Zakariyyah Ibn Yahyah (rahimahullaah) said:
I heard Abu-Bakr Ibn Ayyaash (when) a man said to him: ”O AbuBakr! Who is the Sunni?” He said: Is the one that when the desires are mentioned (i.e. when the innovations are mentioned and criticized), he does not become bigoted (in defending or following) any of it.”
[Source: Al-Itisaam 1/114]
An-Nasr Abaadiy (rahimahullaah) said:
”The foundation of this Madhab (i.e. the Madhab of Ahlus Sunnah) is adherence to the Book and the Sunnah; abandonment of desires and innovations; to take the Salaf as an example and abandon what the late comers have invented (in the religion), and to be established upon what those who came earlier (i.e. the Salaf) followed.”
[Madaarij As-Saalikeen of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) 3/149]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said:
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Ali and all those who were foremost to embrace Islaam of the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar used to depart from Madeenah to Makkah to perform Hajj and Umrah, and as travellers; but it is not stated that a single one of them strove to pray at (any particular) spots in which the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) prayed. And it is well-known that if this (practice) was something they considered recommended, they would have been more worthy to precede in it; because they were more knowledgeable about his Sunnah and followed it more than others.
[Source: Iqtidaa Siraat Al-Mustaqeem 2/748]
Harb Al-Kirmaani (rahimahullaah) stated regarding the creed transmitted from all the Salaf that: ”If the ruler commands you an affair in which there is disobedience to Allaah, then you do not obey him at all; but you are not allowed to rebel against him nor deny him his rights.” [حادي الأرواح of Imaam Ibnul Qayyim: page: 104]
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Imaam Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) stated about Imaam Daaraqutni (rahimahullaah):
”The man never entered into philosophical rhetoric, or debate (that has no basis or benefit), nor absorbed in that; rather he was a Salafi.”
[Siyar: 16/457]
Ahmad Ibn Abee Al-Hawaaree (rahimahullaah) said:
”A sign of love for Allaah is to have love for obeying Allaah.” [Shu’ab Al-Imaan: [1/370]
Imaam Barbahaaree (rahimahullaah) said:
‘’Sitting to give advice to one another opens up the door of benefit.’’
[Siyar 15/91]
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]
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]