Some Statements of the Salaf on Ilmul-Kalaam

Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee (d.204) said, 

“My ruling regarding the people of Kalaam (theological rhetoric) is that they should be beaten with palm leaves and shoes and be paraded amongst the kinsfolk and the tribes with it being announced, ‘This is the reward of the one who abandons the Book and the sunnah and turns to theological rhetoric (kalaam).“
[Sharh 'Aqeedatut-Tahaawiyyah og Ibn 'Abdil-'Izz, p. 75]
Ibn ‘Abdil-Barr said, “The people of Fiqh and Aathaar in all the various towns and cities are agreed unanimously that the Ahlul-Kalaam (People of theological rhetoric) are but Ahlul-Bida’ waz-Zaigh (the People of Innovations and Deviation). And they are not considered, by all of the above, to be amongst the ranks of the Scholars (in truth).“
[Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in his Burhaan Fee Bayaanil-Qur'aan]
Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee said, “That a person is pout to trail with everything that Allaah has forbidden, besides Shirk, is better than that he looks at Kalaam (theological rhetoric).“
Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee also said, “If people knew what (misleading and destructive) desires are contained within theological rhetoric they would certainly flee from it as they would from a lion.“
Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee also said, “Whoever showed boldness in approaching theological rhetoric will never prosper.“
[Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in his Burhaan Fee Bayaanil-Qur'aan]
One of the Scholars of Ash-Shaash said:
“Every knowledge except that of the Qur’aan is a pre-occupationExcept for the Hadeeth and Fiqh (understanding) of the deenKnowledge is only that about which it is said,‘Haddathanaa…” (So and so narrated to us (a hadeeth))And what is besides thatAre but whisperings of the Shaytaan (Devils)”
 Aboo Yoosuf, the companion of Aboo Haneefah, said,“Whoever sought knowledge by Kalaam (theological rhetoric) will turn a heretical apostate.“
Imaam Ahmad (d. 241) said, “The person of theological rhetoric will never prosper. And never do you see anyone looking into theological rhetoric except that in his heart is a desire for creating mischief.“
[Both the above narrations are reported Ibn Qudaamah in his Burhaan Fee Bayaanil-Qur'aan]
[Taken from "Foundations Of The Sunnah" Pp. 16-17]
Imam al-Barbahaaree (rahimahullah):
 
“Rhetoric (kalaam) causes disbelief, doubts, innovations, misguidance and confusion. May Allah have mercy upon you! Know that heresy, disbelief, doubts, innovations, misguidance and confusion about the religion have never occurred except through theological rhetoric (Kalam) and because of the people of theological rhetoric, argumentation, debating and disputation. How can a man plunge into argumentation, disputation and debatingseeing that Allah, the Most High, said: ‘None dispute regarding the Aayaat (revelations, signs, proofs) of Allah except those who disbelieve.’ (Soorah Ghaafir 40:4) You should submit to and be pleased with the narrations and the people of narrations, withhold and remain silent.” (The Explanation of The Creed of Imaam Al Barbahaaree)
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullah):
“There is no analogical reasoning in the Sunnah and examples or likenesses are not to be made for it. Nor is it grasped and comprehended by the intellects or the desires. Rather it [consists of] following [and depending upon] it and abandoning the hawaa [desire].” (Foundations of the Sunnah)“The person of theological rhetoric will never prosper. And never do you see anyone looking into theological rhetoric except that in his heart is a desire for creating mischief.’ (Reported by Ibn Qudaamah in his Burhaan fee Bayaanil-Qur’an)
“ For indeed, (indulging in) theological rhetoric (kalaam) in the matter of Qadar, the Ru’yah (seeing Allaah in the Hereafter), the Qur’aan and other such issues are among the ways that are detested and which are forbidden. The one Who does so, even if he reaches the truth with his words, is not from Ahlus-Sunnah, until he abandons (using) this mode of argumentation, [and until he] submits and believes in the Aathaar (the Prophetic Narrations & those of the Companions).” (Foundations of the Sunnah)
Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullah):
repeated thrice: “This religion is based upon narrations not opinions, This religion is based upon narrations not opinions, This religion is based upon narrations not opinions.” (Sharaf Ashaabul Hadeeth)
Imam al-Awzaa’ee ( rahimahullah):
“Hold fast to the narrations of the Salaf, even if people were to abandon you. (And) Beware of the opinions of the people, no matter how much they beautify it with their speech.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa vol. 12, p. 497)

The Salafis Lack Piety Whereas Other than Them Are Pious and Abstemious

And this too is a very old doubt which has been answered by the Salaf themselves, those of old. And we merely leave you with their words:
Ibn Abbaas (d. 68H) said: “Indeed the most detestable of things to Allaah are the innovations.” (Reported by al-Bayhaqee in as-Sunan al-Kubraa 4/316)
Ibn Umar (d. 84H) said: “Every innovation is misguidance, even if the people see it as something good.” (Reported by Abu Shaamah no. 39)
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) said:”Innovation is more beloved to Iblees than sin, since a sin may be repented from but innovation is not repented from.” (Reported by al-Laalikaa’ee no. 238)
Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee (d. 204H) said: “That a person meets Allaah with every sin except Shirk is better than meeting Him upon any o*!ne of the innovated beliefs.” (Reported by al-Bayhaqee in al-I’tiqaad p.158)
Al-Layth bin Sa’d (d. 175H) said: “If I saw a person of desires (i.e. innovations) walking upon the water I would not accept from him.” So Imaam as-Shaafi’ee then said: “”He (al-Layth) has fallen short. If I saw him walking in the air I would not accept from him.” (Reported by as-Suyooti in al-Amr bil ‘Ittibaa wan-Nahee anil Ibtidaa’.)
Yunus bin Ubaid said to his son, “I forbid you from fornication (zinaa), stealing and drinking wine. However that you meet Allaah with any of these sins is better to me than that you meet him with the view of Amr bin Ubaid and the associates of Amr (i.e. the Mu’tazilah).” (al-Ibaanah 2/466).
Sa’eed bin Jubair said, “That my son accompanies a sinful and cunning scoundrel who is a Sunni is more beloved to me than that he accompanies a devoteful and worshipful Innovator.” (al-Ibaanah no. 89).
Imaam Al-Barbahaaree said, “However, if you see a person whose manner and opinion is despicable, he is wicked, sinful and oppressive, yet he is a person of the Sunnah, accompany him and sit with him, since his sin will not harm you. If you see a man who strives hard and long in worship, is abstemious, being continual in worship, except that he is a person of innovation, do not sit with him, do not listen to his words and do not walk along with him, since I do not feel safe that you will not eventually come to be pleased with his way and go to destruction along with him.” (Sharh us-Sunnah no. 149).
Imaam Ahmad said, “The graves of Ahl us-Sunnah from those who committed the major sins are like gardens. And the graves of Ahl ul-Bid’ah from amongst their abstemious pious o*!nes are hollow and empty. The sinners of Ahl us-Sunnah are the Awliyaa’ (Friends) of Allaah and the abstemious pious o*!nes of Ahl ul-Bid’ah are the Enemies of Allaah.” (Tabaqaat ul-Hanaabilah 1/184).
Consider well, O Sunni, what our Pious Forefathers have left for us as a legacy and as an admonition. When it is the case that Innovations in aqidah and manhaj are the cause of splitting and differing, and lead to the emergence of sects, and these sects have been threatened with Fire, and when it is also the case that Shaytaan beautifies the Innovations and makes them appealing and to be guidance and light, then the People of Innovation and Adulterated Principles are more dangerous and harmful than a sinful, villain from Ahl us-Sunnah. For you know of your crime with the latter and can repent from it and amend your ways, but when you take as your friend Adnaan Ar’oor the Qutubist Politician, Mohammad Qutb the Takfiri Khariji, Mohammad Suroor the Takfiri Qa’dee, Abdur-Rahmaan Abdul-Khaaliq the Shurocrat and Sworn Bannaawi, then you think them to be upon guidance and you think their adulterated principles and innovatory methodologies to be the truth embodied and you think that these principles and methodologies are a deliverance for the Ummah, and so you affiliate yourself with them and show loyalty and disownment for their sake and thus fall into the Fire., the while you think yourself to be a rightly guided “Salafi” (!!), yet you are nothing but a hizb (sect) from amongst the ahzaab, upon other than the Manhaj of Nubuwwah