hammâd b. Zayd said, “I was with Ayyûb Al-Sakhtiyânî while he was washing [the body] of Shu’ayb b. Al-Habhâb, saying, ‘Anyone who wishes for the death of a person from Ahl Al-Sunnah has wished for the light of Allâh to be extinguished; but Allâh will keep His light complete, even though the unbelievers may hate it.’ [Sûrah Al-Saff: 8]”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah, Vol.1 p52.

It is reported that Asad b. Mûsâ said, “We were with Sufyân b. ‘Uyainah when he was informed of the death of Al-Darâwardî, and he became visibly distressed. [Al-Darâwardî] hadn’t actually died, so we said, ‘We didn’t think you would reach such a state.’ He said, ‘[Al-Darâwardî] is from Ahl Al-Sunnah.’”

Al-Lâlakâ`î, Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah, Vol.1 p72.