Chapter 5. Clinging Onto The Sunnah During Times Of Affliction

At-Tabarani reported from the hadith of Abu Hurairah t that the Prophet said: “The one who clings onto my Sunnah at the time of the corruption of my ummah will receive the reward of a martyr.”

 

And Abush-Shaikh Al-Asbahani reported with a chain connected to Al-Hasan (Al- Basri), that he (ra) said: “If a man from the first generation of Muslims were sent (to us) today, he would not recognize anything from Islam except for this prayer!” Then he (ra) said: “I swear by Allah, that if he were to live to the time of these evils, he would see the innovator calling to his innovation, or the individual involved with the worldly life calling to his worldly affairs. Then Allah would protect him and his heart would long for that which the Salaf As-Saalih (pious predecessors) were upon. And so he would follow their footsteps and act according to their ways. For him there will be a great reward.”

 

Ibn Al-Mubaarak reported from Al-Fudayl from Al-Hasan that he once mentioned the rich and extravagant man who has authority and who amasses wealth claiming that he has no end in it. And then he mentioned the misguided innovator who sets out against the Muslims with an unsheathed sword, changing the meaning of what Allah has revealed concerning the disbelievers to apply to the Muslims.

 

Then he said: “Your Sunnah, and I swear by the One besides whom there is nothing worthy of worship except Him, is between these two: between the self-sufficient one and the hard-hearted; the extravagant one and the ignorant. So have patience upon it, for indeed, Ahlus-Sunnah are from amongst the fewest of people, those who do not fall into the category of the extravagant ones in their excessiveness nor do they fall with the innovators in the following of their desires. Rather, they bear with patience upon their Sunnah until they meet their Lord. So be that way, if Allah wills!” Then he said: “I swear by Allah, that if a man were to reach these evils, he would hear someone say: ‘Come over to me!’, and someone else say: ‘Come over to me!’ So he should say: ‘No! I do not want anything but the Sunnah of Muhammad’, seeking after it and asking questions on it. Indeed this one will be given a great reward. So be that way, if Allah wills!”

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