A Radiant Masterpiece in Explanation of the Poem of Ibn Abee Daawud: al-Haa'iyah

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.
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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:
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‎“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.”‎