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Does abandoning what has been narrated from the righteous predecessors, which was not mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah, undermine the perfection of faith? And why is there no reconsideration of what has been narrated from the predecessors, especially since some psychological sciences prove that some of their methods in treating the soul, such as self-flagellation, self-punishment, and constantly blaming the self negatively, harm the psychological health of the Muslim individual?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The pious predecessors (Salaf) of this Ummah are lights of guidance through whom the understanding of the Qur'an and Sunnah is illuminated. They are not infallible, but their consensus (Ijma') is a proof that cannot be opposed, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.﴾ (An-Nisa 4:115). If they differed, their sayings are weighed against the scale of Sharia, and what conforms to the Qur'an and Sunnah is followed. As for the notion of disciplining the self through flogging and torture, this is not from the knowledge of the Salaf; rather, it is from deviant ideas that are not permissible to believe in or act upon.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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