بسم الله الرمن الرحيم
Here are few evidences from the book of Allah, the sunnah of his prophet and some statements of the pious predeccessors and their successors.
A- Firstly – from The Noble Qur’an
1- Allah Ta’ala says:
“And the former, the first from amongst the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and those who followed them in righteousness, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them gardens of which rivers flow below, abiding therein forever, that is great success.” Surah At Tawbah v.100
Thus, Allah is unreservedly pleased with the Muhajirun and Ansar, and is pleased with those who follow them in righteousness. (i.e. The attainment of Allah’s pleasure for the companions is secure, whereas for those who come after them; this is not guaranteed, as it is dependent upon their adherence to the way of the companions in righteousness)
2- Allah Ta’ala also says:
“And whoever opposes the Messenger (salalahu alayhi wa salam) after the guidance has become clearly manifest to him and follows a path other than that of the believers, We shall leave him to that which he has adopted and land him in hell; what an evil destination!” Surah An Nisa v.115
Allah threatens those who follow a different path to the companions with the punishment of hell, and in the previous ayah, He promises His pleasure to those who follow them.
B- Secondly – from the Sunnah
1- The Statement of the Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam : “The best of people are my generation then those who succeed them, then those who succeed them” (Reported by Al Bukhari 5/199 and 11/460) and Muslim, 7/184 and 185)
This excellence and goodness which the Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam attested to for these three generations, is an indication of their preference, precedene and majestic rank as well as their knowledge of Allah’s laws and intense adherence to the way of His Messenger sallalaahu alayhi wa salam.
2- The Messenger’s salalahu alayhi wa salam statement: “The Jews split up into seventy-one sects, the Christians split up into seventy-two sects and this Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects; all of them are in the Fire except one.” Someone asked: “Which is that one O Messenger of Allah? salalahu alayhi wa salam. He replied: “Whoever is upon that wwhich I am upon today and my companions. (Reported by Abu Dawud, n°4596-4597; At-Tirmidhi n°2640-2641; Imam Ahmad, 2/332 and Ibn Majah, n°3991-3993)
This is a hadith that is sahih and Mashoor (well known)
3. His, salalahu alayhi wa salam, statement: “… For indeed, those who will still be alive after me will see many differences; so hold fast to my sunnah and to the sunnah of the rightly guided khalifahs after me. Adhere to and cling tightly to it and beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a deviation.” (Reported by Ahmad 4/126-127; Abu Dawud, n°4607; At-Tirmidhi n°2676; Ad-Daarimi, 1/44 and others.)
Hence, the Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam encouraged his ummah to follow his sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided khalifahs after him at the appearance of splits and differences.
3- Thirdly – from the statements of the Salaf and their Followers
1. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud may Allah be pleased with him, said: “People will not cease to be in a good as long as knowledge emanating from the companions of Muhammad salalahu alayhi wa salam and their elders reach them. If however, knowledge comes to them by way of their young and their desires diversify, they will be ruined.” (Al-Zuhd of Ibn Al-Mubarak, p.281, n°815)
2. He also said: “Whoever amongst you seeks to adopt a path, should take to the way of the dead, since the living are not safe and secure from being put to trial. They, the companions of Muhammad salalahu alayhi wa salam, possessed the most pious hearts of this ummah, were the most profound in knowledge and the least constraint of this ummah. A people whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam and the establishment of His religion. So know their rights and adhere to their guidance, for they indeed were upon the straight way.” (Jami Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadlih 2/97)
3. He also said: “Follow and do not innovate, for indeed you have been sufficed.” (Al-Bida wa al-Nahy anha of Ibn Waddah, p.13)
4. Al-Awza’i said: “Patiently restrict yourself upon the sunnah, stop where the people (ie the companions) stopped, say what they say and refrain from that which they refrained. Traverse upon the path of your Salaf al-Salih, for indeed what was sufficient for them is sufficient for you.” (Al-Shari’ah of al Ajurri, p.58)
5. Al-Hasan al-Basri was in a gathering when he mentioned the companions of Muhammad salalahu alayh iwa slaam. He then remarked: “They possessed the most pious hearts of this ummah, were the most profound in knowledge and the leaste constraint. A people, whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet salalahu alayhi wa salam, so emulate their character and way, for by the Lord of the Ka’bah, they are upon the straight path.” (Jami Bayan al-Ilm 2/97)
And Allah knows best
Prepared by the needy to his Lord’s forgiveness
Abu Adam Nouridine El Khalawi
On the 10th of Febuary 2021
Birmingham, U.K
Al Ibaanah TT 