“.. his reward is 50 from the companions” – The Strangers (Ghuraba) by Shaykh ibn Bāz رحمه الله

“.. his reward is 50 from the companions” – The Strangers by Shaykh ibn Bāz رحمه الله
https://youtu.be/JCfL743dhzM [ 1min]

The Prophet (ﷺ) stated,

“Ahead of you are days of patience, when holding onto the religion will be like holding onto hot coals, and whomsoever holds onto His religion in that time, then his reward will be the reward of fifty men.” The Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah, fifty times the worth of their reward?” He said, “Rather fifty from you.”

Collected by Abu Dawood, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Mājah, Al-Hākim who declared it authentic, Adh-Dhahabi agreed and Al-Albāni declared it Saheeh in As-Saheehah (no. 494).

Sunnah (Main Page): https://abdurrahman.org/sunnah/

Timeless Advice – Shaykh ibn Bāz [Video | Ar-En Subtitles]

Timeless Advice – Shaykh ibn Bāz [Video | Ar-En Subtitles]
https://youtu.be/LTzReiy8t_c [6 min]

From The Signs of an Accepted Hajj – by Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzāq al Badr [Ar| En Subtitles]

From The Signs of an Accepted Hajj – by Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzāq al Badr [Ar| En Subtitles]
https://youtu.be/VF_fquJdLM4 [20 min]

[Shaykh ‘Abdurrazzāq al Badr حفظه الله]
https://abdurrahman.org/tag/shaykh-abdur-razzaaq-ibn-abdul-muhsin/

[Hajj]
https://abdurrahman.org/hajj/

Two Points of Interest Regarding “Saheeh al-Bukhaaree” & “Saheeh Muslim” – Shaykh Uthaymeen

Bismillaah

The First Point:

It should not be understood that “Saheeh al-Bukhaaree” and “Saheeh Muslim” encompass every authentically reported statement of Allaah’s Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم). Rather, there are many authentic Hadeeth collected by other scholars that neither one of them (al-Bukhaaree & Muslim) recorded in their collections.

an-Nawawee said:

“The intent of both al-Bukhaaree and Muslim was only to collect a large number of authentic Hadeeth just as a book of Fiqh [2] may collect texts pertaining to many different issues, not encompass every possible issue. However, if there is a Hadeeth having an authentic chain of narration that one of them may have left out, or even both of them, then they would have had a reason to do so or they may have recorded a similar Hadeeth in its place. From what is well-known from them, it may be assumed that perhaps they felt it better not to record it, or perhaps they even forgot. They also may have left certain Hadeeth out in order not to make their collections even longer than they are, or they felt what they have recorded was sufficient pertaining to a certain topic. They may have had other reasons as well.”

The Second Point:

Scholars unanimously agree and consider “Saheeh al-Bukhaaree” and “Saheeh Muslim” to be the most authentic written works of Hadeeth. Regarding this, the famous scholar, Ibn Taymiyyah, said, “There is no Hadeeth they both agree to be authentic except that it is undoubtedly authentic.” He also said, “The vast majority of their narrations, the scholars of Hadeeth know with certainty that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وسلّم) actually said them.”

Footnotes:

[2] Fiqh: The knowledge of practical legislated Islaamic rulings by their related detailed proofs. – Shaykh Ibn al-‘Uthaymeen, “al-Usool min ‘Ilm al-Usool” pg. 7. – T.N.

Source: Biographies of the Famous Hadeeth Scholars and an Introduction to Their Collections – Shaykh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) | Translated by: Abu az-Zubayr Harrison (rahimahullaah)

Related Links:

Do not worship based upon what you think is good nor upon taqleed (blindly following) – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

[7:16 minutes]
Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 07 – Part B
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Previous Class:
 The first matter is that Allaah created us and gave us provision and did not leave us without purpose

Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said: 

Rather He sent a Messenger to us.4


[4]: Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzan’s Explanation

Since it is the case that we may not carry out worship based upon what we think is good nor upon taqleed (blindly following) so-and-so and so-and-so from the people, then therefore Allaah sent to us Messengers to make clear to us how we are to worship him, because acts of worship are tawqeefiyyah (dependent upon text) it is not permissible that Allaah be worshipped except with that which He has legislated.

So acts of worship are tawqeefiyyah – restricted to text, to that which the Messengers ‘alaihimussalaatu wassalaam came with. So the wisdom behind sending the Messengers is that they should make clear to the people how they are to worship their Lord, and for them to forbid them from shirk (association of others along with Allaah) and from kufr (disbelief) in Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. This is the duty of the Messengers ‘alaihimussalaatu wassalaam. And therefore he ‘alaihissalaatu wassalaam said:

من عمل عم لا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد

“Whoever does an action which our affair is not in accordance with, then it will be rejected”.[1] 

So worship is tawqeefiyyah (dependent upon text), and bid‘a (innovations) are rejected, and baseless superstitions and ideas are rejected and blind following is rejected. Acts of worship are not taken except from the sharee‘ah (revealed law) which the Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallaam came with.

His saying, “Rather He sent to us a Messenger”: he is Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallaam the seal, the last one of the Prophets. He sent him to make clear to us why we were created, and to make clear to us how we are to worship Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, and to forbid us from shirk and kufr (unbelief) and from sins. This was the duty of the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallaam, and he clearly conveyed the message and he fulfilled the trust which was given to him, and he gave sincere advice to the nation ‘alaihissalaatu wassalaam, and he explained fully and made clear, and he left us upon a clear white ground, its night is just the same as its day, no-one deviates away from it except one who is destroyed, and this is just as is in His saying, He the Most High:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا

This day have I completed your religion for you and perfected my favour upon you and are pleased for you with Islaam as your religion. [5:3]

Footnotes:

[1] Its checking has preceded. (Mentioned by al-Bukhaaree in disconnected form as hadeeth 7350 in the Book of clinging to the Book and the Sunnah Chapter 20. And the Hadeeth is reported by Muslim with a fully connected chain as a hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah radiyallaahu ‘anhaa.)

Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by  Daawood  Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series:
Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank

Book Study Resources – Three Fundamental Principles

Related Links:

If you hear a man Attacking or Rejecting the Narrations then doubt his Islam – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 79 : Point 135-136
 Shaykh Ahmad Najmee | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

[135] If you hear a man attacking the narrations (athaar) or rejecting the narrations or desiring some thing other than the narrations then have doubt about his Islam. And do not doubt that he is the person of Desires and Innovator.

[136] And know that Ruler’s oppression does not reduce or remove anything that Allaah has made obligatory upon the tongue of his prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم). His oppression will be upon himself and your acts of obedience along with him will be complete if Allaah,the Most High,wills. Meaning, the congregational prayer and the jumu’ah prayer along with them and fighting jihaad along with them. And all acts of obedience accompany them in that , for you will have your intention.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Links:

The Qur’āniyyah (The Rejectors of Sunnah) – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 82 : Points 146
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

If you hear  a man to whom you bring a narration to, not wanting it and instead wanted the Qur’an (only) then do not doubt that he is a man who embraces heresy (zandaqa). So get up from him and leave him.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Links:

Excellent Generations – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 66 : Point 113 (Part A)
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

Everything that I have described to you in this book is from Allah, the Most High, from the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), from his Companions, from the Tabi’een and from the third generation to the fourth generation.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Links:

The way a Person may fall into Disbelief (Apostasy) – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 65 : Point 112
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

Know, May Allah have mercy upon you! that there is nothing between a servant and his being a Believer or becoming an Disbeliever except that he denies something which Allah has sent down, or he adds to or takes away from the Speech of Allah, or he denies anything which Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said or  anything the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) spoke with. So fear and be dutiful to Allah. May Allah have mercy upon you! Look to yourself and beware of exceeding the limits in the religion for that is not from the way of truth at all.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/innovation

Whoever Clings to what the innovators have abandoned from the Sunnah is a Person of the Sunnah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 63 : Point 109
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

Whoever recognises what the people of innovations have abandoned from the sunnah and that which they have split away from and he clings to it (i.e the Sunnah), then he is a person of the Sunnah and the person of the Jamaa’ah. He is deserving of being followed, aided and protected. He is one of those concerning whom Allaah’s messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) gave the bequest.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/innovation

Success Lies in Clinging to the Sunnah and the Way of the Early Generations – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 62 : Point 107
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

He who limits himself to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa salam) and that which his Companions and the Jamaa’ah were upon is successful and triumphs over all the people of innovation and his body is relaxed and his religion is safe, if Allah wills, since the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “My Ummah will split…” and the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) told us which would be the saved sect, saying, “That which I and my Companions are upon[1]. This is the cure, the explanation, the clear affair and the straight and distinct road. The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Beware of going to extremes and harshness. Beware of exaggeration and cling to the ancient religion” [2].

NOTES

[1] Reported by at-Tirmidhee (no.2643) and others and it is hasan, as has preceded.

[2] This is not a hadeeth of the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam), but is a saying of Ibn Mas’ood (radiallaahu anhu) as reported by ad-Daarimee in his Sunan (1/50/nos.144. 145), ‘Abdur-Razzaaq in his Musannaf (10/252) and Ibn Nasr in as-Sunnah (no.85) and others and is saheeh as such.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (radiallaahu anhu) reports that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Beware of exaggeration in the religion for, indeed, those before you were destroyed due to exaggeration in the religion.” Reported by Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee and Ibn Maajah and it is saheeh.

Ibn Mas’ood (radiallaahu anhu) reports that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “ Those who go to extremes are destroyed.” Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Daawood (Eng. trans. 3/1294/no.4591) and it is saheeh

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

The Truth, the Sunnah & the Jamaa’ah – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 61 : Point 106
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

The Truth is that which came from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. The Sunnah is that which the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) laid down and the Jamaa’ah is that which the Companions of the Messenger of Allah were united upon in the Khilaafah of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharh as-Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Ad-Deenu an-Naseehah (The Religion is Sincerity) – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 47: Point 76
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

And it is not permissible to withhold naseehah (sincere advice) from anyone from the Muslims, whether righteous or sinful in matters of the religion.

So, whoever withholds it then he has acted deceitfully towards the Muslims and whoever acts deceitfully towards the Muslims then he has acted deceitfully towards the religion, and whoever acts deceitfully towards the religion then he has shown treachery towards Allaah, His Messenger and the believers.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Transcribed Audio:

His saying,And it is not permissible for you to withhold naseehah (sincere advice) from anyone from the Muslims whether they be righteous or sinful,” An-naseehah (sincerity) is to be pure and free of ghish (deceit) and a thing that is naasih; a thing that has its quality of naseehah, it is a thing that is khaalis (pure). So, the believer, it is obligatory that he should be naasih (sincere); meaning that he should be pure and free of hypocrisy; nifaaq and he should be pure and free of ghish (deceptiveness) and he should be pure and free of khadee`ah (cheating). His outward aspect and his inward aspect should be just the same with regard to truthfulness.

And an-naseehah (sincerity) is the religion just as the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“The religion is an-naseehah (sincerity), the religion is sincerity, the religion is sincerity; an-naseehah. We said, ‘Towards whom O Messenger of Allaah?’ So he said, ‘Towards Allaah and towards His Book and towards His Messenger and towards the rulers of the Muslims and their common folk.”[1]

And what is meant by it (an-naseehah) here is that a person is free of every blameworthy characteristic and that he adorns himself with all the noble and virtuous manners and characteristics. So, the man who is naasih (has this quality of sincerity) is the one who is not deceptive, does not have any ghish (deceptive) towards anyone. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever deceives us is not from us.”[2]

So, the opposite of naseehah (sincerity) is al-ghish (deceptiveness). And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam repeated his saying ad-deenun naseehah (the religion is sincerity) three times for emphasis and to stress its importance and he limited the religion; all of it to being an-naseehah (sincerity).

An-naseehah (sincerity) towards Allaah and His Messenger; this is with regard to `aqeedah (creed and belief). So, a person will not be a Muslim unless his `aqeedah (creed and belief) is sound and is free of shirk and his actions are free of innovations (bid`ah) and he is one who is following the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So, this person, he is the one who is an-naasih (one who is sincere) towards Allaah and His Messenger, i.e the one whose deeds are free of shirk and free of innovations.[3]

Sincerity towards the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam is to truly believe; to have eemaan in his Messengership, and to love him, and to respect, and honour him `alayhissalaatu wassalaam, and to take him as an example to follow, and to give precedence to his saying over the saying of everyone, and to leave off innovations and new introductions, which are something that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam warned against, and to believe him regarding whatever he informed about regarding things of the unseen of the past and the future, and to avoid whatever he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam forbade. This is sincerity towards the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.[4]

His (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) saying, “…and towards His Book…” the Book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, it is the Qur’aan such that you have eemaan that it is the speech of Allaah sent down; not created, it is not the speech of anyone else as is said by the people of misguidance; and that you learn it, and teach it, and that you act upon it, and that you acquire understanding of its meanings, and that you reflect upon it. This is sincerity towards the Book of Allaah, the Perfect and Most High; learning, and teaching, and understanding, and acquiring knowledge of it, and acting upon it. And likewise, from sincerity towards the Book of Allaah is to be plentiful in its recitation and not to be neglectful with regard to it.

And an-naseehah (sincerity) “…towards the rulers of the Muslims…” they are those who are in charge of the affairs, those in authority, that you obey them in that which is not disobedience to Allaah, the Perfect and Most High. And that you do not remove your hand from obedience, and that you do not rebel against them, and that you do not seek out their mistakes and their hidden faults and expose them to the people.

And from sincerity (naseehah) towards them is that if you have knowledge (`ilm) and you have the ability to sincerely advise them that you do so personally between yourself and them; you cause the advice to reach them and inform them about mistakes, which occur from them or from their subjects, you let them know about that but you do not speak about them in gatherings, for this will be a case of ghish (treachery). So, an-naseehah (sincerity) is that you convey sincere advice from yourself to them. This is from sincerity towards the person in authority.

And likewise, from sincerity towards the person in authority is to carry out the duty that he puts you in charge of carrying out, whether it is a wazeefah (duty or a post) or being placed in charge of something or other than that from the affairs of the religion and the worldly life, that you carry the duty out which the one in authority has entrusted you with in the best manner and that you do not miss anything of it out and if you see any deficiencies then you inform the one in authority between yourself and him. You inform him of the deficiencies so that he can remedy it. This is sincerity.

And from sincerity towards those in authority is to make du`a (supplication) for them that they be rectified since if they are sound and rectified, the subjects will be sound and rectified and that you make du`a (supplication) for them. So, if you see a man who is a student of knowledge who does not make supplication for them or who criticises making supplication for them then you should know that he is treacherous (ghaash) and he is not one who is sincere towards the person in authority.

And sincerity “…towards the common Muslims,” is that you direct them to what is correct; and you warn them against errors, and that you command the good and forbid the evil, and that you teach the one who is ignorant, and that you remind the person who is heedless, and that you love for him the good that you love for yourself, and to have compassion for the poor person, and you give charity (sadaqah) for the needy. This is an-naseehah (sincerity).

And likewise, that he gives good advice to the person who consults him and he guards secrets for one who trusts him regarding something and to safeguard things which are entrusted with you. He should be sincere from all aspects. And sincerity is with regard to buying and selling such that he does not deceive and does not trick.

This is an-naseehah (sincerity) in brief. So, whoever is not like that then he is treacherous and the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever deceives us then he is not from us.”

Footnotes:

[1] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy in disconnected form; meaning in a chapter heading, you’ll find it there in the Book of Eemaan; the 2nd book, chapter 42.

And it’s reported in connected form by Imaam Muslim (55) from a hadeeth of Tameem ad-Daari radiyAllaahu `anhu and Imaam Muslim does not have the repetition of his saying (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam): “Ad-deenun naseehah (the religion is sincerity)…”. Meaning; there in Saheeh Muslim, it only occurs once that he said: “Ad-deenun naseehah (the religion is sincerity).

Rather, that occurs being reported by Imaam Ahmad and Aboo Daawood and at-Tirmithee and others and at-Tirmithee said it is hasan, saheeh (good, authentic).

Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaaniyy, likewise, declared it with the addition there as being saheeh (authentic).

[2] Reported by Muslim (101) from a hadeeth of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu and also reported by Muslim (102 ) with the wording:

“Whoever deceives then he is not from me.”

The 1st wording in Muslim is:
“Whoever deceives us then he is not from us.”

The 2nd wording reported by Muslim is:
“Whoever deceives is not from me.”

[3] Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said with regard to this first part of the hadeeth: “Ad-deenun naseehah (the religion is sincerity) and then when they asked, “To whom, oh Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “firstly, lillaah (towards Allaah).” 

He said, “By obedience to Him and not disobeying Him and by implementing `Uboodiyyalahum (servitude towards Him) and by establishing His Tawheed with regard to His Ruboobiyyah (Lordship) and with regard to His `Uloohiyyah (His sole right to all worship) and with regard to His names and attributes and that you seek by performance of your deeds His face & that you are sincere in your deeds, which you carry out. So, you are sincere in them and true in them.”

[4] Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah mentioned more or less the same point. He added a point also, he had a no. of points, from them was,

“Having love for the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and also making supplication for; salaat and salaam upon Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And not writing just it’s abbreviated forms like  SAW, SAAW, or SAAS. We seeks Allaah’s refuge from this abridging  of salaat and salaam upon Allaah’s Messenger,  as this is from the Raafidah Shi`a.

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Saima Zaher.

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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Do not Deny or Speak against the Narrations of the Messenger of Allaah – Sharh as-Sunnah | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Bismillaah

Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 42 : Point 66
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:

And if you hear a man speaking against the narrations and not accepting them or denying anything from the narrations of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then doubt his Islaam since he is a person having a despicable opinion and saying. No attack may be made upon Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam nor upon his companions since we have only come to know of Allaah and His Messenger and the Qur’aan and what is good and what is bad in this world and the Hereafter by way of the narrations. So, the Qur’aan needs the Sunnah more than the Sunnah needs the Qur’aan.

[Souncloud Audio Link

Transcribed Audio:

His saying, “And if you hear a man speaking against the narrations and not accepting them or denying anything from the narrations of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam then doubt his Islaam,”[1] Since from the meaning of the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah is to obey him with regard to whatever he commanded and to believe him regarding whatever he informed of and to avoid whatever he forbade and prohibited and that Allaah is not worshipped except with that which He legislated. This is the meaning of the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.

And Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

And whatever the Messenger gives you then accept it and take it and whatever he forbids you from then keep away from it. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 7)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ 

O you who believe, obey Allaah and obey the Messenger.
(Sooratun-Nisaa· 4, aayah 59)

So what is obligatory upon the Muslim is that he complies with whatever occurs in the ahaadeeth from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam since they are the second revelation after the Qur’aan. Because the fundamental evidences in Islaam upon which there is agreement are:

Firstly, the Qur’aan;

Secondly, the Prophetic Sunnah,

And thirdly, consensus; Al-Ijmaa`.

These evidences, it is not permissible for a person to say, “I will not accept as evidence except the Qur’aan alone and I will not accept the Sunnah as evidence,” as is said by the Khawaarij and whoever follows their way and they say that the Qur’aan is mutawaatir (reported by huge numbers of people at every level of transmission so huge that they cannot be gathered together upon a lie) so they say, “the Qur’aan is mutawaatir and is rendered secure from deficiencies but as for the Sunnah then it is what is narrated by narrators and is therefore open to deficiencies.”

This is to accuse the whole Ummah (nation) and its scholars and the companions and the taabi`een (those who conveyed the narrations) in lacking in reliability and of lacking in trustworthiness whereas the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed about those people in his saying:

“It will soon occur that a man who is full (belly) will be reclining upon his couch and will say “Between us and you is the Book of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic. So, whatever we find in it to be permissible then we will take it to be permissible and whatever we find in it to be forbidden then we will take it as being forbidden.” Then He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “Indeed, I have been given the Qur’aan and the like of it along with it.”[2]

And he `alayhissalaatu wassalaam said:

“May Allaah make bright the face of a person who hears my saying and he retains it and he coveys it just as he heard it or sometimes one who has something conveyed to him may better comprehend it than one who actually heard it.”[3]

And he `alayhissalaatu wassalaam said when he gave the khutbah (address) in Arafah:

“Let the one who witnesses amongst you convey to the one who is absent.”[4]

So, the one who heard conveys from the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. This is a trust; amaanah, which was established by the narrators of hadeeth and by the men of hadeeth, may Allaah reward them with good, Aameen. And they protected the Prophetic Sunnah from foreign things and from lies and they conveyed it pure and clear just as it came from the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam faithfully and this is from the miracles of this Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So, the Sunnah is not an arena for withholding or for making accusations. Rather, it is obligatory to believe it and it is obligatory to act upon it just as it is obligatory to act upon the Qur’aan because it is wahiyy (revelation) from Allaah.

He, the Most High, said with regard to the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ – 53:3

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ – 53:4

He (the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) does not speak from his desires, it is just revelation inspired. (Sooratun-Najm (53), aayah 3-4)

So the ahaadeeth are revelation from Allaah even though their wordings are from the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. As for the Qur’aan then its wording and meaning is from Allaah, the Majestic and Most High and as for the Sunnah and the Prophetic ahaadeeth then their meanings is from Allaah and their wordings are from the speech of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam who does not speak from his own desires. So, his sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam wordings are preserved from error and are true and are not open to doubt. So, whoever denies the Sunnah then he is a kaafir (disbeliever) because he has discontinued the second fundamental. And the Qur’aan must have the Sunnah because it explains it and clarifies the meaning of the Qur’aan.

 وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ 

And We have sent down to you the reminder (the Qur’aan) for you to then explain to the people that which was sent down to them. (Sooratun-Nahl (16), aayah 44)

So, the Sunnah clarifies the Qur’aan and explains the Qur’aan because the Qur’aan comes with some things, which are mujmalah (unspecified) such as the prayer (Salaah) and the Zakaah and the Hajj and Siyyaam (fasting), the command for these is in the Qur’aan but how to perform them is not mentioned in the Qur’aan. So, the Qur’aan comes with some things, which are unspecified such as the prayer and the Zakaah and the Hajj and fasting, the Sunnah explains them and clarifies them. It explains the Zakaat and its amounts and fasting when it is to begin and when it is to end and the rights of Hajj; how a person should perform Hajj. So, he sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Take your rights of Hajj from me.”[5]

And the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam also said:

“Pray just as you have seen me praying.”[6]

Allaah, the Most High said:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ  

There is indeed for you in Allaah’s Messenger a fine pattern of conduct to follow. (Sooratul-Ahzaab (33), aayah 21)

So the Sunnah therefore explains the Qur’aan and clarifies it and indicates it and the person who says, “I will act upon the Qur’aan but I will not act upon the Sunnah” he is a kathaab (liar) for he has not acted upon the Qur’aan because the Qur’aan has within it:

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا

And whatever the Messenger gives you then take it and whatever he forbids you from then desist. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 7)

And there is within it:

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ – 53:3

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ – 53:4

And he (the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) does not speak from his desires, it is just revelation inspired. (Sooratun-Najm (53), aayah 3-4)

The Qur’aan, it is stated that the Sunnah clarifies it.

 وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ  

And We sent down to you (Prophet Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) the reminder (Qur’aan) so that you should clarify to the people what has been sent down to them. (Sooratun-Nahl (16), aayah 44)

So when he leaves off acting upon the Sunnah then he has not acted upon the Qur’aan, which he claims that he acts upon.

And from the people are some who make a distinction between the ahaadeeth and who say – “the hadeeth which is mutawaatir (hadeeth which has so many narrators at every level of transmission that it is impossible they could have got together and invented it) brings about knowledge (ilm) but the hadeeth which are aahaad (which doesn’t reach that level), it only amounts to dhann (surmise/uncerainity)”. And this is baatil (false and futile) because everything which is authentic from the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and which is established, it brings about `ilm (knowledge) whether it’s mutawaatir or aahaad. So, there is no distinction to be made between the level of proof of the hadeeth which is authentic. It is obligatory to comply with all of it and to act upon it without any distinction.

And the Soofees also do not act upon the Sunnah, indeed not even upon the Qur’aan. They only act upon their own tastes and their own feelings and they say, “We take from Allaah directly and we do not take by way of the Messenger because we have reached Allaah so therefore, we have no need of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. And the Messenger is just for the common folk, those who have not yet reached Allaah.” And this is from the most baseless falsehood and the most open disbelief and Allaah’s refuge is sought. Aameen.

His saying, “Or he denies anything,” whoever denies the Sunnah in general and says, “The Sunnah is not to be acted upon, only the Qur’aan is to be acted upon” or who denies a part of the Sunnah, which are the authentic ahaadeeth and says, “They are not to be acted upon” and some of them say, “Hadeeth is not acted upon except with the condition that it conforms to the Qur’aan” and this is baatil (false and futile) and is an accusation against the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam that he may bring something which contradicts the Qur’aan. So, this saying is not permissible.

The Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam sometimes came with things, which were not in the Qur’aan such as the prohibition of being married to a woman along with her paternal aunt and her maternal aunt. The Qur’aan contains the prohibition of being married to two sisters, whereas, the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“A man may not combine a woman and her paternal aunt nor between a woman and her maternal aunt.”[7]

So, it is obligatory to act upon whatever the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said.

His saying, “And if you see a person doing any of this; rejecting the authentic narrations from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam or denying anything from them then accuse his Islaam for he is a man who is despicable in his position and his saying.” The person who says this, either he will be from the Khawaarij or he will be from the Jahmiyyah and the Mu’tazilah or he will be from the Soofees; those who claim that they have no need of the ahaadeeth because they have reached Allaah and they take from Allaah directly and they say, “You people take your religion from someone who is dead but we take from the Everliving One Who never dies.”

His saying, “And no accusation may be made against Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam nor against his companions,” No accusation may be made against Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam because he is rendered secure from error by Allaah, the Majestic and Most High. So, the person who accuses the Messenger or attacks him and says that he follows his desires or that he behaves unjustly or that he oppresses and the like of that then this one is a kaafir (disbeliever) in Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.[8]

And likewise the person who makes an attack upon the companions of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam because Allaah is pleased with them and has praised them and the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was pleased with them and praised them and repeated words of praise upon them and they were the best of generations. He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“The best of you are my generation…”[9]

And he alayhissalaatu wassalaam said:

“Do not abuse my companions for by the one in Whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend the like of Uhud in gold, it would not reach even a handsful amount of one of them nor even a half of it.”[10]

He, the Most High, said:

وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ – 9:100

And the First and Foremost ones from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar and those who followed them upon good, Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him and He has prepared for them gardens of Paradise beneath which rivers flow, they will remain forever therein, that is the tremendous success. (Sooratut–Towbah (9), aayah 100)

لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ 

Allaah was pleased with the believers when they gave you the pledge beneath the tree. (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 18)

The tree is the tree where the pledge; bay`ah was given at Hudaybiyyah; the pledge that the companions gave to the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam in the 6th year after the Hijrah, pledge of Hudaybiyyah, Bay’atu Ridwaan.

فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا

So, He knew what was in their hearts and He sent down tranquillity upon them and He rewarded them with a victory close at hand. (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 18)

And He said at the end of the Soorah:

مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا – 48:29

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah and those who are with him…
(Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 29) 

Meaning the companions (sahaabah)

…those who are with the Messenger (the companions) are stern against the disbelievers, merciful amongst themselves, you will see them bowing and prostrating seeking the bounty of Allaah and His pleasure. Their sign will be upon their faces from the trace of prostration, that is their description in the Towraat… (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 29)

Meaning, their description, which is mentioned in the Towraat.

…and their description in the Injeel. (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 29)

Meaning their description in the Injeel, which was sent down to ‘Eesaa is:

They are like a plant, which sends out a side shoot, which strengthens it and it becomes firm and stands straight upon its stalk, the sowers are pleased at it so that the disbelievers should become enraged at them. (Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 29)

So, this aayah is an example about the description of the companions. So, this shows that the person that becomes enraged at the companions or who hates them, he is a kaafir (disbeliever) as is shown by the end of the aayah:

…so that the disbelievers should become enraged at them.
(Sooratul-Fath (48), aayah 29)[11]

His saying, “Because we have only come to know of Allaah and we have come to know of His Messenger and we have come to know of the Qur’aan and we know of good and evil in this world and the Hereafter by way of the aathaar (narrations).” By way of the narrations, which they narrated and they are the ahaadeeth, which they reported from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So, whoever makes an attack upon the narrations is making an attack upon the Islamic legislation because it was narrated in that case by narrators who were liars and who are not trustworthy and this is the intent of the Jews and the Magians to plot against the Muslims. So, a group of them abuse the companions and their intent is to abolish the sharee`ah (Islamic legislation) for if they can abolish its carriers and its narrators and they can attack the best ones of this nation then their attacking other than the companions is even more likely.

His saying, “For indeed the Qur’aan has more need of the Sunnah than the Sunnah has for the Qur’aan.” The Qur’aan has more need of the Sunnah as we have mentioned because the Sunnah explains and gives explanation of the Qur’aan. So, there are some things left unexplained in the Qur’aan, which have been explained in the Sunnah. So, Allaah has commanded the prayer but He has not made clear the number of its rak`ahs and He has not made clear the description of the prayer and this was made clear by the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and he said:

“Pray as you have seen me praying.”[12]

The Hajj comes in the Qur’aan mujmalan (unexplained) and its explanation was left to the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So, he performed Hajj with the Muslims in the Farewell Hajj and he said:

“Take your rights of Hajj from me.”[13]

Meaning, learn from my actions and my sayings what will enable you to carry out your rights of pilgrimage and Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, says:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا 

There is for you in Allaah’s Messenger a fine example for whomever has hope in Allaah and in the Last Day and who makes mention of Allaah a great deal. (Sooratul-Ahzaab (33), aayah 21)

So, the Qur’aan has need of the Sunnah for it to clarify it. So, the person who accepts Qur’aan only then he will cut off the Qur’aan from that which explains and clarifies it and this is the goal of the people of misguidance and those who have deviation in their hearts. Because the people of deviation accept one part of the evidences and they leave the other part which explains it and clarifies it off and they take one part of the evidences, which are unclear and they leave the clear and decisive part, which clarifies it and explains it. This is the way of the people of deviation and the way of those who pretend to have knowledge and the ignorant ones; those who claim knowledge and those who do not know the correct way of deriving evidence nor the principles of establishing proof. So, they make forbidden and declare things lawful without any insight and Allaah’s refuge is sought, aameen, because they have not followed al-manhaj al-`ilm (the correct knowledge based methodology). Rather, they have just learned by themselves or from their own books or with those who are ignorant like themselves.

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: Shaykh as-Suhaymi hafizahullaah mentions in with regard to the narrations; means the authentic narrations of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.

[2] Reported by Imaam Ahmad and ad-Daarimiyy and Aboo Daawood and at-Tirmithee and Ibn Maajah and Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim from a hadeeth of al-Muqadaam ibn Ma`dee Karb radiyAllaahu `anhu. At-Tirmithee said the hadeeth is hasan ghareeb and it has one chain of narration which is hasan (good) and al-Haakim said its chain of narration is saheeh (authentic). Shaykh al-Albaaniyy in his checking of Aboo Daawood declared this hadeeth to be saheeh (authentic).

[3] Reported by Imaam Ahmad and Ibn Maajah and Ibn Abee `Aasim in his book As-Sunnah and Ibn Hibbaan and others besides from a hadeeth of Zayd ibn Thaabit radiyAllaahu `anhu and declared saheeh (authentic) by Al-Busayriyy in Misbaah Az-Zujaajah and again Shaykh al-Albaaniyy declared this hadeeth saheeh (authentic).

[4] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy and Muslim; both of them from a hadeeth of Abu Bakra radiyAllaahu `anhu and Muslim (1,679).

Translator’s side point: Al-Bukhaariyy, it mentions the number (67), which may or may not be correct W`Allaahu A`lam.

[5] Reported by Muslim in his saheeh (1,297) from the hadeeth of Jaabir radiyAllaahu `anhu, the long and famous hadeeth of Jaabir explaining the Hajj.

[6] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (631) and that being the wording of al-Bukhaariyy and reported by Muslim (674) from Maalik ibn al-Huwayrith radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[7] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy in his saheeh (5,109) and Muslim (1,408) from Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[8] Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee rahimahullaah said,

“I say no-one makes an attack upon Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam except one who is a disbeliever or a hypocrite. And the Qur’aan has recorded for us from the hypocrites and likewise the disbelievers, the attacks that they made upon Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam.”

[9] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy (3,650) and reported by Muslim (2,535) from a hadeeth of Imraan ibn al Husayn radiyAllaahu `anhu and the wording being that of al-Bukhaariyy.

[10] Reported by al-Bukhaariyy and Muslim (2,540) from a hadeeth of Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudriyy radiyAllaahu `anhu.

[11] Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah, he mentions the same evidence as was used by Imaam Maalik rahimahullaah that this aayah is a proof of the disbelief of the Raafidah Shee`ah; those who hate the companions because they no doubt have hatred for the companions.

[12] Hadeeth which has preceded reported by Bukhaariyy and Muslim.

[13] Reported by Muslim (1,297) as came before from a hadeeth of Jaabir radiyAllaahu `anhu

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Transcribed by Saima Zaher.

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhus Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah of Imaam Barbahaaree

Related Linkhttps://abdurrahman.org/sunnah/

The people do not introduce an innovation, except that they lose its like from the Sunnah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 08 : Point 05
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author Imam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

“And know that the people never introduce an innovation, until they abandon its like from the Sunnah. So beware of forbidden matters, for every new introduction is an innovation (bid`ah) and every innovation is misguidance, and misguidance and its people will be in the Fire.”

[Souncloud Audio Link

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

This is a tremendous point of wisdom and it is something reported as a saying from the Salaf, that they said, “The people do not introduce an innovation, except that they lose its like from the Sunnah.” [01] Because the Sunnah and innovation cannot be combined, except that one of them will expel the other, so a person cannot be an innovator and a person of Sunnah. Rather either he will be an innovator or a person of the Sunnah, they cannot both be combined in him. So one of them will necessarily expel the other, and this is from the harmful effects of innovation.

And this point of wisdom narrated is confirmed by experience, and the witness for this and its proof is, that you will find the people of innovation having hatred for the authentic ahaadeeth [02], and having hatred for the matters of the Sunnah (sunan). And the worst enemy to them and the most hateful thing that they can hear, is that it is said, “Such and such hadeeth prohibits such and such.” or, “It forbids such and such.” They do not want to hear the hadeeth and the sunan which contradict what they are upon. So this is a sign that the Sunnah and innovation cannot come together.

As for the person who is upon the Sunnah, then if he hears a hadeeth from Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam then he becomes happy with that. And he adds something good to the good which he already possesses. And he adds knowledge to his knowledge. The person of Sunnah he is happy with the ahaadeeth of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Whereas the person of innovation he has aversion for the ahaadeeth of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. This is something very clear in the innovators. And they wage war in the matters from the Sunnah, because these things put an end to the innovations which they are upon. And this is a deterrent against innovation, and that they also cause matters of the Sunnah to pass away, and they cause love of matters of the Sunnah to pass away from the hearts.

His saying, “So beware of forbidden matters.” Because forbidden matters have no good in them, whether these forbidden matters relate to shirk [03] or kufr [04] or matters of sin, because Allaah will not forbid something and there is good in it. He will only forbid something which is purely evil, or something which the evil of it outweighs the good or an evil which is equal. So if good and evil come together in something, then if the evil is more or equal then you should avoid it, and if the good is more then there is no harm in taking hold of it. And a slight evil found in it along with the greater good is excused.

His saying, “For every new introduction is a bid`ah (an innovation) and every innovation is misguidance.” – this is the textual wording of the hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah radiyAllaahu `anhu who said, “Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam gave us an admonition from which the hearts trembled and the eyes shed tears, so therefore we said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is as if it is the admonition given by one who is departing (a farewell admonition), so therefore advise us.’ So he, sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, I council you with being dutiful to (having taqwaa/ being fearful of) Allaah, and with hearing and obeying, even if a slave is appointed over you.’”

And in one narration, “an Abyssinian slave whose head is as if it is a raisin.”

“`For whoever lives long amongst you, then he will see very great differing. So adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided orthodox Khulafaa after me. Cling onto it and bite onto it with your premolar teeth. And beware of newly introduced affairs.’”

This is a warning, “iyyaaka”, “beware of”. It is a word of warning.

“`Beware of newly introduced affairs, for every newly introduced affair is a bid`ah (an innovation) and every innovation is misguidance.”” [05]

And in one narration there occurs the wording,

“and every misguidance will be in the Hellfire.” [06]

Every newly introduced affair is a bid`ah, an innovation, and what is meant by a newly introduced affair is: in the Religion. As for newly introduced affairs with regards to customs/everyday habits and with regard to worldly benefits and with regard to types of food and drinks and clothing, then these are innovations in the language sense. They are not innovations in the legislated sense, but rather newly introduced affairs in the Religion, they are the forbidden innovations.

And this contains a refutation of those who divide innovations into categories, dividing them into good innovations and bad innovations, and permissible innovations. And they say that they fall under the five rulings [07]; then this is a mistake, because innovations, bida`, in the Religion, all of them are misguidance, by the textual statement of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, that he said, “For every new introduction is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance.”

And I think that what they have done is to enter those things which are an innovation with regards to the language, and they call these things good innovations. And innovations in the linguistic sense are permissible, for example, building schools and building accommodation buildings for students of knowledge and such as putting vowel points on the mus.hafs, (the written copy of the Qur·aan) and the like of that. They call these good innovations, but these are not innovations, these are matters that follow on from the sunnahs and are revival of the sunnahs. So building schools and building accommodation buildings for students of knowledge and printing the mus.hafs and putting vowel points on them, all of these are an aid upon knowledge, so they are something good and they are sunnahs. So these people are either taking good practices and calling them innovations, or they are calling matters of custom innovations when they do not enter into the Religion, because they are from the affairs of this world, so they do not enter into the Religion.

His saying, “And misguidance and its people will be in the Fire.” – as occurs in the hadeeth, “and all misguidance will be in the Fire.”

And as occurs in the hadeeth of the different sects (that Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said), “And this nation will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Fire except for one.” [08]

So this is a proof that the people of innovation will be in the Fire and they vary in level. From them are those who will be in the Fire because of their disbelief, and some of them will be in the Fire because of his sin and from them will be those who remain in the Fire forever, and from them will be those who do not remain forever in it; but rather the ruling of such a person will be the same as the ruling of the people of the major sins. [9] [10]

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah:

  • Introducing innovation into the Religion leads to abandoning its like from the Sunnah
  • The people of innovation have hatred for the authentic ahaadeeth (narrations) and matters of the Sunnah
  • The People of the Sunnah are happy with the narrations and increase in knowledge
  • Allaah forbids only that which is purely evil, or its evil outweighs its good or an evil that is equal
  • Slight evil found in something along with the greater good is excused
  • Every innovation is misguidance and its proof
  • What is meant by the word ‘bid`ah’ or ‘innovation’ in the Legislation
  • What is not included in the legislative meaning of ‘bid`ah’
  • Some of the people of innovation will be in the Fire forever and some will not remain there forever
  • Some of the people of innovation will be in the Fire for their disbelief and some of  them will enter it due to their sin

Footnotes:

[01] It has already preceded that this was the saying of Hassaan ibn `Attiyah rahimahullaah…

Translator’s side point: As for this report, that it is reported from him that he said, “No people introduce an innovation in their Religion except that Allaah removes from their Sunnah its like, then He does not return it to them until the Day of Resurrection.” This report is mentioned as the saying of Hassaan ibn `Attiyyah, reported by ad-Daarimee and al-Laalikaa·ee and declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee in his checking of al-Mishkaat. Shaykh Al-Albaanee said in al-Mishkaat (no. 188), “And it is also related as being a saying of Aboo Hurayrah reported by Abul-`Abbaas al-Asam in a hadeeth.”

(Refer to the continuation of the footnote in the Maktabatur-Rushd edition of this book for a quote from Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah on this point with regard to the people of innovation).

[02] Editor’s note: plural of the Arabic word ‘hadeeth’
[03] Editor’s note: polytheism
[04] Editor’s note: disbelief

[05] This (hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah) has preceded.

Translator’s side point: It was reported by Imaam Ahmad and Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmithee and Ibn Maajah. This hadeeth was declared saheeh (authentic) by Shaykh Al-Albaanee.

[06] Translator’s side point: This particular wording occurs in a hadeeth of Jaabir ibn `Abdillaah radiyAllaahu `anhumaa reported by an-Nasaa·ee as hadeeth 1578, in the Book of the Two `Eed prayers, Chapter 22, How The Khutbah is Given; also reported by Ibn Khuzaymah, where he mentioned Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam used to give a khutbah (an address) and he would praise Allaah and repeat words of praise upon Him as He deserves, and then he would say, “Whomever Allaah guides then none can misguide him, and whomever He misguides, then none can guide him. And the truest speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best way is the Way of Muhammad. And the worst of affairs are the newly introduced affairs, and every newly introduced affair is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and all misguidance is in the Fire.Shaykh alAlbaanee declared that narration saheeh (authentic) also.

[07] Translator’s side point: What they meant was the five rulings of Islaam, the five rulings of all affairs, meaning: 1. those things which are obligatory, 2. those things which are recommended, 3. those things which are permissible 4. those things which are disliked and 5. those things which are forbidden.

[08] The checking for this has preceded.
Translator’s side point: Reported by at-Tirmithee and al-Haakim, and declared hasan (good) by Shaykh al-Albaanee.

[09] Translator’s side point abridged from the explanation of Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee rahimahullah on the same point as the author, “And know that the people do not introduce innovation until they leave its like from the Sunnah”: He mentions the seriousness of this matter of introducing innovations, that when a person does that, he does two forbidden things. A person introduces an innovation into his Religion, then he has introduced an innovation which is forbidden and he will have abandoned a matter of the Sunnah which is also something forbidden. Then he gives some evidences for that; some aayahs from Sooratul-Anfaal the 24th and 25th aayahs; Sooratun-Noor, the 24th soorah, aayahs 48-50; and Sooratun-Nisaa·, aayah 115; and he explains those aayahs. Then he says at the end of the discussion,

“So there is a threat upon the person who abandons matters of the Sunnah and introduces innovations, there is a tremendous threat away from it…” And he mentions more of these aayahs. “…And likewise as occurs in His Saying, He the Most High,

And whoever contends with the Messenger after the Guidance has been made clear to him, and follows others than the way of the Believers, then We will land him in the path he has chosen and We will burn him in the Fire of Hell, and what an evil destination.(Sooratun-Nisaa· (4), aayah 115)

And just as occurs in the saying of the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa salaam,

‘All of my nation will enter Paradise, except for those who refuse.’ So they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah and who would refuse?’ So he said, ‘Whoever obeys me he will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me then he has refused.’ (Hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree, no. 7280)

“The person of innovation is one who is disobedient to Allaah and his Messenger. He is following his desires, venerating his own self, claiming by his condition that his opinion and his desires are better than that which the Messenger sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam came with. So therefore beware from being from those people, such that you will have the threat of the Fire upon you, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. And Allaah is the One who grants success.”

(Irshaadus-Saaree fee Sharhis-Sunnati lil-Barbahaaree, pp 50-52)

[10] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah mentioned in his explanation the famous saying of Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thowree rahimahullaah, “Innovation is more beloved to Iblees (the devil) than sin, because a person may repent from sin, but a person does not repent from innovation.” (Reported by al-Laalikaa·ee in Sharh Usool I`tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah).

Transcribed by Umm `Abbaas Zaynab `Abdullah. Download PDF of Lesson 08

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah – Imam Barbaharee

The Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah have firmly established all of the Religion – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 06 : Point 3C
Shaykh Fawzan’s Explanation | Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

[Listen to  Points 3A and 3B]

The author rahimahullaah said,

“And that is because the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah have firmly established all of the Religion, and it has become clear to the people. So it is upon the people to comply and to follow.”

[Souncloud Audio Link

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

He, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “That is because the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah have firmly established all of the Religion.” “That” indicating what has preceded with regard to the encouragement upon adhering to the way of the People of the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah.

And it has preceded that what is meant by Ahlus-Sunnah (the People of the Sunnah), are those who adhere to the Sunnah of the Messenger sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam and to his way. They are the people of the Sunnah. And the Jamaa’ah, they are those who come together upon the Truth and they do not split.

And the evidence for this:

And cling all of you together to the Rope of Allaah and do not separate. (Soorah Aal `Imraan (3), aayah 103)

So they gathered upon the Truth and they do not separate away from it. And they do not disagree and differ concerning it. They are the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah.

As for: Those who split up their religion, and they are sects…

Then Allaah the Majestic and Most High says to His Prophet:

…then you have nothing to do with them at all. Their affair is for Allaah; then He will inform them of what they used to do.” (Sooratul- An’aam (6), aayah 159)

“And that is because the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah have firmly established (ahkamaa),” meaning they have precisely established; so ihkaam means precision; they have precisely established the whole of the affair of the Religion. All of it is contained within the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah. Just as He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever lives long from amongst you, then he will see very great differing so adhere to my Sunnah.” [1]

Nothing will protect from the evil of this differing except adherence to/clinging onto the Sunnah of the Messenger sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam. And it is what the Messenger sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam and his Companions were upon in `aqeedah (creed and belief) and in `ibaadah (worship) and in dealings and in behaviour and in manners. And they are the Saved Sect, from amongst the 73 sects; all of them will be in the Fire except for one. They said, “Which it is, O Messenger of Allaah?”

So this one which is exempted from amongst these sects, it is a distinctive group; who is it? He sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said in explanation of it,

“Whoever is upon the like of what I am upon and my Companions.” [2]

That which the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his Companions were upon is the Sunnah. So whoever adheres to it will be saved; and therefore they are called ‘The Saved Sect’.

His saying, “And it has become clear to the people. So therefore it is upon the people to do ittibaa` (to comply and follow).” It has become clear to the people, that the affair of the Religion, all of it, lies in adherence to the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah. So no one will oppose what the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah were upon except for the people of misguidance:

So what is there after the Truth, except for misguidance. (Soorah Yoonus (10), aayah 32)

So whoever leaves off the Truth he will fall into misguidance; and the Truth is what the people of the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah are upon to the exclusion of others besides them.[3]

Footnotes:

[01] This is a part of the hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah, radiyAllaahu`anhu and its checking has already preceded (page 46).

Translator’s side point: It is a hadeeth which is declared saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaanee rahimahullaah.

[02] Reported by at-Tirmithee in his Sunan and Ibn Nasr al-Marwazee in as-Sunnah and al-Haakim in alMustadrak and al-Aajurree in ash-Sharee`ah and al-Laalikaa·ee in Sharh Usool I`tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah… (and many others). At-Tirmithee said the hadeeth is hasan ghareeb mufassar, a hadeeth which is hasan with a singular chain which explains the other narrations.

Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaanee discussed this hadeeth and declared (it) hasan. It has enough supporting witnesses to support the hadeeth, that it is declared hasan.

[03] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee rahimahullaah said on this point (point 3), “He, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “And that is because the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah have firmly established the whole affair of the Religion, and it has become clear to the people. So what is upon the people is to follow/comply”. I say, the `aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah is clear in its source references and it is tied to the Sunnah and its people. So whomever Allaah wishes good for, then he guides him to those source books. And he makes easy for him to be a companion of the carriers of this `aqeedah, and I mean by it, carriers upon the way of the Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa`ah. And whoever Allaah wishes evil for then He makes easy for him whatever he was created for.

“So whoever grows up at the hands of the people of the Soofees and the people of Soofism then he will think that that is right guidance and he will go astray and lead others astray. And whoever grows up at the hands of the people of the `aqeedah of the Jahmiyyah and he lives upon it and accompanies its people, he will think that that is the Sunnah and he will go astray and lead others astray. And whoever grows up at the hands of the people of the ideas of the Mu`tazilah, he will think that that is the Sunnah and he will go astray and lead others astray. And whoever grows up at the hands of the people of the `aqeedah of the Ash`arees he will think that that is the Sunnah and he will go astray and lead others astray. And whoever grows up at the hands of the people of rafd (the Raafidah), and the Shee`ah, those who curse and abuse the Companions of the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and belittle them, he will think that that is the Truth he will go astray and lead others astray. And whoever grows up at the hands of the Khawaarij those who declare the Muslims to be kaafirs (disbelievers), he will think that that is the Truth he will go astray and lead others astray.

“However the people of these deviant sects they must necessarily find certain gaps/flaws/faults in their `aqeedah, which should make clear to them the deficiencies in the methodology which they are upon in belief.

“And likewise the people of irjaa· (the Murji·ah), and likewise the people who are upon the present day calls which give attention just to virtuous acts, and they treat (matters of) `aqeedah lightly, so that the people think that they are upon the Truth, because they see them outwardly adhering; whilst they actually stay away themselves from the very foundation of `aqeedah (creed and belief) and they incite others to avoid it, which is tawheed, the tawheed of worship, (Towheed al-Uloohiyyah). They have nothing to do with it, and they keep other people away from it as well; and they treat lightly whatever infringes it or diminishes it.

“So what is important is that whoever wishes salvation, should adhere to the Book of Allah, then to the books of the Sunnah; and they are well known such as the Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree,and the Saheeh of Muslim and the Sunan al-Arba’ (The four Sunan), the Musnad of Imam Ahmad. And what follow from that, from the books of hadeeth, and those books that gather the narrations of the Salaf such as: the Musannaf of Ibn Abee Shaybah, and the Musannaf of `Abdur-Razzaaq, and the Musannaf of Sa’eed ibn Mansoor.

“And the books of `aqeedah (creed and belief) such as: At-Towheed of Ibn Khuzaymah, and such as ArRadd `alal-Jahmiyyah, (The refutation of the Jahmiyyah) of Imaam Ahmad, Kitaabus-Sunnah (the Book of the Sunnah) of `Abdullaah the son of (Imaam) Ahmad, Radd `alal-Jahmiyyah (Refutation of the Jahmiyyah) by `Uthmaan ibn Sa`eed Ad-Daarimee, Sharh Usool I`tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah of al-Laalikaa·ee, al-Ibaanatul-Kubraa of Ibn Battah, and the books of Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah, and of IbnulQayyim, and of Muhammad ibn `Abdil-Wahhaab and other than that from the books. These are the books which make the Truth clear.

And beware of slipping away with the hizbiyyeen, (the sectarians, the people of partisanship) of taking their books and then following their restricted path, and proceeding upon their crooked methodology. “Beware, O my brother Muslim, of taking the books of those people, because their truth is mixed with falsehood and the Sunnah which they have is mixed with bid`ah (innovation).

So if you want the pure fountain with no pollution in it, then adhere to the Book of Allaah, and to the books of the Sunnah and to the books of the narrations. And follow the way of the people of the narrations (Ahlul-Athar), those who take knowledge with its chain of narration going all the way back to the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam from their Prophet salawaatullaahi wa salaamuhu `alayh. Whatever they said does not contradict the Truth which they were upon. So here you will know the saying of the author, “And that is because the Sunnah and the Jamaa`ah have clearly/precisely established the affair of the Religion, all of it, and the Truth has become clear to the people, so it is upon the people to follow and to leave off innovating.” Therefore you will know that this is speech which is fully appropriate, and it is binding upon you also to abandon the books of the people of innovation if you want salvation for yourself. May Allaah guide and grant me and you that we take on board the Truth and that we abandon every falsehood; and Allaah grants success.” (Irshaadus-Saaree fee Sharhis-Sunnati lilBarbahaaree)

Transcribed by Umm `Abbaas Zaynab `Abdullah. Download PDF of Lesson 06

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan 
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah – Imam Barbaharee

The foundation which the Jamaa’ah is built upon is the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 04 : Point 3A
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

Imaam al-Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said,

And the foundation which the Jamaa`ah is built upon is the Companions of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, may Allaah have mercy upon all of them. And they are the Ahlus-Sunnah walJamaa`ah, the People of the Sunnah and the United Body upon the Truth. So whoever does not take from them then he has gone astray and innovated, and every innovation is misguidance, and misguidance and its people will be in the Fire.

[Souncloud Audio Link

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

His saying, “And the foundation upon which the Jamaa`ah is built upon” – who are the Jamaa`ah who have this status? They are the Companions of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and those who come after them from the Taabi`een (their successors) and from the successors of the Taabi`een, and the most excellent generations. They are the Jamaa`ah and whoever follows them from the later peoples, they are the Jamaa`ah; those whom it is obligatory upon the Muslims to be with, whatever harm comes upon him and whatever threats and whatever blame and whatever attacks – he should still have patience upon that and he should bear it, as long as he is upon the Truth. So he should not deviate away from the Truth, rather he should have patience upon whatever befalls him, otherwise he will just be a target for those people with evil intentions and the callers to evil and the callers to misguidance.

He the Most High said:

And the first and foremost ones from the Muhaajireen (the Muslims who emigrated from Makkah) and the Ansaar (the Muslims of Madeenah who gave them shelter) and those who followed them upon good. Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.[1] (Sooratut-Towbah (9), aayah 100)

And He the Most High, when He mentioned the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar in Sooratul-Hashr, He said:

And those who come after them they say, O our Lord forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in Eemaan and do not place any ill feeling in our hearts towards those who truly believe. O our Lord, you are Compassionate, Merciful. (Sooratul-Hashr (59), aayah 10)

So the one who comes later he follows the earlier one from the people of the Truth and good even if there is a long period of time between him and them, he adheres to what they were upon no matter what it costs him, he should have patience.

His saying, “the Companions of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam” – from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar because they were the ones who accompanied the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and they fought jihaad along with him and they aided him and they bore the Religion and they conveyed it to us; so they are the intermediaries between us and between Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. So those people who abuse the Companions or belittle them, they only want to demolish Islaam; however they come with this ploy. So when they speak against the Companions and they devalue them, then what will remain at that time from the intermediary that is between us and the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam? Their intent is to cut off the connection with the first and foremost ones from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar so that the nation will go astray; otherwise what else could lead them to abusing the Companions? Did they have any dispute with the Companions with regard to money or something else? Have the Companions caused them any personal harm when there are many centuries between them and the Companions?

So what led them to this is hatred in the hearts, because the Companions they are the ones who bore this Religion. So they want to cut off the link between the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his nation so that this Religion falls. This is their intent.[2]

His saying, “and they (the Companions of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) are the People of the Sunnah and of the Jamaa`ah (the United Body of the Muslims upon the Truth).” The Companions of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and those who came after them, those who followed them upon good, they are the People of the Sunnah, meaning the people of the correct path; and it is the ‘Sunnah’ which we have explained in this book (the Sunnah referring to the path that which the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his Companions were upon).

And they are the true Jamaa`ah; but as for the uniting of others besides them, upon false and futile matters then they are not called the Jamaa`ah even if they are many in number.

You think that they are all together but their hearts are actually divided.
(Sooratul-Hashr 59, aayah 14)

So the Jamaa`ah is whoever is upon the Truth. So the person who says, “I am with such-and-such hizb (party); this group is a jamaa`ah and you people say, “Adhere to the Jamaa`ah” and they are a jamaa`ah.” So we say to them, “Who said to you that those people are the Jamaa`ah. The Jamaa`ah is those who are upon the Truth; whoever is upon the Sunnah, they are the Jamaa`ah.”

His saying, “So whoever does not take from them (the Companions radiyAllaahu `anhum) then he has gone astray and has innovated.” Whoever does not take his Religion from the Companions, those who are the conveyers of the Book and the Sunnah, then he is not upon the Truth. So if they are attacked and accused then what they convey is nullified, and Allaah’s refuge is sought. And the intent of the enemies of Allaah and His Messenger is indeed to nullify Islaam, however they came with this filthy trick in order to cause a separation between the later people and the early people from the Muslims, so that it will be easy for them to devour the later people and easy to chew them up. But as for if the people tie themselves to the first Jamaa`ah and to the Book and the Sunnah then that will never be easy for them to do, indeed it will be impossible for them to chew them up by the permission of Allaah. His saying, “then he has gone astray” – meaning he has strayed away from the Truth and become lost.

“and he has innovated”– Innovation is whatever is from the matters of worship or from matters of creed and beliefs or from sayings and it does not have a proof from the Book and the Sunnah (that is an innovation). He sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Whoever does an action which our affair is not in accordance with, it is rejected.” [3]

And in a narration,

“Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it then it is rejected.” [4]

And he said,

“And beware of newly introduced matters for every newly introduced matter is a bid`ah (an innovation) and every innovation is misguidance” [5].

So innovation is whatever has been introduced into the Religion and it is not from it. And how can it be known that it is not from it?

If it does not have a daleel, a proof, then it is not from the Religion, because Allaah the Majestic and Most High says:

This day have I completed your Religion for you [6]
(Sooratul-Maa·idah (5), aayah 3)

So the Religion is complete, and all praise is for Allaah; it does not accept any additions. So it is just upon us to come to know of the Religion which Allaah the Mighty and Majestic completed, and to cling to it and that we abandon whatever is besides it from additions and from things which people deem to be good introductions and from supplements and from other than that, because these things only take people farther away from Allaah the Majestic and Most High. And there will follow a clarification that: No people introduce an innovation except that its like (a like amount of it) will be taken away from the Sunnah.[7]

So this is the correct and straight path, adhering to the Jamaa`ah, adhering to the Sunnah and abandoning innovations.

His saying, “And every innovation is misguidance” – so there is no such thing as bid`ah hasanah, ‘good innovation’, as some people say. Rather all innovations are misguidance by the textual statement of the hadeeth of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam when he said,

“For every newly invented matter is an innovation (bid`ah) and every innovation is misguidance.” [8]

So innovations in the Religion, there is nothing good from them at all, rather all of them are misguidance and this is the speech of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam who did not speak from desires.

His saying, “And misguidance and its people will be in the Hell Fire” – Misguidance and the people of misguidance will be in the Fire, either on account of their disbelief or on account of sin. So innovations are not of one level only. Some of them are kufr, disbelief, such that its person will be forever in the Fire, such as seeking aid from the dead and making supplication to the dead and making sacrifice to other than Allaah and making vows to other than Allaah – so these are innovations which are disbelief, kufr. And likewise denying the Names of Allaah and His and Attributes as is said by the Jahmiyyah, those who deny the Names and Attributes. So this is kufr, disbelief, and Allaah’s refuge is sought, because they describe Allaah as not having names or attributes; so in that case He would be nonexistent! Because that which exists must have attributes and the one who has no attributes does not exist. And therefore the Imaams judged that the Jahmiyyah are disbelievers, those who said that the Qur·aan is a created thing. So they made the Qur·aan which is the Speech of Allaah and His Revelation and that which He sent down, they made it a created thing, such as the rest of the created things. And they said Allaah does not speak so therefore they likened Him to an inanimate object; and one who does not speak cannot be a god/one deserving of worship. He the Most High said:

And the people of Moosaa in his absence made out of the jewellery of the Copts a calf in bodily form which produced a mooing sound. Do they not then see that it could not speak to them and nor could it guide them upon the way? (Sooratul-A`raaf (7), aayah 148)

So this shows that the one who does not speak cannot be an ilaah, one deserving of worship; whereas the Jahmiyyah say Allaah does not speak, so therefore He would not be one deserving of worship, High and Exalted is Allaah above what they say. And there occurs in Soorah Taahaa:

Do they not see that it cannot respond to them with any saying and it does not possess any power to harm or benefit them. (Soorah Taahaa (20), aayah 89)

Meaning the calf – if they were to speak to it, it could not respond to them, so therefore was it befitting that it could be one deserving of worship? [9] And Ibraaheem `alayhissalaam said to the worshippers of the idols:

So ask them if they are able to speak.

So they said to him:

You already know that they (these idols) can’t speak.

So then he said to them:

Then will you worship besides Allaah that which cannot benefit you at all and cannot harm you. Uff (word of anger and disgust) to you and to that which you worship besides Allaah! Do you have no intellect which prevents you from this? (Sooratul-Anbiyaa· (21), aayahs 66-67)

Allaah, the Majestic and Most High says:

And your Lord said, call upon Me, I will respond to you.
(Soorah Ghaafir (40), aayah 60)

He described Himself that He says and He speaks. So the one who does not speak He is not one deserving of worship. So therefore many of the Imaams declared the heads of the Jahmiyyah to be disbelievers, but not their blind followers or those who were just followers, those to whom the Truth had not become clear, but rather they were just blindly following upon ignorance. Those people are a case for examination and the matter must be clarified to them, and then if they persist, then judgement that they are disbelievers will be passed.

Foot notes:

[1] Translator’s side point: In tafseer of this aayah ‘And the first and foremost ones’ the people of tafseer such as at-Tabaree and those who came after them like al-Baghawee, as-Sam`aanee, Ibn Katheer and others mention a number of different sayings with regard to who are those actually meant by ‘the first and foremost ones’ (from the Muslims). Amongst what at-Tabaree brings, he brings with an authentic chain of narration from the noble Taabi`ee Sa`eed ibnul-Musayyib that he said, “The first Muhaajireen (referred to here) they are the ones who prayed towards both qiblahs” meaning the ones who accepted Islaam before the qiblah was changed, so they prayed toward Jerusalem then when the qiblah was changed they prayed towards Makkah afterwards.

Likewise the great Salafee mufassir Aboo Muzaffar as-Sam`aanee in his tafseer, he mentioned four saying in explanation of this aayah. One of the sayings, he mentioned this same saying as Sa`eed ibnul Musayyib and he mentioned it also from Ibn Sireen and a group. Then he mentioned three further saying as well with regards to who are ‘the first and foremost ones’. The first saying he mentioned was that they are the people of Badr, meaning the people who fought at Badr; they had accepted Islaam by that time, in the second year. The second saying he quotes is that they are the people of Bay`atur-Ridwaan, the people who gave the pledge at the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in Thul-Qa`dah in the sixth year. The third saying he quoted is that the first and foremost ones from the Muhaajireen are the ones who accepted Islaam before the Hijrah, and the first and foremost ones from the Ansaar are those who gave the pledge to Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam on the night of `Aqabah just before the Hijrah, those who accepted Islaam in Madeenah and they came for the Hajj and gave the pledge of `Aqabah to Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Shaykul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah preferred the view that they were those who accepted Islaam before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and as it is known that those at the treaty of Hudaybiyyah were one thousand and four hundred and more in number. Likewise Shaykh al-Fowzaan said the same thing in his explanation of al-Waasitiyyah, that ‘the first and foremost ones’ refers to those who had accepted Islaam before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in the eleventh month of the sixth year. An evidence for that is an aayah from Sooratul-Hadeed (57), aayah 10:

They are not equal, those who spent in charity before the Conquest (meaning the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah) and who fought…(to the end of the aayah)

[2] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said in his explanation, “The author rahimahullaah explained the importance of following and of adhering to this methodology, and that the foundation of that methodology is what we have explained a short while ago, that the foundation of the Jamaa`ah is, after Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, the Companions ridwaanullaahi `alayhim ajma`een (may Allaah be pleased with them all). So whoever makes an attack upon the Companions then he has made an attack upon the whole of Islaam and whoever abuses the Companions then he has abused Islaam and whoever maligns and attacks the Companions, then he has spoken against and accused Islaam and whoever belittles the Companions then he has belittled Islaam. Why is this the case? Because they are the ones who conveyed Islaam to us so if it were not for them Islaam would not have reached us, if it were not for the Companions, Islaam would not have reached us, for Islaam only came to us by way of them. They are the ones who conveyed the Qur·aan to us and they are the ones who conveyed the Sunnah to us and therefore Allaah praised them for that… So whoever claims that they left Islaam, became apostates (the same as the Raafidah Shee`ah say) or that they changed and altered then he is the apostate and he is the one who is changing and altering and he is the one who is making a change in the Religion.”

[3] Reported by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 1718) and reported by al-Bukhaaree in disconnected form in his Saheeh from a hadeeth of Aa`ishah radiyAllaahu `anhaa.

[4] Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (no.2 550) and by Muslim in his Saheeh (no. 1718) from Aa`ishah radiyAllaahu `anhaa.

[5] This is part of a hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah radiyAllaahu `anhu, and its checking has preceded. Translator’s side point: The checking of this hadeeth is reported by Imaam Ahmad and Aboo Daawood and at-Tirmithee and Ibn Maajah and it was declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee.

[6] Translator’s side point: This aayah came down on the day of `Arafah on the 10th year of the Hijrah.

(There is) a famous saying from Imaam Maalik: So whatever was not Religion on that day it will never be Religion today.

[7] Hassaan ibn `Atiyyah (from the Taabi`een) rahimahullaah said, “A people never introduce an innovation in their Religion except that Allaah takes away from their Sunnah its like and then He does not return it to them right until the Day of Resurrection.” Reported by ad-Daarimee and Aboo Nu`aym in al-Hilyah and al-Laalikaa·ee in Sharh Usool I`tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah.

Translator’s side point: With regards to this Taabi`ee, Hassaan ibn Atiyyah, Shaykh al-Albaanee said in his notes to al-Mishkaat, “He was a great and noble Taabi`ee who died in the year 130.” Shaykh alAlbaanee said with regard to this report from him, “Its chain of narration is saheeh and its like is also reported as a saying of Aboo Hurayrah radiyAllaahu `anhu reported by Abul-`Abbaas ibn al-Assam in his hadeeth.”

[8] This occurs in a number of ahaadeeth, from them the hadeeth of al-`Irbaad ibn Saariyah which has just preceded, also a hadeeth of Jaabir reported by an-Nasaa·ee (no. 1578) and also by Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh; and the basis of this hadeeth occurs in Saheeh Muslim (no. 768).

[9] Translator’s note: Of course not!

Points discussed by Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah :

  • Who are the Jam`aah whom it is obligatory for the Muslims to follow?
  • The intent of those who speak against the Companions
  • The meaning of the term Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah
  • The definition of bid`ah, innovation in the Religion
  • Every (religious) innovation is misguidance
  • The people of misguidance will be in the Fire
  • Denying Allaah’s Names and Attributes is kufr, disbelief
  • A refutation of the Jahmiyyah who deny Allaah’s Speech

Transcribed by Umm Safiyyah Madeehah Ahmad. Download PDF of Lesson 04

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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Related Link: https://abdurrahman.org/sahaba/

From the Sunnah is adhering to the Jamaa’ah (The United Body of the Muslims upon the Truth) – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 03 : Point 02
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author (Imaam al-Barbahaaree) rahimahullaah said,

“So from the Sunnah is adhering to the Jamaa`ah. And whoever desires other than the Jamaa`ah and departs from it, then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck, and he is astray leading others astray.”

[Audio Link

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

His saying, “So from the Sunnah is adhering to the Jamaa`ah’ (the United Body of the Muslims upon the Truth). Since that is the case, and since Islaam is the Sunnah and the Sunnah is Islaam, then the Sunnah is of different types. So from the Sunnah is adhering to the Jamaa`ah – meaning adhering to the United Body of the Muslims, and what is meant by the Jamaa`ah here is the United Body of the Muslims who are upon the Truth [3].

As for the jama`aat, the groups which are not upon the Truth, then these are not called the true Jamaa`ah. Every jamaa`ah which gathers upon misguidance or upon a methodology contrary to Islaam or upon a way contrary to Islaam, then it is not called the true Jamaa`ah, that which is required and praiseworthy.

So the Jamaa`ah, the United Body, which is meant here, they are the people of the Truth and this does not necessitate that they must be numerous, rather even if it is a single person upon the Truth then he will be called the Jamaa`ah, the United Body.

So the Jamaa`ah is those who are upon the Truth, whether its people are few or whether they are many. So you adhere to whoever is upon the Truth and you do not contradict the Jamaa`ah which is upon the Truth, rather you should be with them upon the Truth. So whoever splits from the Jamaa`ah, the United Body, then explanation of this will follow.

And, “Adhering to the Jamaa`ah” means not departing from it and not conflicting with it. [4]

His saying, “And whoever desires other than the Jamaa`ah and splits from it then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck’ – this is the text of a hadeeth:

Whoever separates from the Jamaa`ah by the amount of a hand span then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck.” [5]

This is a severe threat. So if the splitting away is with regard to `aqeedah (creed and belief) such that he comes to worship other than Allaah then this is kufr (disbelief). And if the splitting away is less than that then it will be misguidance. So splitting away from the Jamaa`ah, there is no good in it. And there occurs in the hadeeth: “Adhere to the Jamaa`ah for the Hand of Allaah is upon the Jamaa`ah” [6].

And when the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam informed Huthayfah ibn alYamaan of the trials and tribulations that would occur and the splitting that was going to occur, Huthayfah said to him, “What do you command me with if that reaches me?” So he said, “That you should adhere to the Jamaa`ah (United Body of the Muslims upon the Truth) and their ruler.” [7]

So the Jamaa`ah will not be except by way of two matters:

The first matter: is that the person is upon the methodology, the way, of the Book and the Sunnah. Its methodology is not the math.hab (the way) of so-and-so, nor the saying of so-and-so rather the Book and the Sunnah.

The second matter which comprises the Jamaa`ah: is that it has an imaam (a Muslim ruler) who leads it and to whom it refers back. It is not possible for a Jamaa`ah to unite without an imaam; there must be a ruler for it to turn back to, and therefore he said to Huthayfah, “Adhere to the Jamaa`ah of the Muslims and their ruler.” So then he (Huthayfah radiyAllaahu `anh) said, “What if they do not have a United Body nor a ruler?” Then he (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Then avoid all of those sects.

He ordered him to avoid all of the sects, so he should not be except with the United Body of the Muslims and he should not be with the jama`aat, the different groups, other than the Jamaa`ah of the Muslims, rather he should remain alone upon the Truth until death comes to him while he remains upon that.

So this shows that a person should not be with the jama`aat, the groups, which conflict with the true methodology and they will not be the Jamaa`ah except with two conditions; that their methodology is the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology, the way, of the Pious Predecessors and (secondly) that they have a Muslim ruler who leads them and they refer back to. So there will be no religion except with the Jamaa`ah, United Body of the Muslims, and there will be no Jamaa`ah except with the ruler and there will be no ruler except with hearing and obeying. This is the methodology of the Muslims and this is the Sunnah which he rahimahullaah explained.

So this contains a prohibition of isolated and irregular opinions and conflicting acts and that a person should adhere to the Jamaa`ah as long as they are not upon misguidance.

His saying, “then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck” – it used to be the custom of the Arabs that they would put a cord or heavy rope upon the sheep, upon their necks so that the sheep would not become separate and become lost and become eaten by the wolves, and these ropes would be connected by a single rope which joined them together to safeguard them. So the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam likened adhering to the Jamaa`ah to this matter, for the Jamaa`ah is the rope which protects from those things which bring about destruction; just like the rope, which is upon the necks of the sheep, protects them from the wolf and from being lost.

His saying, “and he is misguided, misguiding others” – meaning misguided himself away from the path, misguiding other people. So he is misguided himself and misguiding other people who take him as an example and follow him. He the Most High says:

And whoever contends with the Messenger after the guidance has been made clear to him and then he follows other than the way of the believers, then We will put him upon the path he has chosen and enter him into Hell Fire and what an evil destination. (Sooratun-Nisaa· (4),aayah 115)

So what is obligatory upon the Muslim is to follow the path of the Believers and not to be at variance with them and not to isolate himself away from them

Footnotes:

[3] Translator’s side point: Shaykh al-Albaanee rahimahullaah mentioned in his notes to Mishkaat alMasaabeeh, Volume 1, page 61, the statement of `Abdullaah ibn Mas`ood radiyAllaahu `anhu in that regard, that he said, “The Jamaa`ah is whatever conforms to the Truth even you are alone.” Shaykh alAlbaanee said this is reported by Ibn Asaakir in his Taareekh Dimashq, volume 13, page 322 part number 2, with an authentic, a saheeh chain from him.

[4] Translator’s side point: Shaykh Saalih as-Suhaymee hafizahullaah said on this same point, “He (alBarbahaaree) encouraged adherence to the Jamaa`ah, and the Jamaa`ah is al- Firqatun-Naajiyah, the Saved Sect, as proven by his sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam saying in the hadeeth of Mu`aawiyah radiyAllaahu `anhu when he mentioned the splitting of the Ummah that it will split into seventy-three sects, all of them being in the Fire. So they said, ‘What is it, O Messenger of Allaah?’ So he said, ‘It is the Jamaa`ah.’ This was the narration of Ibn Maajah and it is the most authentic of the narrations and it is more authentic than the narration of at-Tirmithee (when Allaah’s Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was asked which one was the saved one he said) ‘That which is upon the like of what I and my Companions are upon today.’ Even though there is no difference between the two sentences with regard to the meaning, so each one of them emphasises the other one.

“So the Jamaa`ah is, to mention it in brief, the Companions and the Taabi`een and those who followed them upon good, those who are upon that which the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam was upon and his Companions. This is the most precise and the most excellent and the most comprehensive and all-inclusive definition that it is possible to give to the Jamaa`ah. And there are some people who limit the Jamaa`ah to the time of the Companions, or limit it to the time of the rightly guided Khulafaa·, or the like of that. This is a restriction of something very wide, which Allaah has made wide, because Allaah the Exalted and Most High says, “And the first and foremost from the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar and those who follow them upon good, Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.” So what is meant by the Jamaa`ah is: whoever is upon the methodology in any time and in any city, whoever is upon the methodology which the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his Companions were upon in their sayings and actions and creed and belief, then he is from the Jamaa`ah and whoever splits from that and isolates himself from it, then he has split from the Jamaa`ah. And there occurs a severe threat upon those who split from the Jamaa`ah, that he has isolated himself, and whoever isolates himself will do so and be in the Fire, and whoever separates from the Jamaa`ah by a hand span then he has thrown off the yoke of Islaam from his neck.”

[5] Reported by Imaam Ahmad and at-Tirmithee and Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim and others as a hadeeth of Al-Haarith al-Ash`aree radiyAllaahu `anhu and it was declared to be saheeh by Imaam at-Tirmithee and ibn Khuzaymah and ibn Hibbaan and al-Haakim and others.

Translator’s side point: It was declared saheeh by Muhammad Naasirud-Deen al-Albaanee rahimahullaah.

[6] Reported by Imaam Ahmad and al-Humaydee and at-Tirmithee and an-Nasaa·ee in his Sunan alKubraa and Ibn Hibaan and al-Haakim and others besides them from the hadeeth of `Umar radiyAllaahu `anhu with wordings which are close to each other. At-Tirmithee said the hadeeth is ‘hasan saheeh ghareeb, (good, authentic, singular) with this chain here’. And it was declared saheeh, authentic, by Ibn Hibaan and al-Haakim and ath-Thahabee agreed.

Translator’s side point: It was declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albaanee.

[7] Reported by al-Bukhaaree in his Saheeh (no. 3411) and reported by Muslim (no. 1847) as a hadeeth of Huthayfah radiyAllaahu `anh.

Transcribed by Umm Safiyyah Madeehah Ahmad. Download PDF of Lesson 03

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the full Audio Series of Sharhu Sunnah
Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

Visit : Book Study of Sharhu Sunnah – Imam Barbaharee

The Sunnah is Islaam and Islaam is the Sunnah – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Sharhu Sunnah : Lesson 03 : Point 01
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

The author (Imaam al-Barbahaaree) rahimahullaah said,

sharhsunnah-ar-point-01

“Know that Islaam is the Sunnah and the Sunnah is Islaam and one of them cannot be established without the other. “

[Audio Link

The Explanation (Transcription of above Audio):

His saying, “Know” – this is a word used to show importance, and the meaning of ‘i`lam’, ‘know’ is ‘ta`allam’ ‘learn’. And how will you know that Islaam is the Sunnah? If you learn, then you will know that.

So ‘i`lam’ ‘know’ is a word which is brought to show the importance of that which comes after it, just as He the Most High said:

So know, that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and seek forgiveness for your sin. (Soorah Muhammad (47), aayah 19)

Meaning: Know the meaning of ‘laa ilaaha illAllaah’ (‘none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah’) and act upon it.

Know that Allaah is severe in punishing and that Allaah forgives extensively and shows mercy. (Sooratul- Maa·idah (5), aayah 98)

So the word ‘i’lam’ ‘know’ (a command in the singular) or i`lamoo (a command in the plural) occurs to show the importance of that which comes after it.

His saying, “Islaam is the Sunnah and the Sunnah is Islaam” – meaning Islaam is the way which the Messengers alayhimus-salaatu was-salaam came with. And every Messenger came with Islaam. So every Prophet called to Allaah and came with a sharee`ah, a revealed way, from Allaah, so that is Islaam. So Islaam is the worship of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, alone at every time with that which He legislated. And Allaah legislated for the Prophets ways and laws to last for appointed terms. Then He abrogated it (brought some new law and abrogated the previous one), so when that was abrogated then action came to be upon that which abrogated, that is Islaam, until all those revealed laws were abrogated by the revealed way sent to Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam. Allaah the Majestic and Most High says:

There is an appointed time span for each Book sent down by Allaah. Allaah abrogates and changes whatever He wishes and He confirms. And the foundation of the Book is with Him. (Sooratur-Ra`d (13), aayah 38-39)

So Islaam is that which the Messengers came with, with regard to the call and the action at every time with what was specific to it, until the sending of Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam came about; and then Islaam is whatever he came with to the exclusion of everything else. So therefore whoever remains upon the previous religious ways and does not believe in Muhammad sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam then he is not a Muslim, since he has not yielded or submitted to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and he has not obeyed this Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam; because what he was upon has now ended and been abrogated, and remaining upon something abrogated (something replaced) is not a religion for Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, rather acting on what abrogates (what comes later and replaces) that is the religion.[1]

His saying, “and the Sunnah is Islaam” – there is no difference between these two, if we explain the Sunnah to mean ‘the way’, the ‘tareeqah’, then there is no difference between it and Islaam.

His saying, “And one of them will not be established without the other one’ – Islaam will not be established except through the Sunnah and the Sunnah will not be established except through Islaam. So the person who claims to be upon Islaam but does not act upon the Sunnah, meaning the way of the Messenger sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam, then he is not a Muslim; and the person who knows of the Sunnah but does not submit to Allaah, then he is not a Muslim, even if he knows about the Sunnah. So it is essential to combine both of them.[2]

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s side point: The noble Shaykh, Saalih ibn Sa`d as-Suhaymee, hafizahullaah, (the teacher who used to be in charge of the department of `aqeedah in Madeenah) said referring to this initial part of al-Barbahaaree’s book, “He, rahimahullaah, began with the fact that the Sunnah and Islaam are inseparable. And what is meant by the Sunnah here is the Sunnah with its general meaning which is the tareeqah, the way, which the Prophet sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam and his Companions were upon. So this is Islaam and Islaam is the Sunnah in this sense.”

[2] Translator’s side point: The noble Shaykh, Ahmad ibn Yahyaa an-Najmee rahimahullaah said in his explanation, Irshaadus-Saaree, page 26, on this same point that Islaam is the Sunnah and the Sunnah is Islaam and one of them will not be established without the other, “Islaam is the Sunnah and the Sunnah is Islaam. How is that the case? Meaning that true Islaam is the Sunnah, so whoever is upright upon the Sunnah and establishes it then he has established Islaam, and whoever deviates away from it (from the Sunnah) and inclines away towards the right or the left, then he has fallen short with regard to true Islaam, in accordance with his deviation. However this inclining away is of two categories. Firstly turning away totally, such that the person becomes a disbeliever and judgement is passed about him that he has exited from Islaam altogether. Secondly is a partial turning away (from the Sunnah) through which a person does not become a disbeliever and he is not judged to be an apostate or to have left Islaam however he has rendered his Islaam deficient in accordance with the level of his deviation, whether it be a small deviation or a large one.”

Transcribed by Umm Safiyyah Madeehah Ahmad. Download PDF of Lesson 03

Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

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Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]

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We follow the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah & we avoid separation, disputation and splitting – Dawud Burbank [Audio|En]

Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah: Lesson 41  : Point [163]
Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]

163. And we follow the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah(the united body upon the truth), and we avoid separation, disputation and splitting.

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At-Ta`leeqaat Al-Mukhtasarah `alaa Matn Al-`Aqeedah AtTahaawiyyah. By Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah, in 1426AH

Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah

Listen to the Full Audio Series of Aqeedah Tahaawiyyah:
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