Understanding the Hadith on Following the Sunnah of the Prophet and the Rightly Guided Caliphs

A Comprehensive Guide to the Hadith on Adhering to the Sunnah and the Role of the Rightly Guided Caliphs

Hadith: “Hold Firmly to My Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs” – Meaning and Implications

Islam was completed during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. After the completion of Islam, introducing any new practice is considered among the innovations (bid’ah) which the Prophet ﷺ declared to be misguidance and leading to Hell. When introducing a new method, practice, or thought after the Prophet ﷺ is deemed as misguidance, how cautious would the rightly guided Caliphs and all the Companions be regarding this matter? The differences we see among them are the results of varying understandings of the texts and ijtihad (scholarly reasoning). Let us understand the true meaning and implications of a well-known hadith, which many have misunderstood or are deliberately misinterpreting to the public.

Hadith and its Translation:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ ، ثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الدُّورِيُّ ، ثَنَا أَبُو عَاصِمٍ ، ثَنَا ثَوْرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ ، ثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ مَعْدَانَ ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو السُّلَمِيِّ ، عَنِ الْعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَارِيَةَ ، قَالَ : صَلَّى لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاةَ الصُّبْحِ ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا فَوَعَظَنَا مَوْعِظَةً وَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوبُ وَذَرَفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُونُ ، فَقُلْنَا : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَأَنَّهَا مَوْعِظَةُ مُوَدِّعٍ فَأَوْصِنَا ، قَالَ : ” أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ ، وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ أُمِّرَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ ، فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا ، فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي ، وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ “

Translation: Irbaad ibn Saariyah reported that one day the Prophet ﷺ led us in the Fajr prayer, then turned towards us and delivered a sermon that made hearts tremble and eyes tear up. Some of the companions said, "O Messenger of Allah, this seems like a farewell sermon, so advise us." The Prophet ﷺ said, "I advise you to fear Allah, to listen and obey, even if a slave from Ethiopia is appointed over you. Whoever among you lives long will see many disagreements, so you must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after me. Hold firmly to it with your molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters, for every innovation is misguidance."

Narration: Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 2676, Sunan Abu Dawood: 4607, Sahih Ibn Hibbaan: 5, Ibn Maajah: 43,44, Musnad Ahmad: 16692, 16694, Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh: 165, Mustadrak al-Haakim: 334, Sunan ad-Daarmii, etc.
Ruling: When a hadith is from a book other than Bukhari and Muslim, it is necessary to know its ruling because, apart from the two Saheehs, all hadith collections contain both authentic and weak hadiths. The chain of narration of this hadith from `Irbaad ibn Saariyah is free from defects, so it is considered authentic. Sheikh Al-Albani confirmed it as authentic in Sahih Tirmidhi, Sahih Abu Dawood, Sahih Ibn Maajah, Silsilat al-Saheehah, and others.

Explanation of the Hadith: In this hadith, three terms need clarification for understanding the correct meaning:

1. Sunnah: Linguistically, Sunnah means ‘path’ or ‘way.’ In hadith terminology, Sunnah refers to the actions, sayings, approvals, and inherent qualities of the Prophet ﷺ. When attributed to the Prophet ﷺ, these are considered Hadith. Thus, Sunnah represents the lifestyle of the Prophet ﷺ.
2. Bid’ah: Linguistically, Bid’ah means introducing something in a way that has no precedent. Technically, Bid’ah refers to inventing something in the religion that has no basis in the Qur’an or Sunnah.
3. Khilaafah: In this hadith, the rightly guided Caliphs refer to Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them), whose caliphate lasted for thirty years, as mentioned in the hadith: “The caliphate of Prophethood will last for thirty years, then Allah will grant kingship to whomever He wills.” (Sahih Abu Dawood: 4646) The durations of their caliphates were: two years for Abu Bakr, ten years for Umar, twelve years for Uthman, and six years for Ali.

Meaning of the Hadith: This hadith instructs us to adhere to the Prophet ﷺ and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs as a means to avoid misguidance and disputes. It emphasizes following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and his successors in their adherence to the Prophet’s teachings and to beware of any new practices introduced into the religion, as all innovations are misguidance.

Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the Caliphs: The question arises whether the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the Sunnah of the Caliphs are distinct. The answer is that they are not separate. The Sunnah of the Caliphs is the same as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. The Caliphs did not introduce any new practices into the religion but followed the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. Any perceived differences are due to their ijtihad (reasoned judgment).

Opinions of Scholars on the Sunnah of the Caliphs:

1. Sheikh Al-Albani: The Sunnah of the Caliphs to follow is that which is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. (Silsilat al-Da’eefa 1/51-53)
2. Shaykh al-San’aani: The Sunnah of the Caliphs refers to practices that align with the Prophet’s Sunnah, especially in matters like jihad and reinforcing Islamic symbols. This applies to all the Caliphs, not just the first two. (Subul al-Salaam 1/493)
3. Ibn Hazm: Three possibilities for understanding this hadith:

• All the differences among the Caliphs are considered Sunnah, which is implausible.
• Choosing among the differing opinions would contradict the concept of following the Sunnah.
• The correct approach is to follow the consensus of the Companions, as the consensus of the Caliphs is not separate from that of the Companions.

1. Imam al-Shawkaani: The Sunnah of the Caliphs is essentially the same as the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. The Caliphs were deeply committed to following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. In matters where no clear text existed, they relied on reasoned judgment, which should be considered valid if it does not contradict the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Conclusion: The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and that of the Caliphs are one and the same. The Caliphs, being human, could make mistakes, but their adherence was to the Prophet’s Sunnah. The differences observed are due to their ijtihad. In case of discrepancies, the Prophet’s teachings and Qur’anic guidance should be the final authority. New practices introduced into the religion are considered innovations and misguidance, which must be avoided.

✅ Author: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله
❪ Jeddah Dawah Center – Al-Salamah – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ❫