Is it necessary to follow the salaf?

[muslim_friend]

I understand following the sunnah of the Prophet(saws) and his companions is an obligation. But where is the need to follow the 2 generations that came after them? Is it mentioned in the Qur'an?

I ask this, because Islam was perfected during the Prophet's time. So how could the salaf who came after the companions, have brought anything new?

Shukran.

 

[Nawal89]

They didnt bring anything new. They followed the way of the sahabah. Also the hadeeth says that the best generation of people are the sahabahs, then the tabi'un, then the tabtabi'un, then those who follow them with ihsan until the last day.

They practiced Islam the right way. We should take them as our example.

 

[scentsofjannah]

we have to love and respect all the pious people from the past...the salaf as salih(righteous/pious)..not just any salaf..hope that makes it clear

 

[moujahid]

...and also do not confuse between the 'Salafs' of that time and the 'Salafis' of today....

 

[Ghazi]

Listen bro just follow the quran and sunnah and you'll be fine, don't by into this lets start labbelling our selfs such and such.

 

[moujahid]

Listen bro just follow the quran and sunnah and you'll be fine, don't by into this lets start labbelling our selfs such and such.

True. Follow the Qur'an and Sunnah from the right people...not just from anybody. We don't interpret Qur'an and Sunnah ourselves...We learn from our teachers.

 

[- Qatada -]

:salamext:


Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"The best of my people are my generation then those who come after them, then those who come after them, then there will come a people in whom there will be no good." [At-Tabaranee, authenticated by al-Albanee]

Also, in al-Bukharee, "The best of the people are my generation, then those after them, then those after them..." This is also reported by Muslim, Aboo Dawood, at-Tirmidhee, An-Nasa'ee and others.​

Therefore, if Rasool Allaah sal Allaahu alayhi waSalam is saying that they [the first 3 generations] are the best generations - then that is part of our aqeedah (beliefs) and therefore we should follow their example, of the ones who were righteous in their time. They were the people who followed the ways of Allaah and His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) the most.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi waSalam) also said, "...and my Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects." [Aboo Dawood, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim, Ahmad, authenticated by at-Tirmidhee, al Hakim, ibn Taymeeyah, as-Suyootee, al-Manawee, ash-Shatibee, adh-Dhahabee and al-Albanee].

In another Hadith that is hasan, the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi waSalam) explained which one is the saved sect: "Al- Jama`ah" [Ibn Majah]. In another Hasan Hadith the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi waSalam) said, "The tribes of Israel broke into seventy- two sects. My Ummah shall break up into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in the Fire, except one: what I am upon and my Companions." (i.e. the Qur'an & Sunnah) [At-Tirmidhee]

Therefore, only if we follow their ways will we be succesful. Especially in situations like nowadays when people are trying to alter the meaning of the Qur'an to suit their own desires etc.

This is why we follow the interpretation and ways of the first 3 generations (the sahabah, the students of the sahabah, and their students.) Because they were the closest to the interpretation of the Qur'an which was left by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him.)


To read more, check this link out insha'Allaah:

The Views Of Ahlus-Sunnah Towards The Sahaba (radhiAllaahu anhum)
http://www.quran.net/quran/ViewsOfAhlusSunnahTowardsTheSahaba-IsaAlBosnee.htm


Allaah Almighty knows best.


:wasalamex

 

[united]

It takes a great deal of knowledge to get to the stage where you can just pickup quran and hadith books and follow them yourselves. That is why there are/were people who dedicated their whole lives to learning the Deen ie Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal etc.

 

[Makky]

They didnt bring anything new. They followed the way of the sahabah. Also the hadeeth says that the best generation of people are the sahabahs, then the tabi'un, then the tabtabi'un, then those who follow them with ihsan until the last day.

They practiced Islam the right way. We should take them as our example.

True

the prophet PBUH SAid :

خير القرون قرني هذا ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم

 

[moujahid]

It takes a great deal of knowledge to get to the stage where you can just pickup quran and hadith books and follow them yourselves. That is why there are/were people who dedicated their whole lives to learning the Deen ie Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal etc.

True. MashaAllah.

 

[Makky]

:thumbs_up

True. Follow the Qur'an and Sunnah from the right people...not just from anybody. We don't interpret Qur'an and Sunnah ourselves...We learn from our teachers.

We follow the qur'an and sunnah with the understanding of those whom were speaking the language of the Wahi the Arabic * Al arabia al fus-ha *

Those teens who speak English as a 1st lang. might not be able to understand old English properly.

Now arabs have many slangs & accents which are very differnt from the original Arabic in the days of the prophet

its unfair to try to understand Qur'an and sunnah ourselves...

The right way is To find How those who spoke the original arabic understood the Qur'an and sunnah

So : We follow the Qur'an and sunnah With the understanding of Salaf ( companions & their followers )
if we did we 'd be all united , we'd be all on one way

but because everybody want to try *with his weak tools in arabic and deen* to understand Qur'an and sunnah <--------- For this reason we are not united and you find many names & labels , many bands and paths

May allay grant us his Guideness

 

[muslim_friend]

Superb posts, mashaAllah. This is what i have come to understand: the salaf learnt from the messenger and understood Islam better than any other generation. therefore it is necessary to refer their opinions in matters of fiqh and tafsir.Shukran. It now makes perfect sense.

Is the obligation to follow the salaf (who came after the companions) mentioned in the Qur'an? this is what i really desire to know. Allah s.w.t Has mentioned the rights and wrongs of our deen in His book, surely He would have also mentioned the methodology of the straight path too,(since it is matter that saves from the fire). I do know that the obligation to follow the messenger(pbuh) is mentioned in the Qur'an, but regarding the salaf, i don't have a clue.. Is there such a verse?

Thank you everyone for the patience to answer my earlier question. May Allah reward you.

 

[moujahid]

:thumbs_up

We follow the qur'an and sunnah with the understanding of those whom were speaking the language of the Wahi the Arabic * Al arabia al fus-ha *

Those teens who speak English as a 1st lang. might not be able to understand old English properly.

Now arabs have many slangs & accents which are very differnt from the original Arabic in the days of the prophet

its unfair to try to understand Qur'an and sunnah ourselves...

The right way is To find How those who spoke the original arabic understood the Qur'an and sunnah

So : We follow the Qur'an and sunnah With the understanding of Salaf ( companions & their followers )
if we did we 'd be all united , we'd be all on one way

but because everybody want to try *with his weak tools in arabic and deen* to understand Qur'an and sunnah <--------- For this reason we are not united and you find many names & labels , many bands and paths

May allay grant us his Guideness

Every thing you mentioned is true and we all agree to it. When there is ikhtilaaf, we should follow the salaf-us-saliheen or people who are of the older generations. the rulings on every single matter of the deen have their answers in the four schools of fiqh.

 

[moujahid]

May Allah grant us Jannah

 

[Abdullah4ever]

So the As-Salah As-Salaf are not the Salafi's? ? :?

 

[muslim_friend]

Listen bro just follow the quran and sunnah and you'll be fine, don't by into this lets start labbelling our selfs such and such.

Right bro. No better label than a MUSLIM

 

[moujahid]

So the As-Salah As-Salaf are not the Salafi's? ? :?

No, they are two different. Salafi Islam is a recent movement that was started in SaudiArabia and India (at the same time)
Allahu'Alam who the Salafi's are. I have only seen a few.

 

[Makky]

I do know that the obligation to follow the messenger(pbuh) is mentioned in the Qur'an, but regarding the salaf, i don't have a clue.. Is there such a verse?

Thank you everyone for the patience to answer my earlier question. May Allah reward you.

jazak allah khair

Salaf : are the sahaba * companions* & thier students *Tabea'een* and their Students * Tabe'e al tabea'een* .....and every person who follows this chain is on the right path

We don't follow everyone from the 2nd & the 3rd generation but we only follow those : the students of the companions & their students.

 

[Makky]

No, they are two different. Salafi Islam is a recent movement that was started in SaudiArabia and India (at the same time)
Allahu'Alam who the Salafi's are. I have only seen a few.

Forget about labels and names but Give a look inside ..and Care about the meanings

If Salafies are Those who Follow the salaf therefore we are Salafies But if salafies are a band or a movment here or there then we should Know 1st what they believe , for example You can see everywhere many people say we are muslims but they are far away from islam the true path, thier women don't wear hijab & some worship tombs & some worship Ali....

 

[snakelegs]

Is the obligation to follow the salaf (who came after the companions) mentioned in the Qur'an? this is what i really desire to know. Allah s.w.t Has mentioned the rights and wrongs of our deen in His book, surely He would have also mentioned the methodology of the straight path too,(since it is matter that saves from the fire). I do know that the obligation to follow the messenger(pbuh) is mentioned in the Qur'an, but regarding the salaf, i don't have a clue.. Is there such a verse?

thanks for raising this question cuz it's something i've wondered about too. hope it gets addressed.