Mention of the division of people into two groups regarding their claim to the Book and the Sunnah in this age.
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The Shaykh : I have mentioned in some of my lectures that, particularly in this present age and more specifically in recent days, the new trend among Muslims today is claiming to adhere to the Book and the Sunnah. This blessed and praiseworthy call was not known at least half a century ago. Instead, there was this Hanafi, this Shafi'i, this Maliki, and this Hanbali. It was not known at that time for someone to say, "I am upon the Book and the Sunnah and upon the way of the righteous predecessors." But now, people have divided into two groups regarding this blessed call: the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous predecessors. They have divided into two sections:
One section truly adheres to the Book and the Sunnah and to the way of the righteous predecessors. These are the ones who are called in some countries: the Salafis, or the people of hadith, or the supporters of the Sunnah. All these names indicate one designation and one reality, which is to proceed in everything by which we worship Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) according to the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the methodology of the righteous predecessors.
As for the second section: they are content to say, "I am also with you upon the Book and the Sunnah." But if you scrutinize them and examine them closely, you will find them to be the furthest from the Book and the Sunnah in their creed, their worship, their behavior, their clothing, and their attire. There is no [adherence] to that, yet they claim to be upon the Book and the Sunnah.
One section truly adheres to the Book and the Sunnah and to the way of the righteous predecessors. These are the ones who are called in some countries: the Salafis, or the people of hadith, or the supporters of the Sunnah. All these names indicate one designation and one reality, which is to proceed in everything by which we worship Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) according to the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the methodology of the righteous predecessors.
As for the second section: they are content to say, "I am also with you upon the Book and the Sunnah." But if you scrutinize them and examine them closely, you will find them to be the furthest from the Book and the Sunnah in their creed, their worship, their behavior, their clothing, and their attire. There is no [adherence] to that, yet they claim to be upon the Book and the Sunnah.