Q: Someone says that the Ashaaira were never found in the time of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and also in the time of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum). He says that they are only recent and its not good to follow them. What is a good answer to to give him?
This is what he is saying: Among the ulama in the time of our Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), there were no Ashaaira. Most Muslims know that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is of the highest level in all aspects. He says that the ulama believe that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is of the highest in all aspects of Islam. Who knows about Allah more? Till the big ulama like the 4 imams, there was no one who was part of the Ashaaira. Why were they are not Asharis? This Ashari thought is a bidah. No Sahaabah or Tabieen had even an iota of belief as an Ashari.
A: Even the four imaams did not exist in the time of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Nearly all the mufassireen did not exist in the time of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). All the muhadditheen were not in the time of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). If we have to go by this standard then how do we go by the muhadditheen, mufassireen and imaams in all matters. These are all steps just to confuse and complicate matters. Don't pay attention to this. All that the Ashaairah did was to defend the beliefs of the Ahlus Sunnah proving it through the Qur'aan and hadeeth and reject the claims and views of the deviant groups.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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