Bid’ah (Innovation), Part VII - Related words of the Salaf

Related words of the Salaf:

• Hudhayfah Ibn Al-Yamaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:
  "Do not perform any act of worship which was not practiced by the companions of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam because the early people (i.e. his companions) did not leave anything unaddressed…so follow the way of those who were before you."
• Al -Fudhayl, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:
  "Beware of the one who sits with innovators; he who sits with innovators will not be granted wisdom; I wish there was a fortress of steel between me and the innovators."

Related stories:

• Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, was circumambulating the Ka’bah with Mu’aawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyaan, may Allaah be pleased with him and his father, during Mu’aawiyah’s reign. Mu’aawiyah would touch all four corners of the Ka’bah while circumambulating and so  Ibn ‘Abbaas remarked: "The Prophet only touched two corners (the black stone and the Yemeni corner)." Mu’aawiyah replied: "No part of the house of Allaah should be neglected." Thereupon, Ibn ‘Abbaas recited (that which translates as): “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allaah an excellent pattern (i.e., example to be followed) for anyone whose hope is in Allaah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allaah often.” (Al-Ahzaab: 21). Upon hearing this, Mu’aawiyah refrained.
• Sa’eed Ibn Al-Musayyib, may Allaah have mercy upon him, saw a man praying too many optional prayers before the Fajr prayer and therefore he forbade him from doing so. The man retorted: "O Abu Muhammad! Will Allaah punish me for praying?" Sa'eed replied: "No, but He will punish you for doing other than the Sunnah."
• A man asked Imaam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him: "At which point do I initiate my state of Ihraam?" he replied: "From Thul Hulayfah - where the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did so" the man retorted: "I wish to do it from the area beside the grave of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam" Imaam Maalik said: "Do not do that, for I fear that if you do so, you will be afflicted with trials" the man replied: "Why would I be afflicted with trials? All I wanted was to do it from a place which is only a few miles away from where you told me!" Imaam Maalik said upon hearing this: "What can be more serious than feeling that you performed a righteous deed that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam failed to do? I heard the saying of Allaah (which translates as): “So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet's] order lest trials strike them or a painful punishment.”"(An-Noor: 63).