SUMMARY OF THE LECTURE

FAHME SALAF KI SHARAE HAISIYAT (PART 1/20)

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem
After praising and thanking Allah and sending peace and salutations on the last
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) & his companions, Dr. Murtaza bin Baksh quoted the
following Quranic verse :

So if they believe in the like of that which you believe, then they are rightly guided,
but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you
against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (2:137)
He then quoted the following ahadith:
The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those
that follow them (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: This Ummah will divide
into 73 sects, all of them in the hellfire except one. He was asked, Which one is
that, o Messenger of Allah? He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: That which I
and my companions are upon. [Abu Dawud, Ibn Maajah, Ahmad, Ad-Daaramee]
And in another narration he said it is the Jamaah.
The Messenger of Allah said, "When Allah wishes good for someone, He bestows
upon him the understanding of Deen." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In this lecture Dr. Murtaza bin Baksh has tried to address a common
misunderstanding whereby people say, Fahme Salaf is not the condition to
understand Quran and Hadith.
As an introduction to this vast topic, in this lecture he discussed the following
important points :

What is the importance of Fahme Salaf ?

What is Fahme Salaf ?
Who denied Fahme Salaf & why & its consequences?
Can Fahme Salaf be distinguished from Manhaje Salaf
When groups arose in the Ummah, what was the fundamental reason for
them arising and how did ulema of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah disparage them
?

A brief summary of the points discussed:

1. The foundation of Islam is Quran and Sunnah without any doubt, based on
the Quranic verse: Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger (4:59)
2. The Sahaba are a fundamental part of Quran, Hadith & Seerat of the Prophet
(SAW) and no one can separate them from it, since in their times the Quran
was revealed and we find their mention in it. For e.g. Allah mentions about
them in the Quran : Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with
Allah (9:100). And also the companion Zaid Al Haritha (RA) is mentioned
in the Quran (33:37)
3. By Quran and hadith, its correct understanding is intended. Only the words
are not intended. The obedience to Quran & hadith is not done just by its
words but by : a. Understanding its correct meaning (that is to know what
Allah & His
Messenger had intended.)
b. And by putting it in action
4. The Sahaba & the Salaf us Saliheen can understand Quran & Hadith in the
best manner possible in the Ummah, then their closest students (Tabieen) &
then their closest students. The first 3 generations about whom the Prophet
(SAW) said, The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow
them and then those that follow them (Tirmidhi, Sahih). This is
the sharae (legislated) meaning of the word Salaf. They are called Khairul
Qurun Ath Thalatha i.e. The best three generations. The goodness
(khairiyat) of duniya and aakhirat is linked to the fahme Salaf in
understanding qala (saying of) Allah, qala Rasool (SAW).That is the reason
Allah said: So if they believe in the like of that which you believe
(2:137)
5. In Surah Fatiha we say: Guide us to the straight way (1:6).Then Allah (swt)
didnt just leave us to that. In the next ayat He explained the way as well i.e.
The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace. (1:7). Who is it
Allah has bestowed His grace upon, other than the Prophets (Alaihimus
Salaam) and their companions (Radi Allah Anhum). Also Allah says : And
whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), then they will be in
the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the
Prophets, the Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and
foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddiq), the martyrs, and the
righteous. And how excellent these companions are! (4:69). The Siddiqun,
Shuhadah & Saliheen are the Sahaba. Here it must be noted that the way of
guidance is only one whereas the ways of misguidance are many. Allah (swt)
also mentions: Alif-Lam-Mim. This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is

no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun. (2:1-2). So this book is a

guidance to the muttaqin & who are more muttaqin than the Sahaba.
6. The Sahaba have understood the Quran & hadith in the best way & thats
why didnt have many doubts. Their fahm is very simple, clear & well known.
Whenever they had any doubts they used to ask the Prophet (SAW).
7. Neither Allah (swt) nor did the Prophet (SAW) criticize the fahm of the
companions and in fact many revelations of Quran and hadith came based
on their fahm. Example: Umar ibn Al Khattabs fahm was to kill the
prisoners.and later on a verse was revealed to support his fahm.
Hadith is : Qawl (saying), Fayl (Action) & Iqrar (Affirmation) of the prophet.
We know at many times the Prophet (SAW) has affirmed the fahm of the
Sahaba, hence rejection of their fahm leads to the rejection of hadith. (or 1/3
rejection of hadith). The manhaj is entirely based on fahm, so they cant be
differentiated from one another.
8. Rejection of fahme Salaf led to fitnah during the times of the caliphate of
Uthman ibn Affan (RA) of Abdullah ibn Saba, because of which in those days,
the khawarij killed Uthman (RA). It is worth noting that, those who dont
adopt fahme salaf can never love the Sahaba.
Likewise later on a group rose from among the khawarij and fought with Ali
(RA), and eventually killed him. All this happened due to straying away from
the fahm of the Sahaba.
All the groups that rose later on were in opposition to one another are in the
either extremes like khawarij and shia, then Jahmiyyah & Ahlul Tafwid etc.
The fahm of the salaf leads to the middle way, preventing from the either
extremes and thats why it is the saved way.
Then from 4th century hijri began partisanship based on Maddhab, each group
following their Imams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafai and Imam
Ahmad ibn Hanbal to the extent of making an ayat mansukh (abrogated),
which goes against their Imam.
All these groups in the Ummah arose by straying away from the fahm of the
Salaf.
It is upon us that we understand this issue seriously, because it involves
Siratim Mustaqim keeping partisanship at bay.