Imam al-Nasa'i and the Defense of the Creed of the Salaf
Similarly, the acknowledgment of the virtues of the Companions and the belief of restraining the tongue (Kaff al-Lisaan) regarding the disputes among them is part of the creed of the Salaf. For this reason, not only in books of creed but also in books of hadith, the virtues and merits of the noble Companions have been abundantly recorded.
Imam al-Nasa'i also gave place to this subject in his books. Not only that, but he even took practical steps to correct those who held negative views against certain Companions. When he arrived in Damascus, in order to teach the correct belief to those who had deviated from the proper view regarding ʿAli (may Allah be pleased with him), he authored a book titled "Khasā'is ʿAli" (The Special Virtues of ʿAli). As a result, he became the target of the hostility of the deviants in that region. He was beaten and tortured to such an extent that he could not bear the violence, ultimately sacrificing his life in this noble cause. May Allah, the Lord of Glory, grant him the rank of martyrdom. Ameen.
From the very beginning, the refutation of the misguidance and deviant thoughts of those who strayed in matters of creed has been a well-known practice of the scholars of Islam. In fact, criticizing those who deviated from the path of moderation was a hallmark and methodology of the Salaf al-Salih. For them, refuting and invalidating the opponents of correct belief and methodology was a fundamental principle. The great scholars of hadith undertook this responsibility with utmost diligence. They openly criticized the misguided sects, their leaders, and their doctrines and beliefs, while clearly elaborating the principles of Salafi creed and adherence to the Sunnah.
The noble group of hadith scholars waged an intellectual war against deviant sects such as the Khawarij, Rawafid, Nawasib, Muʿtazilah, Jahmiyyah, Qadariyyah, Jabriyyah, etc. Independent books were written specifically for the refutation of the Muʿtazilah and Jahmiyyah, and these misguided beliefs were openly criticized in works of creed. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal became famous as "The Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaʿah" because of his firm stance against the doctrine of the createdness of the Qur’an. His distinguished student, Imam al-Bukhari, authored an independent treatise titled "Khalq Afʿāl al-ʿIbād" (The Creation of the Actions of the Servants), and in his Sahih Bukhari, in books like Kitab al-ʿIlm, Kitab al-Iman, Kitab al-Tawheed wa al-Radd ʿala al-Jahmiyyah, and Kitab al-Iʿtisam bi al-Kitab wa al-Sunnah, he thoroughly clarified the way of the Salaf and refuted the non-Salafi doctrines and their adherents. Among the students of Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Dawood also performed this service in his Sunan under the title "Kitab al-Sunnah." Imam Ibn Majah did the same in the introduction of his Sunan.
