A Short Advice To Ahlus-Sunnah, The Salafis, To Uphold The Example Of The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him)

A Short Advice To Ahlus-Sunnah, The Salafis, To Uphold The Example Of The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him)

In the name of Allāh, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

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All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security―and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly until the establishment of the Hour.

By Abu Khadeejah ʿAbdul-Wāhid Alam

Allah sent to us the best of the Prophets and Messengers, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and then commanded us to take him as the example to be emulated:

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا ٢١

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day, and he remembers Allah often.” (Al-Ahzab: 21)

There is—without exception—no better role-model and example for mankind and jinn, and there is none better among Allah’s creation, not in this life nor the next, The Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) stated:

أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ

“I shall be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and I will be the first for whom the grave shall be split open, the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted by Allah.” (Muslim, no. 2278)

It is the Revelation to this Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) that we are obligated to follow:

ٱتَّبِعُوا مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ٣

“Follow [O people] what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him from friends and allies, little do you remember admonitions.” (Al-A’rāf: 3)

And disobedience to him (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) leads to trial and punishment:

فَلْيَحْذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِۦٓ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ٦٣

“So let those beware who dissent from his commands, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.” (An-Noor: 63)

Why would any Muslims take an example other than him and his Companions, the best of mankind after the Prophets and Messengers? After knowing this, why would you follow sinners, movie actors, sportsmen, musicians and singers?

It is he (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) who Allah sent with guidance and the true Religion, with beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. This is the Deen that guides men and women, young and old, black and white, Arab and non-Arab to happiness in this life and the next!

هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ ٩

“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all the religions, even if the polytheists hate it.” (As-Saf: 9)

Then we see those who who seek to extinguish the light of Allah, and they will not be pleased until there remains none who worship Allah, obey Him, or His Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam). Allah (the Most High) said:

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفْتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٧

“And who is more unjust than one who invents about Allāh untruth while he is being invited to Islām. Surely, Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (As-Saf: 7)

We invite them to Allah, to His worship and to the Sunnah – from the darkness of ignorance, blind following and sins to the guidance of Islam, but the wrong-doers, haters and opposers wish to extinguish the light of the Sunnah and the path of the Sahābah. Many of our youth are deceived by these callers!

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِـُٔوا نُورَ ٱللَّهِ بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَٱللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ ٨

“They want to extinguish the light of Allāh with their mouths, but Allāh will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.” (As-Saf: 8)

So, Allah calls them from darkness into light, from misguidance into guidance, from hearts that are diseased and dead to hearts that are pure and alive… As for the allies of Shaytān, they call people from the light of Islam into darkness and jāhiliyyah, deviation, innovations and sins. Allah (the Most High) stated:

ٱللَّهُ وَلِىُّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ ٱلنُّورِ إِلَى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ أُولَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ٢٥٧

“Allāh is the friend and ally of those who believe. He brings them out from the layers of darkness into the light. As for those who disbelieve, their allies are the ṭāghūt (callers to misguidance, sins and polytheism). They take them out of the light into darkness. They will be the companions of the Fire, they will abide eternally therein.” (Al-Baqarah: 257)

Our beloved Messenger (salallāhu ‘alaihi wasallam) left us upon clear proof, a clear white plain (al-mahajjatul-bayḍā), its night is like its day and no one strays from it except that he is destroyed. And Allah informed us that if we (i.e., this ummah) follow the way of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the male and female among them, they will be guided:

فَإِنْ ءَامَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَآ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ فَقَدِ ٱهْتَدَوا ۖوَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِى شِقَاقٍۢ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ١٣٧

“So, if the people believe in the same as you (Companions of Muhammad) believe, then they are rightly guided. But if they turn away, they will be in opposition to the Truth – and Allāh will be sufficient for you against them – and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Baqarah: 137)

Many people look at us today and say:

‘Look at these Salafis! They want us to follow people who lived 1200 and 1400 years ago! They want to follow the Companions of Muhammad… they want to behave like them, believe like them… and take their example in every affair of religion! Are they serious?!’

They mock us, and belittle us, and call us misguided, deluded and foolish – and that is what the hypocrites used to say:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ ءَامِنُوا۟ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلنَّاسُ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَآ ءَامَنَ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلسُّفَهَآءُ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ١٣

“And when it is said to them, ‘Believe as the people (the Companions of Muhammad) have believed,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the foolish believe?’ Rather, it is they who are the foolish, but they know it not.” (Al-Baqarah: 7)

My brothers and sisters, my sons and daughters, know that the Salafis are Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamāʿah, they are Ahlul-Hadeeth, they are the ones who give life to the Sunnah and to the way of the Sahābah, the Tābiʿeen, the Atbā at-Tābiʿeen and those who followed them. They are the Strangers in every era and place… they are the ones whom the people look at and say: ‘Look at these strangers’ just as the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said:

إِنَّ الإِسْلاَمَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ‏ قَالَ قِيلَ وَمَنِ الْغُرَبَاءُ قَالَ النُّزَّاعُ مِنَ الْقَبَائِلِ ‏.‏

“Verily Islam began as something strange and will return back to being strange, so glad tidings (of Jannah) is for the strangers.” It was said: “Who are the strangers?” He said: “One or two who are picked among the tribes.” (Ibn Mājah 3988) In a narration there occurs the wording:

ومن هم يا رسول الله قال الَّذين يُصْلِحون إذا فسد الناس

“Who are they O Allah’s Messenger?” He responded: “Those who rectify what the people have corrupted.” (Al-Ājurri, Abu ʿAmr ad-Dāni 1/25 and others. See As-Saheehah 3/267)

So, they are the Jamāʿah in every age—they maintain themselves upon the Sunnah, they cultivate the youth, their children, and the next generation upon the way of the Salaf. When you look upon them, they remind you of Allah, they are the best of people—and we ask our Lord, the Most Bounteous, the Most Merciful, the One who guides whom He wills, to make us from among them because they are the best of us, just as the Messenger (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said:

“Shall I tell you who are the best of you?” They replied, “Yes!” He responded: “Those who remind you of Allah when you see them.” (Al-Adab al-Mufrad, no. 323, graded hasan by Shaikh Al-Albāni)

Likewise, my sisters and daughters: be from the finest of examples for this Ummah and be among the best and most righteous of women. Someone asked the Messenger (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam):

“Which of the women is the best?” He (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) replied: “The one who pleases her husband when he looks at her, she obeys him when he commands her, and she does not oppose his wishes concerning herself…” (Nasā’ee 6/68)

Imām As-Sindi said: “This means that she pleases him when he looks to her outward beauty, her beautiful character, her continual obedience to Allah and her Taqwa (piety).” Imām Adh-Dhahabi said: “She does not boast of her beauty at his expense nor belittle him for any ugliness found in him.” (Al-Kabā’ir, 188-190)

The man likewise should be of excellent character in his home, the best of examples, a man of honour and strength, ready and willing to protect his wife and children. He is the provider, the clother, the protector and the one who shelters them, just as Allah has commanded. He earns the respect of his wife and children by being a teacher and an excellent example for them to follow. So, they are proud of him and give him honour; and they follow him upon goodness.

Finally, give from your wealth, and save yourselves from Allah’s punishment with charity, and attain piety:

لَن تَنَالُوا ٱلْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَىْءٍۢ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ ٩٢

“By no means shall you attain piety (birr), unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.” (Imran: 92)

And Allah said:

۞ وَسَارِعُوٓا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ١٣٣

“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [in Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.”

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ١٣٤

“Who spend in the cause of Allāh during ease and hardship who restrain their anger and who forgive the people, and Allāh loves the doers of good.” (Imran: 132-133)

We ask Allah to keep us upon the Sunnah and Salafiyyah, upon obedience and piety until He takes our souls.

والحمد لله رب العالمين وصلى الله على نبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.

سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك

Abu Khadeejah Abdul-Wāhid (2024/1445)