Sahaba on bida’a

1. Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (R) said:

“O’ people, you must seek knowledge before it is taken away, for indeed when its people (the scholars) die, it wll be taken away. And beware of bid’ah, innovation and sophistication, and adhere to the ancient way [i.e., the way of the Prophet (S)].” [1]

2. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan (R) said:

“Do not perform any act of worship that was not practiced by the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, for the earlier generation did not leave any room for the latter to add anything (to the religion). Fear Allah, O’ readers, seekers of knowledge, and follow the patho of those who came before you.” [2]

3. ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (R) said:

“Whoever wants to follow an example, let him follow the example of those who have passed away, the Companions of Muhammad (S). They were the best of this ummah, the purest in heart, the deepest in knowledge, the least in sophistication. They were people whom Allah chose to be the Companions of His Prophet (S) and to convey His religion, so imitate their ways and behaviour, for they were following the Straight Path.” [3]

And he (R) said:

“Follow and do not innovate, for everything has been taken care of, and you must follow the ancient way (i.e., of the Salaf).” [4]

4. ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (R) said:

“People will continue to adhere to the correct way so long as they folow the footsteps [of the Prophet (S)].” [5]

And he said:

“Every bid’ah is misguidance, even if people think it is good.” [6]

5. The great Sahabi Abu ad-Darda’ (R) said:

“You will never be misguided so long as you follow the footsteps [of the Prophet (S)].” [7]

6. Ameer al-Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (R) said:

“If religion were based on opinion (what people think is common sense), then we should wipe the bottom of the khuff (leather slippers) rather than the top, but I saw the Messenger of Allah wiping the top of them.” [8]

7. ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-’Aas (R) said:

“No bid’ah is introduced but it will spread further and no Sunnah is neglected but it will dimminish further.” [9]

8. It was narrated that ‘Abbaas ibn Rabee’ah said: I saw ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (R) kissing the Black Stone and saying,

“I know that you are only a stone and can neither do harm or bring benefit. If I had not seen the Messenger of Allah kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” [10]

References:

[1] Al-Bia’h wan-Nahy ‘anha by Ibn Waddaah.

[2] Narrated by Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah.

[3] Al-Baghawi in Sharh as-Sunnah.

[4] Ad-Daarimi in his Sunan.

[5] Al-Laalkaa’i in Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah.

[8] Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf.

[9] Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah.

[10] Bukhari and Muslim.

The hard life now for the good life later

It is reported that Hafsah – Allâh be pleased with her – once said to her father (‘Umar, during his Caliphate):

Allâh has increased the provisions; if only you would eat better food than the food you eat now and wear softer clothes then those you wear now?!

He said,

I will argue [against] you with your own self: Was not the condition of Allâh’s Messenger – praise and peace be upon him – such-and-such [when you were his wife]!?

He kept reminding her until she cried.

He continued,

I have told you, by Allâh, I will share in their hard living (in this world, referring to The Prophet and Abû Bakr) so that I may partake in their good life (in Paradise).

Hunâd b. Al-Sarî, Al-Zuhd article 687; Imâm Ahmad, Al-Zuhd article 201, et al. (1)

(1) Shaykh Abd Al-Rahmân Al-Farîwâ`î explains in his edition of Hunâd’s Al-Zuhd that this narration is sahîh if it is confirmed that Mus‘ab b. Sa’d heard it from Hafsah; otherwise its chain of transmission is mursal sahîh (i.e. it is authentic except there is a missing link between Mus’ab and Hafsah)

He is best among the companion…

Ibn Qayyim:

He (I.e Abû Bakr) protected the Messenger with everything at his disposal. He accompanied the Prophet (‘Alayhi salaatu wa salaam) during his life and death. How could anyone deny his virtues? To do so would be to try to cover the sun in the middle of the day. He is the best among the Companions, and whoever loves him is a believer.

(al-Fawaa’id, p.114)

The Sahabah on Leaving the Salah

‘Abdullâh b. Shaqîq Al-’Uqaylî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

The Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allah’s praise and peace be upon him – did not consider the leaving of any action to be kufr (unbelief), except the prayer (salâh).

Al-Tirmidhî, Al-Sunan hadîth 2622. Graded sahîh by Al-Albânî in his edition ofSunan Al-Tirmidhî.

Umar on obeying the Muslim Ruler

Suwayd b. Ghaflah reports that ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – once took him by the hand and said:

O Abû Umayah, by Allâh, I know not if we will meet again after today. Fear and obey Allâh your Lord until the Day of Resurrection, as if you see Him, and obey the ruler (imâm) even if he is a cut-nosed Abyssinian slave: if he beats you, be patient; if he robs you, be patient and if he belittles you, be patient. And if he tells you [to do something] to the detriment of your religion (to sin), say: “I hear and obey, [but] my blood goes before my religion.” Never leave the Main Muslim Body (Al-Jamâ’ah).

Ibn Zanjawayh, Kitâb Al-Amwâl article 30; Ibn Abî Zamanîn, Usûl Al-Sunnaharticle 205 with a slight variation in wording. Also recorded in other collections.

“Everyone is more knowledgeable than Umar!”

Narrated from Ibn Jad’aan:

‘Umar (radhi’Allaahu ‘anhu) heard a man say, “O Allaah, make me from amongst the few” so he said “Ya ‘Abdallaah! And who are the few?”

He said, “I heard Allaah say ‘And none believed in him except a few’ , ‘And few of my servants are grateful’ and he mentioned another verse whereupon ‘Umar said, “Everyone is more knowledgeable than Umar!”

[‘Uluww al-Himmah: Ch.2, pg. 41]

Abu Bakr was called ‘Ateeq

‘Aishah[RA] said:

“Abu Bakr entered so Rasoul allah (sallalahu alayhi wa salam) said: You are “3atiq” allah of hellfire (saved by Allah from hellfire) so he was called 3atiq from that day onward”.

أن أبا بكر دخل على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال أنت عتيق الله من النار فيومئذ سمي عتيقا

Sahih Tirmidhi

I noticed concerning your great desire for [learning] ḥadīth…

حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ ‏ ‏حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏عَمْرٍو ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏ ‏رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ‏ ‏أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ أَسْعَدُ النَّاسِ بِشَفَاعَتِكَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَالَ لَقَدْ ظَنَنْتُ يَا ‏ ‏ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ‏ ‏أَنْ لَا يَسْأَلَنِي عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَحَدٌ أَوَّلُ مِنْكَ لِمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ حِرْصِكَ عَلَى الْحَدِيثِ ‏ ‏أَسْعَدُ النَّاسِ بِشَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ خَالِصًا مِنْ قِبَلِ نَفْسِهِ

Abū Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who will be the most fortunate of mankind in receiving your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?’ He replied, ‘I certainly thought, O Abū Hurairah, that no one would ask me about this ḥadīth before you, because of what I noticed concerning your great desire for [learning] ḥadīth. The most fortunate of mankind to receive my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be those who say ‘Lā ilāha illa Allah’ sincerely, of their own accord.’”

(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

Two of Ibn Mas’ud legs are heavier in the balance than mount uhud on day of judgement

Zuhr Ibn Habeesh related from Ibn Mas’ud [RA] that he had very thin legs. (One day), the wind flung away (his garments thus exposing them). The people laughed at him.

Then Messenger of Allah [SAW] said:

What are you laughing at?

They said:

O Prophet[SAW], from the thinness of his legs.

He[SAW] said:

By the One who has my soul in His Hand, the two of them (ie his two legs) are indeed heavier in the Balance than Uhud (a large mountain in Madinah).

Musnad Ahmad and its chain is good and strong

And there will be people who will disbelieve in mercy, in the Dajjal…

Ibn ‘Abbas[RA] said: I heard ‘Umar Ibn Khattab[RA] say,

Indeed Messenger of Allah[SAW] showed mercy, Abu Bakr[RA] showed mercy, and I showed mercy. And there will be a people who will disbelieve in mercy, in the Dajjal, in the Haud (Basin), in intercession, in the punishment of the grave, and in people coming out of hellfire.

Baihaqi