Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah - Nasir al-Din al-Albani - (1/546)

of its foundations, those who uphold its cause and affairs. When others turn away from defending it, they strive in its defence. They are the party of Allah. Surely, it is the party of Allah that shall prosper.”

Al-Khatib, may Allah Most High have mercy on him, then set forth the chapter headings that demonstrate the honour and merit of the people of hadith. There is no harm in mentioning some of them, even if the discussion becomes lengthy, so that the benefit may be complete; but I shall confine myself to those most relevant to the subject:

His saying, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him: “May Allah brighten a person who hears a hadith from us and conveys it.”
The Prophet’s instruction to honour the people of hadith.
The Prophet’s saying, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him: “This knowledge shall be carried by the trustworthy members of every successive generation.”
The people of hadith being the successors of the Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, in conveying from him.
The Messenger’s description of the faith of the people of hadith.
The people of hadith being the people closest to the Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, because of their constant prayers for blessings upon him.
The Prophet’s glad tidings to his Companions that there would be students of hadith after him, and that the chain of transmission between them and him would remain connected.
The clarification that chains of transmission are the means by which the rulings of the Sacred Law are known.
The people of hadith being the trustees of the Messengers, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them, through their preservation and explanation of the sunnahs.
The people of hadith being the protectors of the religion through their defence of the sunnahs.
The people of hadith being heirs to what the Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, left behind of the sunnah and the various kinds of wisdom.
Their being those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.
Their being the best of people.
The statement that the abdāl and Allah’s righteous allies are the people of hadith.

لأركانها، والقوامون بأمرها وشأنها، إذا صدف عن الدفاع عنها، فهم دونها يناضلون، أولئك حزب الله، ألا إن حزب الله هم المفلحون ". ثم ساق الخطيب رحمه الله تعالى الأبواب التي تدل على شرف أصحاب الحديث وفضلهم لا بأس من ذكر بعضها، وإن طال المقال، لتتم الفائدة، لكني أقتصر على أهمها وأمسها بالموضوع: ١ - قوله ﷺ: نضر الله امرءا سمع منا حديثا فبلغه. ٢ - وصية النبي ﷺ بإكرام أصحاب الحديث. ٣ - قول النبي ﷺ: يحمل هذا العلم من كل خلف عدوله. ٤ - كون أصحاب الحديث خلفاء الرسول ﷺ في التبليغ عنه. ٥ - وصف الرسول ﷺ إيمان أصحاب الحديث. ٦ - كون أصحاب الحديث أولى الناس بالرسول ﷺ لدوام صلاتهم عليه ٧ - بشارة النبي ﷺ أصحابه بكون طلبة الحديث بعده واتصال الإسناد بينهم وبينه. ٨ - البيان أن الأسانيد هي الطريق إلى معرفة أحكام الشريعة. ٩ - كون أصحاب الحديث أمناء الرسل صلى الله عليهم وسلم لحفظهم السنن وتبيينهم لها. ١٠ - كون أصحاب الحديث حماة الدين بذبهم عن السنن. ١١ - كون أصحاب الحديث ورثة الرسول ﷺ ما خلفه من السنة وأنواع الحكمة. ١٢ - كونهم الآمرين بالمعروف والناهين عن المنكر. ١٣ - كونهم خيار الناس. ١٤ - من قال: إن الأبدال والأولياء أصحاب الحديث.