advices regarding manhaj to the beginners in salafiyyah shaykh abu umar usaamah al utaybee

Advices regarding Manhaj To the Beginners in Salafiyyah By Shaykh Abu ‘Umar Usaamah bin ‘Ataayaa al-‘Utaybee -May Allaah preserve him- ‫نصاحئ مهنجية للمبتدئ يف السلفية‬ ‫لفضيةل الش يخ أيب معر أسامة بن عطااي العتييب‬ -‫حفظه هللا‬- http://salaf-us-saalih.com Source: http://www.ajurry.com/vb/showthread.php?16379 Translated by: sỵn Abû Ibrâhỵm al-Mutanabbỵ http://salaf-us-saalih.com Verily, all praise is due to Allaah We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we seek His forgiveness We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own selves and from the consequences of our bad deeds Whoever Allaah guides; no one can lead him astray And whoever Allaah leads astray; no one can guide him And I testify that no deity has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, Him Alone without any partners And I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger ِ َّ ‫آمنُواْ ٱتَّ ُقواْ ٱللَّهَ َح َّق تُ َقاتِِه َوالَ تَ ُموتُ َّن إِالَّ َوأَنْ تُ ْم ُّم ْسلِ ُمو َن‬ َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫يٰأَيُّ َها ٱلذ‬ O you who believe! Fear Allaah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared (Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always), and die not except in a state of Islaam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allaah [Sûrah Âli-‘Imrân (3): 102] ِ‫سو‬ ِ َّ َّ َ‫اح َدةٍ َو َخلَ َق ِم ْن َها َزْو َج َها َوب‬ ً‫ث ِم ْن ُه َما ِر َجاالً َكثِيرا‬ َ ٍ ‫َّاس ٱتَّ ُقواْ َربَّ ُك ُم ٱلذى َخلَ َق ُك ْم ِّمن نَّ ْف‬ ُ ‫يٰأَيُّ َها ٱلن‬ ِ ِ َّ َّ ِ ً‫ام إِ َّن ٱللَّهَ َكا َن َعلَْي ُك ْم َرقِيبا‬ َ ‫آءلُو َن بِه َوٱأل َْر َح‬ َ‫س‬ ً‫س‬ َ َ‫آء َوٱتَّ ُقواْ ٱللهَ ٱلذى ت‬ َ ‫َون‬ O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) Surely, Allaah is Ever an All-Watcher over you [Sûrah an-Nisâ (4): 1] ِ َّ ً‫آمنُواْ ٱتَّ ُقواْ ٱللَّهَ َوقُولُواْ قَ ْوالً َس ِديدا‬ َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫يٰأَيُّ َها ٱلذ‬ ً‫از فَ ْوزاً َع ِظيما‬ َ َ‫صلِ ْح لَ ُك ْم أَ ْع َمالَ ُك ْم َويَ ْغ ِف ْر لَ ُك ْم ذُنُوبَ ُك ْم َوَمن يُ ِط ِع ٱللَّهَ َوَر ُسولَهُ فَ َق ْد ف‬ ْ ُ‫ي‬ O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth He will direct you to righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter Paradise) [Sûrah al-Ahzâb (33): 70-71] As for what follows: Verily, the must truthful speech is the Word of Allaah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam - And the worst of affairs are the newly invented matters (in the Religion) and every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance is in the Fire O Muslim, know that the success which Allaah has given you, by entering into Islaam or growing up upon it, is from the greatest Favours of Allaah upon His servant Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - says: ‫ك فَ لْيَ ْف َر ُحواْ ُه َو َخ ْي ٌر ِّم َّما يَ ْج َمعُو َن‬ ْ ‫قُ ْل بَِف‬ َ ِ‫ض ِل ٱللَّ ِه َوبَِر ْح َمتِ ِه فَبِ ٰذل‬ Say: “In the Bounty of Allaah, and in His Mercy (i.e Islaam and the Quraan); therein let them rejoice.” That is better than what (the wealth) they amass [Sûrah Yûnus (10): 58] http://salaf-us-saalih.com So when Allaah has bestowed His Grace on a person by guiding him to Islaam, blessed him with this and chose him from many people, by giving him success to this great religion which Allaah has chosen for His servants and is pleased with for them ِ ِ ِ ِ ‫يت لَ ُكم‬ ً‫ٱأل ْسالَ َم ِدينا‬ ُ ‫ت لَ ُك ْم ِدينَ ُك ْم َوأَتْ َم ْم‬ ُ ‫ٱلْيَ ْوَم أَ ْك َم ْل‬ ُ ُ ‫ت َعلَْي ُك ْم ن ْع َمتى َوَرض‬ This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion [Sûrah al-Mâ-idah (5): 3] So If a person has been given success to this religion and Allaah has guided him to it, then he should be happy with this great Favour He also has to know that this is his most valuable posession, so he should guard his most valuable posession and develop it by increasing in good deeds which Allaah has commanded and by staying away from the evil things and the prohibitions which Allaah has prohibited Then, when Allaah protects the Muslim from desires and makes it easy for him to find someone who shows him the manhaj (methodology) of as-Salaf-us-Saalih (the pious predecessors), then this is from the greatest favours As some of the Salaf - may Allaah have mercy upon them - said: “From the well-being of a non-Arab is that he is given success to (i.e guided to) a person of Sunnah.” So when Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - has guided you, O Muslim, to the methodology of the pious predecessors and adhering and holding fast to it, then know that this is a great favour which many Muslims have not gained This is because Shaytaan has not ceased using the people of desires that lead astray, innovations and fitan (trials, calamities, tribulations) to lead the children of Adam astray and to turn them away from the truth and guidance And verily, Shaytaan is more pleased with an innovation than he is pleased with a sin Because there is mostly no repentance from an innovation; the person who commits [an innovation] thinks that he gets closer to Allaah by it, while he only gets further away from Allaah Therefore it is obligatory upon the Muslim to be grateful for the Favour of Allaah upon him with Islaam And it is upon the Salafee, who has been given success to implement Islaam as Allaah has commanded, because a Salafee implements the [following] verse: ِ ِ ِ ِ ‫يت لَ ُكم‬ ً‫ٱأل ْسالَ َم ِدينا‬ ُ ‫ْت لَ ُك ْم ِدينَ ُك ْم َوأَتْ َم ْم‬ ُ ‫ٱلْيَ ْوَم أَ ْك َمل‬ ُ ُ ‫ت َعلَْي ُك ْم ن ْع َمتى َوَرض‬ This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion [Sûrah al-Mâ-idah (5): 3] So the Salafee is pleased with the Islamic religion and is not pleased with something else in its place And he strives to keep this perfected and completed Islaam pure The Salafee is the one who distinguishes himself by preserving this great foundation and great favour of Allaah - 'azza wa jalla - As for the Muslim who is negligent in protecting his religion and follows the desires and the fitan that lead astray, this one is not grateful for the Favour of Allaah upon him and he is threatened with the punishment Allaah - 'azza wa jalla - says: http://salaf-us-saalih.com ِ ِ ْ ُ‫يل ٱلْم ْؤِمنِين نُولِّ ِه ما تَ ولَّ ٰى ون‬ ِ ِ َ ‫ٱلرس‬ ِ َ ‫ومن ي‬ ِ ِ ‫َّم‬ ُ َّ ‫شاق ِق‬ ُ ََ َ َ َ َ َ ُ ِ ‫ول من بَ ْعد َما تَ بَ يَّ َن لَهُ ٱل ُْه َد ٰى َويَتَّب ْع غَْي َر َسب‬ َ ‫صله َج َهن‬ ِ ‫تم‬ ً‫صيرا‬ َ ْ ‫آء‬ َ ‫َو َس‬ And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers way; We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination [Sûrah an-Nisâ (4): 115] And Allaah - 'azza wa jalla - said: ِ ‫صر‬ ِ َّ ‫َوأ‬ ‫ٱلسبُ َل‬ ُّ ْ‫اطى ُم ْستَ ِقيماً فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ َوالَ تَ تَّبِعُوا‬ َ ‫َن َهٰ َذا‬ ‫صا ُك ْم بِ ِه لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم تَ تَّ ُقو َن‬ َّ ‫فَ تَ َف َّر َق بِ ُك ْم َعن َسبِيلِ ِه ٰذلِ ُك ْم َو‬ “And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path This He has ordained for you that you may become AlMuttaqoon (the pious).” [Sûrah al-An’âm (6): 153] And I mentioned to you yesterday the narration of 'Abdullaah bin Mas’ood - may Allaah be pleased with him - that he said: “The Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - drew for us a straight line and drew lines to its left and to its right Then he said: “This (straight line) is Islaam and these [other lines] are the [deviant] paths On each [deviant] path there is a devil that calls to it.” [Musnad Imaam Ahmad 6/89 - Al-Albaanee said it is Saheeh] Then he recited the Statement of The Most High: ِ ‫صر‬ ِ َّ ‫َوأ‬ ‫ٱلسبُ َل‬ ُّ ْ‫اطى ُم ْستَ ِقيماً فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ َوالَ تَ تَّبِعُوا‬ َ ‫َن َهٰ َذا‬ ‫فَ تَ َف َّر َق بِ ُك ْم َعن َسبِيلِ ِه‬ “And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path.” [Sûrah al-An’âm (6): 153] Therefore, when a Muslim has been given success to the methodology of the Salaf and knows the importance of keeping this methodology pure, about which the Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - said: “I have left you upon a clear white path, its night is like its day, no one deviates from it except that he is destroyed.” [Saheeh at-Targheeb #59 - Shaykh al-Albaanee] And al-‘Irbaad bin Saariyah - may Allaah be pleased with him - said: “The Messenger of Allaah salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - gave us a sermon due to which the hearts became fearful and the eyes flowed with tears We said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! It is as if this is a farewell sermon, so advise us.’ He said: http://salaf-us-saalih.com “I advice you to fear Allaah and to hear and obey [your leaders], even if an Abyssinian slave were to rule over you Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided caliphs after me Hold fast to it and bite onto it with the molar teeth And beware of the newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance.” [Irwaa al-Ghaleel #2455 - Saheeh with al-Albaanee] And in the narration of Jaabir - may Allaah be pleased with him - with an-Nasaa-ee and others: “ and every misguidance is in the Fire.” O Muslim who is aware of the reality of the religion of Islaam, which is based upon the Tawheed (Oneness) of Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla -, upon worshipping Him alone with a sincere intention and upon the oneness of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - in following him The Salafee is the one who has understood the meaning of ‘Laa ilaaha illal-Laah, Muhammad rasoolul-Laah.’ The one who has understood the meaning of the two testimonies ‘Laa ilaaha illalLaah,’ i.e no deity has the right to be worshipped except Allaah So he turns only to Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - with everything He has legislated, he seeks nearness to Him with that which He loves from good and righteous deeds and by staying away from the prohibitions So when the Muslim knows the meaning of ‘Laa ilaaha illal-Laah’ and what this statement entails, and knows the meaning of ‘Muhammad rasoolul-Laah’ - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam -, i.e no messenger is allowed to be followed except the Messenger of Allaah - ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - and following of the Messenger is the way to salvation and the door of Paradise is closed for those who don’t follow him - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - So when the Muslim, the Muwahhid (person of Tawheed), follows the Sunnah and the way of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - then the doors of Paradise will be opened for him This is why it is the Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - who will intercede for the people of Paradise to enter Paradise It (i.e Paradise) will not be opened except for him and no one will enter it except those who are upon his way and follow his Sunnah But their precedence and distance from the punishment depends on the extent to which they followed the Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - The one who testifies that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, which means that he - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - is a Messenger from Allaah His religion has abrogated all the previous religions and his legislation has abrogated all the previous legislations This religion is the true religion ِ ِ ِ َ ‫ٱآلخرةِ ِمن ٱل‬ ِ ِ ‫ين‬ َ ‫ْخاس ِر‬ َ َ ‫َوَمن يَ ْبتَ ِغ غَْي َر ٱ ِإل ْسالَِم ديناً فَ لَ ْن يُ ْقبَ َل م ْنهُ َو ُه َو فى‬ And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers [Sûrah Âli-'Imrân (3): 85] And we know that the religion of the Prophets is one with regard to Tawheed But the religion of Islaam is the most perfect and complete [religion] And the Islamic Legislation is the best and easiest Legislation and the most beloved to Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - The testimony that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allaah, entails that you believe the Messenger in everything he said, that you obey his commands, that you stay away from everything he prohibited and that you http://salaf-us-saalih.com don’t seek nearness to Allaah and worship Allaah except with that which He legislated through the tongue of His Messenger and in the Sunnah of His Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - And this is why a Salafee knows that a deed is not righteous and won’t be accepted, except when it includes the true meaning of the two testimonies (laa illaaha illal-Laah, Muhammad rasoolulLaah), and this means that it is done with ikhlaas (a sincere intention) and according to the Sunnah of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - ِ ً‫س ُن َع َمال‬ ْ ‫ليَْب لَُوُك ْم أَيُّ ُك ْم أ‬ َ ‫َح‬ that He may test you which of you is best in deed [Sûrah al-Mulk (67): 2] Al-Fudayl said [about the meaning of this verse]: the most sincere and correct [deeds] Allaah - the Most High - said: ِ ِ ِِ ‫آء‬ َ ‫ين لَهُ ٱلد‬ َ ‫َوَمآ أُم ُرۤواْ إِالَّ ليَ ْعبُ ُدواْ ٱللَّهَ ُم ْخلص‬ َ ‫ِّين ُحنَ َف‬ ِ َ ِ‫ٱلزَكواةَ و ٰذل‬ ِ ‫ين ٱل َقيِّ َم ِة‬ َّ ْ‫يموا‬ ُ ‫كد‬ َ َّ ْ‫ٱلصالَةَ َويُ ْؤتُوا‬ ُ ‫َويُق‬ And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform Salaah (prayer) and give Zakaah: and that is the right religion [Sûrah al-Bayyinah (98): 5] And He - subhaanahu wa ta’aalaa - said: ِ ِ َ ‫فَمن َكا َن ي رجو لَِقآء ربِِّه فَ لْي ْعمل َعمالً صالِحاً والَ ي ْش ِر ْك بِ ِعب‬ ‫َح َدا‬ َ َ ‫ادة َربِّه أ‬ ُ َ َ َ َْ َ ََ ُ َْ َ “So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [Sûrah al-Kahf (18): 110] And The Most High said: ِ ‫قُل إِن ُكنتم تُ ِحبُّو َن ٱللَّه فَٱتَّبِعونِى يحبِب ُكم ٱللَّه وي ْغ ِفر لَ ُكم ذُنُوب ُكم وٱللَّه غَ ُف‬ ‫يم‬ ٌ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ْ ََ ُ ُ ْ ْ ُ ُ َ ُْ ٌ ‫ور َّرح‬ ْ Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allaah then follow me (i.e accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quraan and the Sunnah), Allaah will love you and forgive you of your sins And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Sûrah Âli-'Imrân (3): 31] So whoever loves Allaah and hopes for the reward of Allaah, then he has to attain this through the way of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam -, by following his Sunnah So the Salafee is the one who is aware of these meanings The one that has been given success by Allaah -‘azza wa jalla - to this Salafiyyah, he has to praise Allaah for this and he should be grateful for the Favour of http://salaf-us-saalih.com Allaah upon him by being guided to this pure and clean methodology Likewise, when Allaah - ‘azza wa jall - has given him success to obey and worship [Him], kept him away from the destructive desires that lead astray and kept him away from that which Allaah ‘azza wa jalla - has prohibited from the things which a person might long for which the Lord - jalla wa ‘alaa - has prohibited… So the one who is protected from the fitnah of desires, after he has been protected from the fitnah of doubts: he is from the best servants of Allaah and from those whom Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - has mentioned: ِ ‫ٱصطََفي نَا ِمن ِعب‬ ِ َّ َ‫ْكت‬ ِ ِ َ‫ادنَا فَ ِم ْن ُهم ظَالِم لِّنَ ْف ِس ِه وِم ْن ُهم ُّم ْقت‬ ‫ص ٌد َوِم ْن ُه ْم َسابِ ٌق‬ َ ‫ثُ َّم أ َْوَرثْ نَا ٱل‬ َ ْ ْ ْ ‫ين‬ ْ َ ٌ ْ َ ‫اب ٱلذ‬ ِ ‫ْخ ْي ر‬ ِ ‫ات بِِإ ِذ ِن ٱللَّ ِه‬ َ َ ‫ب ٱل‬ Then We gave the Book (the Quraan) for inheritance to such of Our slaves whom We chose (the followers of Muhammad) Then of them are some who wrong their own selves, and of them are some who follow a middle course, and of them are some who are, by Allaahs Leave, foremost in good deeds [Sûrah Fâtir (35): 32] Those who are, by Allaahs Leave, foremost in good deeds; they are those whom Allaah said about: ِ ‫ات وٱألَر‬ ِ ‫ت لِل‬ ‫ين‬ َّ ‫ض َها‬ ُ ‫َو َسا ِرعُۤواْ إِلَ ٰى َم ْغ ِف َرةٍ ِّم ْن َّربِّ ُك ْم َو َجن ٍَّة َع ْر‬ ُ ْ َ ُ ‫ٱلس َم َاو‬ َ ‫ْمتَّق‬ ُ ْ ‫ض أُع َّد‬ ِ َّ ‫آء وٱلض‬ ِ َّ ‫ٱلَّ ِذين ي ْن ِف ُقو َن فِى‬ ِ ِِ ِِ ِ ‫ين َع ِن ٱلن‬ ‫ين‬ َ ‫ين ٱلْغَْي‬ ُّ ‫َّاس َوٱللَّهُ يُ ِح‬ َُ َ ‫ب ٱل ُْم ْحسن‬ َ ‫ظ َوٱل َْعاف‬ َ ‫َّرآء َوٱلْ َكاظم‬ َ ‫الس َّر‬ ِ َ‫وٱلَّ ِذين إِذَا فَ علُواْ ف‬ ُّ ‫ٱستَ ْغ َف ُرواْ لِ ُذنُوبِ ِه ْم َوَم ْن يَ ْغ ِف ُر‬ َ ‫اح‬ ُ‫وب إِالَّ ٱللَّه‬ ْ َ‫س ُه ْم ذَ َك ُرواْ ٱللَّهَ ف‬ َ َ ُ‫ٱلذن‬ َ َ َ ‫شةً أ َْو ظَلَ ُمۤواْ أَنْ ُف‬ ِ ‫ولَم ي‬ ‫ص ُّرواْ َعلَ ٰى َما فَ َعلُواْ َو ُه ْم يَ ْعلَ ُمو َن‬ ُْ َ And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqoon (the pious) Those who spend (in Allaahs Cause - deeds of charity, alms, etc.) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allaah loves Al-Muhsinoon (the gooddoers) And those who, when they have committed Faahishah (illegal sexual intercourse etc.) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allaah and ask forgiveness for their sins; - and none can forgive sins but Allaah - And not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know [Sûrah Âli-'Imrân (3): 133-135] And those whom Allaah said about: ِ ‫ٱلسم‬ ِ ِ ْ ‫ض أ ُِع َّد‬ ِ ‫آء َوٱأل َْر‬ ِ ‫ض َها َك َع ْر‬ ‫آمنُواْ بِٱللَّ ِه َوُر ُسلِ ِه‬ ُ ‫َسابِ ُقۤواْ إِلَ ٰى َمغْ ِف َرةٍ ِّمن َّربِّ ُك ْم َو َجن ٍَّة َع ْر‬ َ ‫ين‬ َ ‫ت للَّذ‬ َ َّ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫ض ِل ٱل َْع ِظ‬ ‫يم‬ ْ ‫شآءُ َوٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْ َف‬ ْ َ‫ك ف‬ َ َ‫ض ُل ٱللَّ ِه يُ ْؤتِ ِيه َمن ي‬ َ ِ‫ٰذل‬ Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allaah), and towards Paradise, the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messengers That is the Grace of Allaah which He bestows on whom He pleases And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty [Sûrah al-Hadỵd (57): 21] Those for whom Allaah has prepared in Paradise what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no http://salaf-us-saalih.com heart has imagined The Most High said: ِ ‫﴾ فِى جن‬12 ‫﴾ ثُلَّةٌ ِّمن ٱأل ََّولِين‬ ِ ‫َّات ٱلن َِّع‬ ﴾13﴿ ﴿ ‫ٱلسابِ ُقو َن‬ َّ ‫ٱلسابِ ُقو َن‬ َّ ‫ َو‬10﴿ ‫ك ٱل ُْم َق َّربُو َن‬ َ ِ‫﴾ أ ُْولَٰئ‬11﴿ ‫يم‬ َ َ َ ِ ِ ِ ٍ ُ ‫﴾علَ ٰى سرٍر َّمو‬ ِِ ﴿ ‫ين‬ ْ ُ ُ َ 15‫ين َعلَْي َها ُمتَ َقابِلين‬ َ ‫يل ِّم َن ٱآلخ ِر‬ َ ‫﴾ ُّمتَّكئ‬ ٌ ‫ َوقَل‬14﴿ ‫ضونَة‬ And those foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islaam,] will be foremost (in Paradise) These will be those nearest to Allaah In the Gardens of delight (Paradise) A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islaam) And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later time (generations) (They will be) on thrones woven with gold and precious stones, reclining thereon, face to face [Sûrah al-Wâqi’ah (56): 10-16] O Salafee! Praise Allaah for His Favours, ask Him for an increase of His Bounty, ask Him for steadfastness on His religion and to save you from the evil of the evil ones When a Salafee has been given success to the methodology of the Salaf, which is based upon the purification of the Islamic religion and keeping it away from the impure desires and innovations And then Allaah has given him success in [rectifying] his behaviour, so He protected him from the destructive desires and lusts and made him protect his private parts, tongue and other body parts This person has to be grateful for the Favour of Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - and ask Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - to make him steadfast upon this and to make him die upon it The Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two legs and what is between his two jaw-bones, I guarantee Paradise for him.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree #6474] Which means that when a person guarantees and restrains his tongue and mouth and safeguards his private parts so he does not perform prohibited things, then for him the Messenger of Allaah salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - guarantees Paradise The Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - guarantees Paradise for him! This is the first advice to the beginners from the Salafees And the meaning of the methodology of the pious predecessors - may Allaah have mercy upon them - and that which it entails is, firstly, that he praises Allaah - ‘azza wa jall - for His success that He has given him, that he asks Him for steadfastness upon the truth and guidance and that he is not self-conceited For verily, the Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - says: “The hearts of the servants are between Two Fingers from The Fingers of ar-Rahmaan, He turns them as He wants.” So attach your heart to Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla -, O Salafee! ِ ِ ‫ْح ِمي ُد‬ َ ‫َّاس أَنتُ ُم الْ ُف َق َراءُ إِلَى اللَّه َواللَّهُ ُه َو الْغَن ُّي ال‬ ُ ‫يَا أَيُّ َها الن‬ ٍ ‫ْت بِ َخل ٍْق ج ِد‬ ِ ‫شأْ ي ْذ ِه ْب ُكم ويأ‬ ‫يد‬ َ ََ ْ ُ َ َ‫إِن ي‬ http://salaf-us-saalih.com ‫ك َعلَى اللَّ ِه بِ َع ِزي ٍز‬ َ ِ‫َوَما َٰذل‬ O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allaah, but Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise If He will, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation And that is not hard for Allaah [Sûrah Fâtir (35): 15-17] O Salafee! No matter how big your body is, how much your age is and how much your wealth is: verily, you are in need of Allaah! And this is Moosaa (Moses), the servant of Allaah and His Messenger, who said: ِ ‫ْت إِلَ َّي ِم ْن َخ ْي ٍر فَِق ٌير‬ ِّ ‫َر‬ َ ‫َنزل‬ َ ‫ب إِنِّي ل َما أ‬ "My Lord! Truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me!" [Sûrah al-Qasas (28): 24] And this is Ayyoob (Job) - ‘alayhi assalaam - to whom Allaah sent golden locusts from heaven Then Allaah said to him: “O Ayyoob, have I not made you free of needing this?” i.e “you don’t need gold”, because of that which Allaah enriched and compensated him with in his family and wealth He (Ayyoob) said: “O my Lord, I cannot without Your Blessing!” O Salafee! The Salafee distinguishes himself by him being in need of Allaah and by his humility to Him - ‘azza wa jalla - The Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - says: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘O Muhammad (and Muhammed salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is the commander of the Muslims, their leader and the one who guides them to Paradise Jibreel said to him:) live as long as you want, for verily you will die And love whoever you want, for verily you will leave him And whatever you want, for verily you will be rewarded And know that the believers eminence is his standing during the night (i.e to pray, to worship and prostrate for Allaah with humility, need, hope for Him, fear from Him and turning in repentance to Him), and his honour is having sufficiency without dependency upon the people.’” [Saheeh al-Jaami’ #73] O Salafee! Verily, as-Sidq (truthfulness) is essential Truthfulness of the deed, the speech, the deeds of the heart and the deeds of the limbs Be truthful with Allaah! If you are truthful with Allaah, He will be truthful with you If you are truthful in your Tawheed, truthful in your deeds so you perform them as Allaah commanded, truthful in your speech so you don’t lie and [only] speak with what Allaah has commanded, truthful in your prayer so you properly perform its khushoo’, rukoo’ and sujood, truthful in your da’wah, in your commanding the good and forbidding the evil, truthful in your presence in gatherings of knowledge and schools of guidance, if you are truthful in this, then Allaah will be truthful with you Allaah will give you what you wish and Allaah will reward you for your deeds ِ ِ َّ ‫يا أَيُّها الَّ ِذين آمنُوا اتَّ ُقوا اللَّهَ وُكونُوا مع‬ ‫ين‬ َ َ ََ َ َ َ ‫الصادق‬ َ O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and be with those who are truthful (in words and deeds) [Sûrah at-Tawbah (9): 119] http://salaf-us-saalih.com And The Most High said: ِِ ٌ ‫ين ِر َج‬ ‫ض ٰى نَ ْحبَهُ َوِم ْن ُهم َّمن يَنتَ ِظ ُر ۖ َوَما‬ َ َ‫اه ُدوا اللَّهَ َعلَْي ِهۖ فَ ِم ْن ُهم َّمن ق‬ َ ‫ص َدقُوا َما َع‬ َ ‫ال‬ َ ‫ِّم َن ال ُْم ْؤمن‬ ً‫بَ َّدلُوا تَ ْب ِديال‬ Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allaah (i.e they have gone out for Jihaad, and showed not their backs to the disbelievers), of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e he died and Allaah chose him to be from the martyrs), and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed (i.e they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allaah) in the least [Sûrah Al-Ahzâb (33): 23] This is the description of the Salafee So when you know the methodology of the Salaf, then adhere to it and don’t exchange it for something else And don’t change anything in the methodology of the Salaf and don’t be pleased with the methodology of the Khalaf in exchange for the methodology of the Salaf Rather, be a follower of the scholars of the Sunnah, a follower of the Senior Salafee [scholars]; taking from their guidance, following them and listening to their words This is why the Salafee is truthful and honest with Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - and with the servants of Allaah And you know the Companion who came to the Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - and went out for Jihaad with him, after which the Messenger of Allaah - ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - won [the battle] and acquired wealth (war-booty) So he (the Prophet) sent this man his share from the wealth and the war-booty Then he said: “O Messenger of Allaah! I have not followed you because of this,” i.e not because of the wealth, “I followed you [only] for the sake of Allaah and I want [only] the reward from Allaah.” Then the Messenger of Allaah - ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - said to him: “Why have you followed me?” i.e why have you went out for Jihaad with me? He said: “I followed you to die in the Path of Allaah, so that I get hit by an arrow here,” i.e in his throat, “and it (i.e the arrow) leaves from here,” i.e from his neck So the Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - said to him: “If you are truthful with Allaah, He will be truthful with you.” Shortly after they faced the enemy [in Jihaad] and found this man killed, showing his front and not his back (i.e he had not shown his back in battle), and an arrow had hit him in the place he pointed to in front of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - Then the Messenger ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - said: “He was truthful with Allaah, so He was truthful with him.” Therefore, O youth, if you entered Salafiyyah because you want wealth by following Salafiyyah and being close to the Salafees, you will never be successful! Enter into this methodology and follow the correct, true and pure Islaam seeking the Face of Allaah Trading doesn’t fit in Salafiyyah The one who trades with Salafiyyah, Allaah will expose him Be truthful with Allaah and Allaah will be truthful with you This man followed the Prophet - ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - not because he wanted wealth Rather he wanted the reward of Allaah, he wanted the recompense [from Allaah]! And this man had just converted to Islaam, he was a beginner in Islaam! But look to this eemaan (faith) which this Companion - may Allaah be pleased with him - had reached! He wanted the reward and recompense from Allaah, unlike today; the one who ascribes himself to Salafiyyah [today]: when the Salafees give him wealth, he is happy with it and he thanks them, and if they http://salaf-us-saalih.com don’t give him, he insults them, blames them, accuses them of stinginess, etc This one has a weak eemaan and is not upon the guidance of the Salaf in this field Therefore, from the greatest with which the Salafee distinguishes himself is that he is truthful and sincere to Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla and that he seeks the reward of Allaah And if something from the dunyaa (wordly life) comes to him and he is rightfully given from this wealth, then there is no problem in taking it But his purpose should not be this wealth, and his purpose should not be to trade with the methodology of the Salaf But his purpose should be to worship Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - upon baseerah (sure knowledge) As the Most High said: ِ ِ ِ ِِ ٍ ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ ‫ين‬ َ ‫قُ ْل َٰهذه َسبيلي أَ ْدعُو إِلَى اللَّه ۖ َعلَ ٰى بَص َيرة أَنَا َوَم ِن اتَّبَ َعني ۖ َو ُس ْب َحا َن اللَّه َوَما أَنَا م َن ال ُْم ْش ِرك‬ Say (O Muhammad): "This is my way; I invite unto Allaah (i.e to the Oneness of Allaah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allaah i.e to the Oneness of Allaah - Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge And Glorified and Exalted be Allaah (above all that they associate as partners with Him) And I am not of the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah; those who worship others along with Allaah or set up rivals or partners to Allaah)." [Sûrah Yûsuf (12): 108] So if he follows the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam -, then he should know that the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - was on this path and on this way upon baseerah The Salafee is in his religion upon baseerah and guidance, he wants that which is with Allaah and he wants Allaah and the home of the Hereafter And he praises Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - in prosperity and in adversity, just like the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - did When something befell him which he hated, he said: ‫الحمد هلل على كل حال‬ “All praise and thanks are only for Allaah in all circumstances.” And when something befell him which made him happy, he said: ‫الحمد هلل الذي بنعمته تتم الصالحات‬ “All praise and thanks are only for Allaah, the One who, by His blessing and favor, perfected goodness/good works are accomplished.” O Salafee! Be someone who seeks guidance, the truth and knowledge The distinguishing feature of the Salafee is that he strives to take as provision that which Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - commanded His Messenger with, that he asks Allaah to provide him with this ‫ب ِز ْدنِي ِعل ًْما‬ ِّ ‫َوقُل َّر‬ And say (O Muhammad): “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [Sûrah Tâ-Hâ (20): 114] http://salaf-us-saalih.com And the Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - used to say in his supplication: ‫ وِز ْدني ِعل ًْما‬، ‫ وانْ َف ْعني بِ َما َعلَّ ْمتَني‬،‫اللَّ ُه َّم َعلِّ ْمني َما يَ ْن َفعُني‬ “O Allaah, teach me that which benefits me, benefit me with that which You have taught me and increase me in knowledge.” So the distinguishing feature of the Salafee is that he seeks knowledge, that he seeks guidance and that he seeks the truth, so as to worship Allaah upon baseerah (sure knowledge) And he behaves himself with the manners of the students of knowledge, he knows the right of the knowledge that he seeks and from whom he seeks it and he strives in all his situations to seek it from its people and from the right place The Salafee, as he has been given success to Tawheed and following the Sunnah of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam-, he knows that the most important affair is Tawheed and holding fast to the Book and the Sunnah This is why he knows that the first thing that should be established and to which the Salafee has to invite [the people] to is Tawheed, Laa ilaaha illa-Laah, making the worship sincere for Allaah and righteous deeds that are based upon ikhlaas (sincere intention) and mutaaba’ah (following the Sunnah) So when Allaah has given him success to invite his people to Islaam, then he should to strive to teach the people Tawheed, especially in the countries of disbelief where the greatest distinction distinguishes us from them (the disbelievers), and this is that they are not from the people of Tawheed but from the people of Shirk (polytheism) So the disbelievers, like the Jews, Christians and those like them from Hinduism and the polytheists, are all separated from us by way of this Tawheed They are mushrikoon (polytheists) and we are muwahhidoon (people of Tawheed) And of course Tawheed won’t be accepted unless it goes with the second testimony, which is ‘ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasoolul-Laah’ (I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah) So you have to be a caller to Tawheed, to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - O Salafee! Be a humble servant And beware of self-conceit! Beware of arrogance! Beware of selfamazement! Be humble, easy and soft Like he - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - said: “The believer is like a submissive camel, he follows wherever he is led to.” The believer is easy and soft with his brothers, and humble with them Verily, the Prophet - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - has said: “Whoever is humble for Allaah; Allaah will raise him.” And he - ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - said: “The arrogant ones will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection in the image of ants The people will step over them with their feet They will be in a prison called ‘Boolis’, with the hottest fire rising over them, and their food will be the juice of the inhabitants of Hell.” O Muwahhid, O Salafee! Be a humble, easy and soft person who loves good and invites to it So http://salaf-us-saalih.com when you are like this, then receive the glad tidings of that which makes you happy and receive the glad tidings of happiness in this world and in the Hereafter And know that Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - is the One who gives success and guides to the Straight Way This is why you always have to ask Allaah to guide you and give you success Seek your refuge with Him, return to Him in all situations and hold fast to Him ِ َ‫وا ْعت‬ ‫ص ُموا بِ َح ْب ِل اللَّ ِه َج ِم ًيعا َوَال تَ َف َّرقُوا‬ َ And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e this Quraan), and be not divided among yourselves [Sûrah Âli-‘Imrân (3): 103] Know, O Salafee brother, that the Hand of Allaah is with and over the Jamaa’ah (group), and that Shaytaan is with one or two [people] and further away from three [people] So be with your brothers, helping one another in al-Birr, at-Taqwaa (virtue, piety and righteousness) and in that which Allaah loves and is pleased with, and strive to this And stay away from the people of desires, innovations and doubt, and don’t say (i.e don’t use as an excuse for sitting with them): “I am [only] inviting them!” while you haven’t sought enough knowledge yet Stay away from the people of desires, the people of fitan (trails, calamities, tribulations) and the people of doubts! Strengthen your eemaan, strengthen yourself with knowledge and provide yourself with knowledge and deeds! Then, when you are able to make da’wah, teach the people, remove their doubts and clarify to them their misguidance, i.e [the misguidance] of the people of desires But if the Salafee is a beginner, then should beware of the talbees (deception) of the people of desires He (from the people of desires) says to you: “Come, convince me or I convince you.” No! This religion is expensive and the doubts grab And Shaytaan is the one who uses these tricks to deceive the Salafee youth So if the Senior [scholar] in Salafiyyah fears for himself the sitting with the people of innovations and fears that the doubts might enter his heart so he cannot remove them, then how about the beginner who has no knowledge except a little? So stay away from the people of desires! And sit with the sincere Salafees ِ ‫الز ِاد التَّ ْقو ٰى واتَّ ُق‬ ِ َ‫ون يَا أُولِي ْاألَلْب‬ ‫اب‬ َّ ‫َوتَ َزَّو ُدوا فَِإ َّن َخ ْي َر‬ َ َ And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwaa (piety, righteousness, etc.) So fear Me, O men of understanding! [Sûrah al-Baqarah (2): 197] And increase always in supplicating to Allaah that He gives you success to Guidance, that He guides you to the Straight Way, that He makes you steadfast upon Islaam and the Sunnah and that He makes you live and die upon this Always seek refuge with Allaah, and He is the best with Whom refuge is sought ِ ِ َ َ‫وإِذَا سأَل‬ ِ ‫الدا ِع إِذَا َد َع‬ ِ َّ َ‫يب َد ْع َوة‬ ‫ان ۖ فَ لْيَ ْستَ ِجيبُوا لِي َولْيُ ْؤِمنُوا بِي‬ َ َ ٌ ‫ك عبَادي َعنِّي فَِإنِّي قَ ِر‬ ُ ‫يب ۖ أُج‬ ‫لَ َعلَّ ُه ْم يَ ْر ُش ُدو َن‬ And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge) I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor) So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that http://salaf-us-saalih.com they may be led aright [Sûrah al-Baqarah (2): 186] I ask Allaah - ‘azza wa jalla - to give you success, guide you and to make me and you steadfast upon the Truth and Guidance, for only He is worthy of this, and He alone is able to bring this to pass But before I conclude, I say: know the right of the scholars, stay in contact with them and always be with them; they will direct you (to the Straight Way) ِّ ‫اسأَلُوا أ َْهل‬ ‫الذ ْك ِر إِن ُكنتُ ْم َال تَ ْعلَ ُمو َن‬ ْ َ‫ف‬ َ So ask the people of the Reminder if you not know [Sûrah al-Anbiyâ (21): 7] And know the right of the people of knowledge, and beware of despising them or seeing yourself above them Rather be with them, help one another in al-Birr and at-Taqwaa (virtue, piety and righteousness) and benefit from their knowledge I ask Allaah - jalla wa ‘alaa - for me and you a good ending and that He makes us live and die upon Islaam and the Sunnah, for only He is worthy of this, and He alone is able to bring this to pass And Allaah knows best May Allaah raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace And all praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists) http://salaf-us-saalih.com ... worshipping Him alone with a sincere intention and upon the oneness of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - in following him The Salafee is the one who has understood the meaning of... of Allaah salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - guarantees Paradise The Messenger of Allaah - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - guarantees Paradise for him! This is the first advice to the beginners. .. shown his back in battle), and an arrow had hit him in the place he pointed to in front of the Messenger - salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam - Then the Messenger ‘alayhi assalaatu wassalaam - said: