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EPISODE 1⃣ – THE CREED OF THE PIOUS PREDECESSORS
The division and disunity the Muslim Ummah is suffering from currently has led to the uncertainty among the people with regard to what they should believe and what they should ignore, what they should follow and who they should take guidance from.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said :
A group of people from my Ummah will always remain triumphant on the right path and continue to be triumphant (against their opponents). He who deserts them shall not be able to do them any harm. They will remain in this position until Allaah’s Command is executed (i.e. Qiyamah is established).
(Muslim 1920)
Therefore, we are required to be acquainted with this group that represents the Islam that the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) came with and was present in the generation of the Companions, their Successors, and then their Successors. They are the saved sect, and this sect is represented by Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, who are the natural extensions of the Pious Predecessors.
Linguistically, Aqeedah means contract, making a strong covenant. In Islam, Aqeedah means firm faith that is not prone to any type of doubt for those who have it.
Salaf linguistically means what has passed and preceded. It also refers to a group of ancestors. For instance, Allāh (ﷻ) says:
فَجَعَلْنَٰهُمْ سَلَفًا وَمَثَلًا لِّلْءَاخِرِينَ
And We made them precedents and an example for the later generations.
(Az-Zukhruf 43:56)
Therefore your salaf are your forefathers and elder relatives who are older and more virtuous than you. For this reason, the first generation is called As-salaf As-saalih (the Pious Predecessors). Hence the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ), his Companions and the generations that follow them in righteousness are the Salaf of this Ummah. The leader of As-Salaf As-saalih was the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) and whenever there was a dispute among his Companions, they referred to the Book of Allāh (ﷻ) and the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ) for judgment. Allāh (ﷻ) says:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْۖ فَإِن تَنَٰزَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
O you who have believed, obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allaah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
(An-Nisa’ 4:59)
Moreover, the best of the Salaf As-saalih after the Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) are his Companions who learned the religion from him with full sincerity and honesty. Allāh (ﷻ) describes the companions in His statement:
مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا۟ مَا عَٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْهِۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُۥ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا۟ تَبْدِيلًا
Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allaah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration
(Al-Ahzab 33:23)
To be continued إن شاء الله
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