‘Aaishah radiallaahu ‘anhaa said:
A man come to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said. Who is the most excellent of mankind? So the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The generation of those that I am in, then the second, then the third.”
So this principle – the obligation of adhering to the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salafus-Saalih – is the cornerstone principle of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.
Imaam Abu Haneefah (d.150H) – rahimahullaah – said:
“Stick to the narrations and the way of the Salaf and beware of newly invented matters, for all of it is innovation.”
Imaam al-Awzaa’ee (d.157H) – rahimahullaah – said.
- Patiently restrict yourself to the Sunnah and
- pause where the people paused,
- say what they said and avoid what they avoided.
- Take to the path of your Salafus-Saalih,
- for indeed, what was sufficient for them, is sufficient for you.
