He spoke on the obligation of adhering to the Book and the Sunnah according to the understanding of the Salaf of the Ummah.

The Shaykh : The Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) statement in this authentic hadith, “I am upon what I am upon and my Companions are upon,” contains very clear evidence that a Muslim cannot suffice with merely claiming affiliation to the Book and the Sunnah. Rather, he must add to that following what the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) were upon. For they are the ones who received the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) clear explanation of the Qur’an through the three known methods recognized by scholars of knowledge. I mean by this his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, his doing, and his approval. I mean by this his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, his doing, and his approval. These three methods are what clarify the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), which Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to clarify the Qur’an with, as in His (Blessed and Exalted is He) saying: His (peace and blessings be upon him) explanation is through these three attributes: saying, doing, and approving. There is no way for people like us, especially in this time, to know what he (peace and blessings be upon him) said, did, or approved. And all of this, as I mentioned earlier, is an explanation of the Qur’an. There is no way for us to know that except through the path of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). They are the ones who initially transmitted his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, doing, and approving. Therefore, a Muslim is not from the saved group if his understanding of the Qur’an is limited to the hadith of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) alone. Rather, he must add to that the understanding of the Companions regarding his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, doing, and approving. This is a matter known to the scholars of usul al-fiqh (the principles of jurisprudence), and there is no disagreement among them that the saying, doing, and approving of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is an explanation of the Qur’an.