HE NEEDS PROOF FOR THE WORD "SALAF" IN THE SHARĪ'AH

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

4th Jumaadal Awwal, 1438 AH (2nd February, 2017)

I posted an article I wrote few years ago on the need to understand the essence of manhaj salaf in the practice of Islam, someone asked me to bring proof where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم specifically used the word 'salaf', I gave him the hadith of Masruq رضي الله عنه, reported from 'Aaishah رضي الله عنها where the Prophet said to Faatimah ونعم السلف أنا لك": رضي الله عنها" (And a worthy predecessor I am to you). The hadith is in both Bukhari and Muslim. He said I should bring an evidence where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called the Companions رضي الله عنهم our salaf. I said in this case, the use of the word 'salaf' to specifically refer to the Comanions رضي الله عنهم will not be a problem to someone who has passion for the truth. I said the meaning of the word 'salaf' (predecessor) is enough for a wise Muslim to know that the Companions رضي الله عنهم are salaf for us. Anyone who says they are not his salaf (predecessors) would be toying with kufr. 

There are so many proofs in the Qur'an and Sunnah to show that the best Islam can be found in the best three (3) generations (The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Companions رضي الله عنهم, the followers of the Companions and the followers of the followers of the Companions رحمهم الله) because they preceded us in eeman, ibaadaat, hasaanaat, mu'aamalaat, akhlaaq and all matters of the deen. I asked the brother, who are the people he follows in his deen, he said "those three (3) generations". I asked him, are those three (3) generations salaf for him, he said "yes, they are". I told him, "AlhamduliLlah, the case is closed". He said "no". I said "what again?", he said he needs an hadith where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم specifically said his Companions رضي الله عنهم are salaf for us. I then asked him to give me one verse or hadith where the phrase "Usul al-Fiqh" is used to represent a branch of Islamic knowledge, he said he doesn't know. I said does that mean the use of the phrase "Usul al-Fiqh" is bid'ah, haram or makruh? He said "no oo". I said so also the word "salaf" is well known by the people of knowledge. It is used by the foremost scholars to represent "those who preceded us in the deen" and the best of them are the first three (3) generations of Muslims as narrated in the relevant hadiths. I said there are many examples of the use of terminologies by scholars to simplify the deen for us without tampering with the foundations of Islam. I noticed he was still not satisfied with the explanation, but he was obviously at the end of the road, he couldn't move further. This is how many people are, we should learn how to deal with them using knowledge and wisdom without being unnecessarily harsh or abusive.

After the discussion, I said in my mind that truly, a single evidence is enough for those who love the truth. As for those who follow their desire, millions of proofs would not be enough for them.

May Allāh grant us proper understanding of the deen.