The Shaykh gave an example of one of the early groups that deviated from the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah in accordance with the way of the Salaf, specifically regarding the issue of seeing Allah the Exalted on the Day of Resurrection.

The Shaykh : I will give just one example from the old scholarly disagreements and then conclude the answer to this question. I say: Among the well-known, ancient disagreements among the sects of Muslims is: Will the Muslims see their Lord on the Day of Resurrection? The people of the Sunnah say explicitly, and this is the truth, that they will. The Mu'tazilah deny this with the strongest denial. When they denied this, did they deny something like the saying of Allah the Exalted: ? Did they deny... that they will look upon the blessings of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) bestowed upon them in Paradise? Let the Muslim reflect on how great the difference is between the believer looking upon his Creator on the Day of Resurrection and looking upon His creations, His bounties and blessings, in Paradise. This deviation in their interpretation of this verse stemmed from their reliance solely on their own understanding and their turning away from the interpretation of the righteous Salaf for such a verse, which they received from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). They did the same regarding the previous verse: . The interpretation of this noble verse came in "Sahih Muslim" from the narration of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا الْحُسْنَى : الجنة ، وَزِيَادَةٌ : رؤية الله فيها For those who did good is the best [reward], namely Paradise, and an addition, namely seeing Allah therein.. They denied this interpretation as well, because they did not rely on our righteous Salaf, foremost among whom, as we mentioned, are the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
This is one example from among dozens, indeed hundreds of examples. The two previous examples regarding the Qadiyyah sect in the present age are sufficient for the Muslim to understand that his creed will not be sound and he will not be on the path of the believers unless he relies, in understanding the Book and the Sunnah, on what our righteous Salaf were upon. A very important matter results from this: it is not sufficient for the Muslim to have only a general acquaintance with the Book and the Sunnah; rather, he must have extensive knowledge of the reports of the righteous Salaf. These are the reports by which he is aided in understanding the texts of the Book and the Sunnah, as we mentioned and explained earlier. This is my answer to the question of the Salafis regarding what they are and what are the proofs for the obligation of returning to them, so that the Muslim may be guided by his Lord (Blessed and Exalted is He). And with this, I conclude the answer to this question, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And to you.