Explanation of the author's statement: "For Allah the Exalted: revealed the Book so that people would reflect upon its verses, and act upon them if they are rulings
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The Shaykh :"For Allah the Exalted revealed the Book so that people would reflect, so that people would reflect upon its verses, and act upon them if they are rulings, and believe in them if they are reports", is this statement correct?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Is it correct? And what is the evidence for its correctness? His saying, the Exalted:[Sad 38:29] This is the reflection, and through reflection comes knowledge [Sad 38:29] This is acting upon it if it is rulings, and believing in it if it is reports. This is what the Qur'an was revealed for. So, does the Qur'an have meanings? Can they be reached, or not? They can be reached, otherwise there would be no benefit in reflection. We say: "And there is no doubt that the people closest to understanding them, believing in them, and acting upon them are the Salaf", is this true or not? I mean, is it the case that the people closest to understanding them, believing in them, and acting upon them are Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, Ibn Mas'ud, and Ibn 'Abbas, yes, and Mu'adh ibn Jabal and their like, or are the closest Ibn Abi Du'ad and his like, those who came after them? Which is closer?
The student: The Companions
The Shaykh : The first group is closer, rather, we say:
"Have you not seen that the sword's value decreases *** when it is said that the sword is sharper than the stick"
Yes, and there is no doubt that the Salaf, among whom, and at their head are the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), are the closest to understanding them, believing in them, and acting upon them. No one disputes this except one who is stubbornly denying it. He says, why are they closer? "Because they came in their language", correct? And the second is "in their era", they know the causes, circumstances, and conditions that aid in understanding. And in it is also the reality of the matter, which would be better if we added to it. And because they are the strongest of people in faith, without doubt, or not? They came in their language before the languages changed, and in their era they know the conditions and circumstances that necessitate understanding the verses. And the third is that they have a degree of faith and complete submission that no one else has. Therefore, there is no doubt that their school of thought is the correct one.
"So it is no wonder that they are the most knowledgeable of people about them in jurisprudence, and the most upright of them in action", and I think this is conceded. And this evidence is a tangible legal evidence, a tangible legal evidence that the Salaf are the most knowledgeable of people about what? About the names of Allah and His attributes, and the strongest of them in faith in them.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Is it correct? And what is the evidence for its correctness? His saying, the Exalted:
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its
كتاب أنزلناه إليك مبارك ليدبروا آياتهand that those of understanding would be reminded.
وليتذكر أولوا الألبابThe student: The Companions
The Shaykh : The first group is closer, rather, we say:
"Have you not seen that the sword's value decreases *** when it is said that the sword is sharper than the stick"
Yes, and there is no doubt that the Salaf, among whom, and at their head are the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), are the closest to understanding them, believing in them, and acting upon them. No one disputes this except one who is stubbornly denying it. He says, why are they closer? "Because they came in their language", correct? And the second is "in their era", they know the causes, circumstances, and conditions that aid in understanding. And in it is also the reality of the matter, which would be better if we added to it. And because they are the strongest of people in faith, without doubt, or not? They came in their language before the languages changed, and in their era they know the conditions and circumstances that necessitate understanding the verses. And the third is that they have a degree of faith and complete submission that no one else has. Therefore, there is no doubt that their school of thought is the correct one.
"So it is no wonder that they are the most knowledgeable of people about them in jurisprudence, and the most upright of them in action", and I think this is conceded. And this evidence is a tangible legal evidence, a tangible legal evidence that the Salaf are the most knowledgeable of people about what? About the names of Allah and His attributes, and the strongest of them in faith in them.