Search
Examples of the eagerness of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to apply the Sunnah
Example 1 of the eagerness of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to apply the Sunnah.
1)
Imām Muslim reported through An-Nu‘mān Ibn Sālim through ‘Amr Ibn Awss that he said,
“‘Anbasah Ubn Abi Sufyān told me in his illness in which he died about a Hadeeth so that he might be relieved by it. He said, ‘I heard Umm Habeebah saying: I heard the Messenger of Allāh (PBUH) saying, “He who prays twelve Rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in paradise because of them.”.’.”
(Muslim no. 1727)
Umm Habeebah said, “I have never left them since I heard about them from the Messenger of Allāh, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him.”
‘Anbasah said, “I have never left them since I heard about them from Umm Habeebah.”
‘Amr Ubn Awss said, “I have never left them since I heard about them from ‘Anbasah.” An-Nu‘mān Ubn Sālim said, “I have never left them since I heard about them from ‘Amr Ibn Awss.”
Example 2 of the eagerness of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to apply the Sunnah.
2)
‘Aliy (ABPWH) narrated that Fātimah,
may Allāh be pleased with her, went to the Prophet (PBUH) complaining about the effect of the stone hand-mill on her hands. She heard that the Prophet had received a few servants. When she came there she did not find him, so she mentioned her problem to ‘Ā’ishah. When the Prophet came, ‘Ā’ishah informed him about that. ‘Aliy added, “So the Prophet came to us when we had gone to bed. We wanted to get up on his arrival but he said, ‘Stay where you are.’ He then came and sat between me and her and I felt the coldness of his feet on my chest. He said, ‘Shall I direct you to something better than what you have requested? When you go to bed say “Allāhu Akbar” thirty-four times, “Subhān Allāh” thirty-three times, and “Al-Hamdu Lillāh” thirty-three times, for that is far better for you than a servant.’.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 3705, Muslim no. 2727)
In another narration, ‘Aliy (ABPWH) said,
“I have never left them since I heard about them from the Prophet (PBUH) .” He was asked, “Even on the night of the battle of Siffeen?” He said, “Even on the night of the battle of Siffeen.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 5362, Muslim no. 2727)
It is known that ‘Aliy (ABPWH) was one of the leaders in the battle of Siffeen, and despite being occupied with his role in it, he did not abandon this particular Sunnah.
Example 3 of the eagerness of the Salaf (pious predecessors) to apply the Sunnah.
3) Ibn ‘Umar (ABPWH) used to lead the people in the funeral prayer and then he would get up and leave. He would not follow the funeral procession to the grave as he did not know about its virtue. When he was told about the Hadeeth of Abi Hurayrah (ABPWH) , he regretted it. So, imagine what he said?
Ibn ‘Umar threw the pebbles he had in his hand on the ground and said,
“We missed so many Qeerāts.”
(Al-Bukhāriy no. 1324, Muslim no. 945)
An-Nawawiy said, “This Hadeeth reveals how eager the the companions were towards forms of obedience, and how regretful they were when they missed any act of Sunnah, even if they had not been aware of its virtues.” (Refer to Al-Minhāj 7/15)
