Our Salaf–Imaam Al-Barbahaari
Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said:
‘’Sitting to give advice to one another opens up the door of benefit.’’
[Siyar 15/91]
Ibn Abdul Waahid advised Diyaa about recitation of the Qur’aan and seeking knowledge
Ibraaheem Ibn Abdul Waahid Al-Maqdisee (rahimahullaah) stated whilst advising Diyaa al-Maqdisee (rahimahullaah) when he (Diyaa) desired to travel and seek knowledge: ”Read the Qur’aan a lot and do not abandon it; for indeed it will make it easy for you to acquire (the knowledge) you seek in proportion to what you read.” Diyaa (rahimahullaah) then said: ”I did see and experience (what Ibraaheem advised me); for when I used to read a lot of (Qur’aan), it was easy for me to listen and write down a lot of hadeeth. And when I did not read (a lot), it was not easy for me.”
[Source: ذيل طبقات الحنابلةof Ibn Rajab (rahimahullaah) 3/205]
”O Allaah! These people do not know me, but You know me”
Ataa As-Sulaymee (rahimahullaah) said:
”I heard Ja’far Ibn Yazeed (rahimahullaah) mentioning that a man once went past a gathering, so they praised him with good. When he left them, he said: ”O Allaah! Indeed these (people) do not know me, but You know me.” [Source: Kitaab As-Samt’ of Ibn Abee Dunyaa. Page: 272]
[3]Acquaintance with some of the scholars of the Salaf and their books–Al-Beekandiy
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
He is Muhammad Ibn Salaam Ibn Al-Farj Abu Abdillaah Al-Beekandiy. He was born in the year 161AH and his death date was on Sunday 8th in the month of Safar 225AH. He was a Shaikh of (Imaam) Bukhaari and he narrated from him in his Saheeh (i.e. Saheeh Al-Bukhaari). He was from those given comprehension in knowledge and he was from the Imaams of the Athar (i.e. possessors’ of knowledge of the ahaadeeth and the narrations of the Sahaabah).
Muhammad Ibn Ahmad An-Najjaar (rahimahullaah) said: ”Ibn Salaam had authorships in every sphere of knowledge (i.e. knowledge of the sharia).”
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) mentioned his (Ibn Salaam’s) Book [titled: As-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa’ah] in Al-Fataawaa Al-Kubraa 5/4140]. Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgess (rahimahullaah) stated that Ibn Salaam’s biography can be found in [سيراعلام نبلاء10/656]
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[Source: Abridged; for further details, see: تاريخ تدوين العقيدة السلفية by Shaikh Abdus Salaam Burgess (rahimahullaah) page: 24]
What is Al-Wara [Apprehensive Fear]?
Ibraaheem Ibn Ad’ham [rahimahullaah] said: Al-Wara [apprehensive fear] is to abandon every doubtful matter. And abandoning that which does not concern you is to abandon extra things [you are not in need of].”
[Quoted by Shaikh Raslaan in Fadlul Ilm page: 276]
An Excellent Example for the youth–Zadhaan (rahimahullaah)
Al-Hafiz al-Dhahabi mentions in his biography of Zadhaan: Ibn Adiyy said: ‘He repented at the hands of Abd Allaah ibn Mas’ood.’ On the authority of Abu Haashim al-Rummaani who said: Zadhaan said: ‘I was a youth with a very beautiful voice and use to play the lute very well. I was with my companion, and we had with us some wine. I was singing, so when Ibn Mas’ood passed by, he turned over the vessel of wine spilling it on the ground and then broke the lute and said: ‘Young man, if only your beautiful voice could be heard reciting the Qur’aan.’ So he placed his scarf over his head and continued on his way. I said to my companions: ‘who was that?’ They answered: Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood the companion of the Messenger of Allaah.’ The desire to repent entered my heart; I rushed to catch up with him crying and took him by his thowb. Ibn Mas’ood turned and hugged me and said: ‘I welcome the one whom Allaah loves. Sit down.’ He then took out a date gave it to me.’
Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi, after mentioning the repentance of Zadhaan in Kitaab Al-Tawwaabeen (The Book of the repenters), states: ‘So he repented to Allaah (Azza Wa-Jal) for his sins, and afterward, he was constantly in the company of Ibn Mas’ood. He learned the Qur’aan and a great deal of knowledge until becoming an Imaam. He narrated from Ibn Mas’ood, Salmaan and others.
This post was sent to me by Ustaadh Abu Khadeejah via What sap
Beneficial Knowledge–Imaam Ibn Rajab
Imaam Ibnu Rajab (rahimahullah) said:
“Beneficial knowledge is the precise text of the Book and the Sunnah and an understanding of their meanings. Attached to this are the narrations of the meanings of the Qur’aan and the Hadeeth from the Sahaabah, the Taabi’een and their followers, and statements narrated from them in the affairs of Halaal, Haraam, Zuhd, Raqaa-iq, information on affairs of knowledge and other than that. Firstly one should strive to distinguish between its authentic and unauthentic. Secondly, he then strives to restrict him/herself to its meanings and gain understanding if it. And in this there is sufficiency for the one who understands and a preoccupation for the one who has a concern for beneficial knowledge and being preoccupied with it. [Paraphrased: Quoted by Shaikh Raslaan in Fadlul Ilm. The original source is in ‘’Fadl Ilmus Salaf Alal khalaf page: 45]
Our Salaf: The Night prayer-Thaabit Al-Bunaanee and Maymoon Ibn Mehraan
Thaabit Al-Bunaanee (rahimahullaah) used to pray at night and fast during the day. He used to say: ‘’There is nothing I find more pleasing to my heart than Qiyaamul Layl (i.e. Tahajjud)’’ [Sifatus Safwah 3/262]
Maymoon Ibn Mehraan (rahimahullaah) said:
”The nobility of a Muslim is in performing the prayer in the darkness of night and not being desperate for what is in the hands of the people (i.e. their possessions) [Shu’ab Al-Imaan 3/171]
We ask Allaah to grant us the tawfeeq to follow the example of our Salaf. However, if Allaah grants you the Tawfeeq to wake up for the night prayer, do not stand up all night and then oversleep and miss fajr; rather ask Allaah for tawfeeq to wake up in the last third of the night until the beginning of Fajr.
Our Salaf: A person of rhetoric will never be successful
Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) said:
‘’Indeed, a person of rhetoric will never be successful. And you will not see anyone looking into rhetoric except that there is corruption in his heart’’
[Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa Fadlihi 2/194]
Our Salaf: Who is the most perfect amongst the people?
Mahmood Al-Warraaq (rahimahullaah) said:
”The most perfect amongst the people is the one who is more knowledgeable about his shortcomings and suppresses his desires and covetousness the most.” [Jaami Bayaan Al-Ilm Wa Fadlihi 1/259]