Question: Are the sayings and actions of the Salaf a Hujah (binding proof)?

Answer: No they are not a binding proof. Allaah Subhaanahu wa ta’aala says:

{[Say (O Muhammad [Sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam]) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:] Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord (the Qur'ân and Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah), and follow not any Awliyaa' (protectors and helpers who order you to associate partners in worship with Allaah), besides Him (Allaah). Little do you remember!}[Al 'Araaf/3]

People in this affair are between Ifraat and Tafreet (excessiveness and leniency/negligence) meaning in the issue of the sayings of the Salaf.

Amongst them are those who discard their sayings completely and say: “They (the Salaf) are men and we are men.” Yes this is correct; they are men just as we are men, but the difference between us and them is like the difference [in distance] between the heavens and Earth.

So we use their sayings to help us understand the book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah-صلى الله عليه وسلم-.

Az Zuhree had a companion and both of them used to write the Hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah-صلى الله عليه وسلم-. So when they had finished writing all that had reached them from the sayings of the Messenger of Allaah-صلى الله عليه وسلم-, Az Zuhree started writing the Athaar (sayings) of the Sahaabah. His companion didn’t think that this was knowledge [so he didn’t write]. So he (the companion [who is Saalih ibn Kaysaan]) said: “He (Az Zuhree) has succeeded and I have lost.” Or something of this meaning.

So if there wasn’t any benefit [in the Athaar of the Sahaabah] the ‘Ulemaa’ would not have authored books on Athaar nor would they have included them in their books; [‘ulemaa’] such as Ibn Jareer in his Tafseer, Ibn abee Shaybah in his Musanaf, ‘AbduRazzaq in his Musanaf, Al Bayhaqee in his Sunnan and a lot of other books, in the Sunnan and other than them.

They mentioned the sayings of the Salaf in them, so it should not be said that they [Athaar] do not have any significance/value. Rather we benefit from their understanding and it is imperative that we understand the book on Allaah and the Sunnah of his Messenger- صلى الله عليه وسلم- based upon their understanding.

But [to say] that they [Athaar] are a binding proof, then no.

Allaah Aubhaanahu wa Ta’aala says: {And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allaah (He is the ruling Judge).} [Ash Shooraa/10]

And He says: {(And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger [sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam].} [An Nisaa’/59]

He also says: {And verily, this (i.e. Allaah's Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my straight path, so follow it…} [Al An’aam/153]

He says: {And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam]) gives you, take it…} [Al Hashr/7]

The third group and this is because we have mentioned two groups [so far]:

[The first are those who] reject the sayings of the Sahaabah and the Taabi’een and say: “They are men and we are men.” Especially [those from] Jamaa’at at Takfeer.

Another group who have gone into extremism in regards to them [Athaar] and use them as proofs that are binding. This is one has erred because of what you have [already] heard from proofs.

A third group who say: “We seek aid from Allaah - Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalah - and then from the understanding of our Salaf as Saalih in order to understand the book of Allaah and the Sunnah Wa Allaahul Musta’aan (From Allaah alone so we seek aid).


Al Ajwibah As Sadeedah fee Fataawa Al ‘Aqeedah. P.132.

Translated by: Abu ‘Abdul Waahid, Nadir Ahmad