Hold Firmly to the Sunnah

عن العرباض بن سارية رضي الله عنه قال وعظنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم موعظة وجلت منها القلوب وذرفت منها العيون فقلنا يا رسول الله كأنها موعظة مودع فأوصنا  قال أوصيكم بتقوى الله والسمع والطاعة وإن تأمر عليكم عبد وإنه من يعش منكم فسيرى اختلافا كثيرا فعليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين عضوا عليها بالنواجذ وإياكم ومحدثات الأمور فإن كل بدعة ضلالة  رواه أبو داود والترمذي وابن ماجه وابن حبان في صحيحه وقال الترمذي حديث حسن صحيح (الترغيب والترهيب 1/94)

Hadhrat Irbaadh bin Saariyah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that on one occasion Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) delivered a sermon before us in such a manner that (our) hearts were filled with fear and (our) eyes flowed with tears. We said, “O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), you advised us in a manner as though it was the parting advices of the one who is about to depart from the world, so command us (with something that will benefit us).” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “I command you to adopt taqwa (in your lives), and to listen and to obey (the one appointed to lead you) even if a slave is appointed as the leader over you. Certainly those who remain from you (after my demise) shall soon witness many differences (among yourselves), hence firmly hold on to my mubaarak sunnah (way) and the sunnah (way) of the rightly-guided Khulafaa. Bite onto it with your molars (i.e.  Firmly hold onto my way and the way of my Khulafaa). Save yourself from innovations, for indeed every bid’ah is misguidance.”