SUNNAH REVIVAL SERIES
There is a famous hadith that we hear often "In times of fitna, whoever revives a Sunnah gets the reward of 100 martyrs". This hadeeth is Daeef.
It is reported by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas [رضى الله عنه] and Abu Hurayrah [رضى الله عنه] and recorded by Imam al-Bayhaqi (رحمه الله) in his Kitab al-Zuhd. (See al-Targhib vol.1 pg.80 and Hidayat al-Ruwat of Hafiz ibn Hajar (رحمه الله) vol.1 pg.136)
Note: The word used in this narration is: “Man tamassaka” which translates as: One who holds steadfast to my Sunnah, and not: One who revives it as is commonly quoted. Although, some scholars have explained that in an era in which the Ummah is engulfed in fitna, the mere practice of the sunnah will automatically constitute its revival.
Now, let's look at the Sahih Hadeeth.
“Ahead of you there lie days of patience, during which being patient will be like grasping a hot coal. The one who does good deeds then will have a reward like that of fifty men who do such deeds. – And someone else added – They said: O Messenger of Allaah(ﷺ), the reward of fifty of them? He (ﷺ) said: “The reward of fifty of you.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood (4341); al-Tirmidhi (3085) as Hasan hadeeth. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani (رحمه الله) in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (494). In some reports of the hadeeth it says: “They are the ones who will revive my Sunnah and teach it to the people.”
Why Revive a Sunnah?
1. The Prophet’s way is the best way.
“Truly, in the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) you have a good example to follow for the one who hopes for the Meeting with Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” [Surah Al-Ahzab:21]
2. The Sunnah of the Prophet [ﷺ ] is THE way to get Allah’s love.
“Say: If you (really) love Allah then follow me [ﷺ] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [ Surah Al-e-Imran:31]
3. Following the Sunnah will help us increase in good deeds.
“…Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Surah Al Maidah:2]
4. The REWARD! Large amounts of ajr (reward) is up for grabs!
“Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward.”
[Reported by al-Tirmidhi]
5. The Revival of the Ummah can only come by following the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet [ ﷺ]
The last of this Ummah will not be corrected except by which the first of this Ummah was corrected by and that is the Book and the Sunnah.
[Imam Darul Hijra, Malik ibn Anas {r} d. 179]
