Imaam Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) reported in Siyar A’laam Nubulaa: [10/216]
There used to be roughly five thousand or more in the gatherings of Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah). Five hundred used to write and the rest would learn good manners and good character from him.
Abdullaah Ad-Daylamee (rahimahullaah) said:
”Indeed the disappearance of the religion will firstly be (by way of the) disappearance of one Sunnah (after) another Sunnah; just as a rope loses strength (after) strength.”
[Quoted by Shaikh Jamaal Al-Fareehaan al-Haarithee in Durar al-Manthoor page: 20. The Shaikh reference this statement of Ad-Daylamee to Ad-Daarimee:97, Ib Wadaah, No:73 and Laalikaa’ee, No:127]
Mu-aadh Ibn Jabal (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:
Knowledge is obligatory upon you, for indeed seeking it is worship; learning it for the sake of Allaah is a good deed; giving it freeing to its people is a seeking to get close to Allaah; teaching it to the one who does not know about it is charity; researching it is Jihaad and revising it is glorification (of Allaah).
[Quoted by: Shaikh Jamaal al-Fareehaan al-Haarithee in Ad-Durar Al-Manthoor Minal Qawl Al-Ma’thoor: page: 67. The Shaikh referenced the original source of this statement of Mu-aadh (radiyallaahu-anhu) to Ad-Daylamee No: 2237; Tazkiratus Saami: 35 and Majmoo Al-Fataawaa: 4/42]
Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) said:
”I never wrote down a hadeeth except that I acted on it at least once, so that it may not be a proof against me.”
[Quoted by: Shaikh Jamaal al-Fareehaan al-Haarithee in Ad-Durar Al-Manthoor Minal Qawl Al-Ma’thoor: page: 34. The Shaikh referenced the original source of this statement of Imaam Ahmad to Adabul Imlaa Wal-Istimlaa (323), Manaaqib Ahmad (179) and other sources]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam al-Asbahaanee (d.535H) – rahimahullaah – said: “The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen.” [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364]
Abu Haneefah (d. 150H) (rahimahullaah) said: “Adhere to the athar (narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation” [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam p.32]
lbn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said: “There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq).” [Majmoo al-Fataawaa 4:149]
Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d.748H) – rahimahullaah – said: “It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than ‘ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: He never entered into ‘ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, was a Salafee (a follower of the Salaf).”[Siyar 16/457]
As-Sam’aanee (d.562H) said in al-lnsaab (3/273): “As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them.” lbn al-Atheer (d.630H) said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab (2/162), commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam’aanee: “And a group were known by this ascription.” So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam’aanee, or before him.
[Source: www.salafipublications.com]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Sometimes a narration may come from someone from whom it is obligatory to accept, or from whom it is obligatory to reject, or from whom it is necessary to withhold from (until further clarification). And how foolish it would be, that that which is from the truth which the Seal of the Prophets conveyed from His Lord, the Mighty and Majestic and that which is from the falsehood that Allaah and His Messenger are free of, should be known by other than knowing the conditions of the narrators.
It is likewise for the various historical occurrences. In fact the need for knowing the condition of those who narrate them is even more severe, due to the prevalent neglect in the narration of such events and occurrences.
(And this is) in addition to the fact that being acquainted with condition of men is itself one of most important branches of history. So when it is necessary to be acquainted with the condition and state of the narrators, it is also necessary to make this known, so that everyone who knows the condition of a narrator should inform (others) about his condition, so that the people may know of it.
And this Ummah has (indeed) acted upon this obligation in the desired manner.
[Source: Ahimmiyatu Ilm ur-Rijal (translated Abu Iyaad Amjad Rafiq: for further details see: www.salafipublications.com article id: SLF020003]
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Indeed, Allah subhaanahu wa ta’ala selected certain times to be blessed, as opportunities for the slave to put forth his righteous deeds, lest it is discovered on that Day upon the presentation of the weighing scales that the accumulation of evil is greater than good – we ask Allah to protect us from that state. From amongst those times is the blessed month of Ramadan that arrived and departed, however no sooner does one blessed time depart that another one arrives, indeed we speak of the approach of Hajj.
Many from amongst our brothers and sisters will strive to fulfill this obligation and travel to perform the Hajj, to submit and be subservient to their Creator in humbling themselves with their worship during those limited days.
It is regarding this Hajj that we find a tremendous narration from one of the great Salaf us-Salih, Masrooq ibn-ul Ajda’ from the senior tabi’een. It is narrated that Masrooq رحمه الله تعالى performed the Hajj, and during the days of Hajj – which are only a few – he did not sleep except in a state of prostration upon his face until he returned. [Siyar ‘alaam an-Nubalaa: 4/65]
Shaikh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhary حفظه الله تعالى stated regarding this [paraphrased], “…that is because the days of Hajj are very limited and few, and the Salaf us-Salih were keen on utilising every moment in worship and obedience to Allah, hence Masrooq did not wish to waste a single moment and so even slept in a position of prostration to Allah during those few days until he returned from Hajj”.
Certainly the days of Hajj are few and limited, so let them be an opportunity utilised in the best possible manner. Indeed, our brothers and sisters who make the journey and put forth a large financial amount, do not do so for the purpose of wasting the several days available in the land of Tawheed, make the limited days a cause for goodness and follow the example of the Salaf us-Salih in their desire for worship and obedience, and do not allow them to become filled with idle speech and relaxation…may Allah give us all success.
@AbuMuadhTaqweem
Ibnul Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) said: There is no harm in Al-Mu-allaa Ibn Hilaal (rahimahullaah) as long as he does not narrate hadeeth. So a man from the soofiyyah said to him: O father of Abdur-Rahmaan! You backbite the righteous people? So he (Ibnul Mubaarak) became angry and said: Shut up, if we do not clarify the truth, then who will clarify it
He (rahimahullaah) said:
”Whoever is stingy with knowledge is put to trial with three: [1]Either with death, so his knowledge goes away; [2]Or forgetfulness; [3]Or put to trial by the ruler.
[Chapter: A mention of those who followed the followers of the companions: Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH)]
Abu Daawud As-Sijistaanee (rahimahullaah) said:
”The gatherings of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal used to be gatherings of (remembrance) of the afterlife and the worldly things were not mention in them. I have never seen Ahamd Ibn Hanbal speak about the worldly things.”
Ahmad (rahimahullaah) said:
”The story tellers and the seducers are the biggest liars amongst the people.”
[Chapter: A mention of those who followed the followers of the companions: Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH)]
It is said that he (rahimahullaah) saw Anas (radiyallaahu-anhu). He was from the leaders of the people of his time; in worship, virtue, fear of Allaah, abstinence from the unnecessary worldly things, firm upon the Sunnah and harsh against Ahlul Bidah.
[Chapter: A mention of those who followed the followers of the companions: Source: Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh by: Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH)]