(Al-haa iyah)A Radiant Masterpiece in Explanation of the Poem of Ibn Abee Daawud

The poet began his poem regarding the creed with these two magnificent stanzas. And these lines of poetry contain the call to cling to the Book and the Sunnah; and to beware of innovations. He has begun with them before clarifying the creed and its affairs in accordance with the path of Ahlus-Sunnah within the books of creed since their way, in most instances, was to begin with this affair; and this was an example from them of denoting the source of derivation for the Usool of the religion and its subsidiary branches in order that the structure of the creed and its basis be upon a sound foundation and strong correct principles.

When the servant makes the source from which he derives his creed and the source upon which the principles are predicated to be the Book and the Sunnah, then he will see that which is besides it from sources to be rubbish and he will not take anything from them nor will he make them to be a source for him in his religion and his creed. He will only take from the pure source and the pure spring which is neither soiled nor defiled; and thus by way of this his creed will be safe and his Eemaan will be sound. The source of Ahlus-Sunnah in derivation is the Book and the Sunnah. They take from them, derive their evidences from them, and rely upon them. They do not deviate from them in the least. Rather, they are as Al-Awzaa’ee said: “We go with the Book and the Sunnah wherever they go.”They do not invent anything from themselves. Shaykh Al-Islaam, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated: “The creed does not belong to me nor to anyone greater than myself.

The creed belongs to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).”So from Allah is the Message and upon the Messenger is the conveyance of the Message and upon us is belief and submission. Due to this, we find the books of Ahlus-Sunnah beginning with mention of the source before explaining the creed. This is that which we derive from that which the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) would constantly do within the Friday sermon. He would always say in the beginning of it: “As to proceed; indeed the truest speech is the Book of Allah the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the worst of all matters and the newly invented matters.”