Taken From SLF010004 @ SalafiPublications.Com (A Reply to the Doubts of the Qutubiyyah On Ascription to Sunnah and Salafiyyah). If you find this beneficial then please make reference to the above article, when quoting.
Know O Sunni, that the false claimants to Salafiyyah who have innovated and
become ahzaab (parties, sects) and rejoiced with that which is with them
of adulterated principles, love of talk of the occurrences of the life of this
world in the name of "Fiqh ul-Waaqi", and the gathering and amassing of herds,
then though they may hide and conceal much of that which is with them, they will
not be able to hide it in their companionship and those whom they befriend and
show love and loyalty for.
And this is from the manhaj of the Salaf, the very manhaj that the false
claimants to Salafiyyah have attempted to demolish and root out with their
innovated principle of al-Muwaazanah and what is besides that of raising,
aggrandising the promoting the Innovators and the groups and sects of
Innovation.
And here is the legacy of the Salaf, which alas, has been forgotten,
neglected or pushed aside, due mainly to the machinations of the Extreme
Murji’ah of the Era, those who accommodate and defend the Mockers of the
Prophets, the Revilers of Uthmaan, the Mukaffiroon of the Sahaabah and other
than them…And because this principle has been neglected or pushed aside or
hidden or adulterated by those with hidden agendas, those false claimants to
Salafiyyah, it has led many a sincere person to great confusion and
bewilderement, and so they are led to opposing the way of the Salaf and their
manhaj, without even realising it. So when they see someone whose loyalty is for
the Innovators, who defends them, promotes their books, propounds their
doctrines and so on, they make excuses for them, think that they are under
obligation to verifying matters with them, and not to judge them instantly and
other such matters which are a deviation from the beaten track of our Pious
Forefathers, and which but lead to further deviation, confusion and
bewilderment…
Quoted Jamaal bin Fareehaan al-Haarithee the following narrations, under the
chapter heading, "The Salaf Would Make A Judgement of an Invididual By His
Companionship", in "Lumm ad-Durr al-Manthoor", checked, and revised by
Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan.
Abu Qilaabah said, "May Allaah fight the poet [an expression of amazement in
Arabic] who said: Do not ask about a man, but ask about his companion. For
every person guides himself by his companion. This poetry is by Adee bin
Zaid, and al-Asma’ee said about it, "I have never seen a line of poetry which
resembles the Sunnah more than this saying of Adee bin Zaid."
Al-Ibaanah (2/439)
Abu Hurairah - radiallaahu anhu - said, the Messenger of Allaah said, "A
person is upon the deen of his friend, so let each one of you look at whom he
befriends." Saheeh. Refer to Silsilah as-Saheehah of al-Albaani (no.927)
Ibn Mas’ood - radiallaahu anhu - said, "Indeed a person walks alongside and
accompanies the one whom he loves and who is like him." Al-Ibaanah (2/476)
Abu ad-Dardaa - radiallaahu anhu - said, "It is from the fiqh (understanding
of a person) that he [chooses] those whom he walks with, whom he enters upon
(visits) and whom he sits with." Al-Ibaanah (2/477)
Yahyaa bin Katheer said, "Sulaimaan bin Daawood – alaihis salaam – said: Do
no pass a judgement over anyone with anything until you see whom he befriends."
Al-Ibaanah (2/464)
Moosaa bin Uqbah the Syrian approached Baghdad and this was mentioned to
Imaam Ahmad. So it was said, "Look at whose residence he goes to and with whom
he resides and finds shelter." Al-Ibaanah (2/480)
Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee said, "Whoever hides his innovation from us will not be
able to hide his companionship from us." Al-Ibaanah (2/476)
Al-A’mash said, "They (the Salaf) did not used to ask anything more about
a person after having asked about three affairs: Who he walks with, who he
enters upon (i.e. visits) and who he associates with amongst the people."
Al-Ibaanah (2/478)
Abdullaah bin Mas’ood – radiallaahu anhu - said, "Make consideration of the
(regions of the) Earth by the names given to them and make consideration of a
person by his companion." Al-Ibaanah (2/479)
Muhammad bin Ubaid al-Ghulaabee said, "The Ahl ul-Ahwaa (People of Desires)
hide everything except their intimate friendship and companionship." Al-Ibaanah
(2/482)
Mu’aadh bin Mu’aadh said to Yahyaa bin Sa’eed, "O Abu Sa’eed! A person may
hide his viewpoint from us, but he will not be able to hide that in his son, or
his friend or in the one whom he sits with." Al-Ibaanah (2/437)
Ibn ‘Awn said, "Those who sit with the People of Innovation are more severe
upon us than the People of Innovation themselves." Al-Ibaanah (2/273)
Judging A Claimant to Salafiyyah By His Companionship