In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

[1] You Will Be Judged As To Whether You Are Following The Methodology of The Salaf In Your Dawah: Imaam Maalik [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “The latter part of this Ummah [i.e. those who will come after the pious predecessors] will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified its earlier part [i.e. the pious predecessors]”. And he said, “Whoever innovates a new thing (i.e. belief or act of worship) in Islaam and considers it to be something good, then indeed he has claimed that Muhammad betrayed the message he was entrusted with, because Allaah said: ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ – This day, I have perfected your religion for you]. Therefore, what was not part of the religion at that time [i.e. during the time of the Messenger] cannot be part of the religion today [i.e. after his departure from this world]”. (1)

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said, “This is a statement of Imaam Maalik – the well-known scholar of sound understanding and piety. Many other people of knowledge reported this statement during and after his era and they all agreed that “The latter part of this Muslim nation will not be rectified except by way of that which rectified its earlier part”. This means that the path followed by its earlier generations -the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His noble Messenger – is what will rectify its future generations until the Day of Judgement. The one who wishes to rectify an Islamic society, or any other society in this worldly life through other than the path and practical steps that rectified those who have preceded [i.e. the Prophet’s companions], then such a person is mistaken and has spoken untruth. There is no path other than the path (of the Messenger and his companions). The only path of rectification and uprightness is the one that was followed by our Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] and his noble companions, and then those who follow them exactly in righteousness till this era of ours. (1)

[2] You’ll Be Judged By Your Deeds and Companionship- Whether You Are Mixing With Ahlul Bidah or Ahlus Sunnah! Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him] said, The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said: “People were (sometimes) judged by the revealing of a Divine Inspiration during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger but now there is no longer any more (new revelation). Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly, so we will trust and favour the one who does good deeds in front of us, and we will not call him to account about what he is really doing in secret, for Allah will judge him for that; but we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good”. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Number 2641]
Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) said, the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said, “A person is upon the religion of his friend, so let each one of you look at whom he befriends”. [As-Saheehah: 97] Ibn Mas’ ood (radiyallaahu-anhu) said: Indeed a person walks alongside and accompanies the one whom he loves and who is like him. (Al Ibaanah 2/476] Al A’maah (rahimahullaah) said: They (the Salaf) did not used to ask anything more about a person after having asked about three affairs: Who he walks with, who he enters upon (i.e. visits) and who he associates with amongst the people”. [Al Ibaanah 2/478] Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu anhu) said: Make consideration of the (regions of the) earth by the names given to them and make consideration of a person by his companion”. [Ibaanah 2/497] Mu’aadh Bin Mu’aadh said to Yahyah bin Sa’eed, “aa Abaa Sa’eed! A person may hide his viewpoint from us, but he will not be able to hide this in his son or friend or in one whom he sits with”. [ Ibaanah 2/436] [Translated by Spubs]

[3] You’ll Be Judged Based On Books of The Pious Predecessors And Whether You Are Implementing Them In All Affairs: Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Mad’khali [may Allaah preserve him] said, “All of you hold onto the Rope of Allaah [i.e. The Qur’aan and authentic Sunnah]- Allaah will aid you in this and make you like the sun; return to the understanding of the righteous predecessors, and it is, as I said to you, transmitted (and established) in your presence. This is a challenge to those who oppose this. We are challenging ahlul bidah wal ahwaa [the proponents of innovation in religious affairs and followers of desires] in their creed and politics. We say, between us and you is the (path, understanding of the) pious predecessors and books (of the pious predecessors). Ahmad [i.e. Imaam Ahmad] used to say to the proponents of innovation in religious affairs, “Between us and you are the funerals (i.e. whose funeral will be attended by ahlus sunnah in great numbers)”. We say (i.e. at present), “Between us and you are the books (of the pious predecessors)- the books are present! Allaah said to His Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]: [قل فَأْتُوا بِالتَّوْرَاةِ فَاتْلُوهَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ – All food was lawful to the Children of Israel, except what Israel made unlawful for himself before the Taurat (Torah) was revealed. Say (O Muhammad ): “Bring here the Taurat (Torah) and recite it, if you are truthful”]- So they bring the Torah and you proof them to be upon falsehood. We bring the books of the pious predecessors – the Qur’an, the Sunnah, the books of Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasaa’ee, and what was authored by Ahmad and others; we bring them (to prove) those who are on the path of these (pious predecessors) and those who turn away and oppose them. Just as Allaah challenged the Jews to bring the Torah, so the Torah was brought and they were exposed them, (likewise), we challenge these people to bring the books of the pious predecessors, so that the innovator in religious affairs is exposed, and to clarify who the deviants are- whether us or them? Are they able to challenge? Can they open their mouths like this? We fill our mouths with courage – challenge everyone who says that we are upon other than methodology of the pious predecessors. We, by Allaah, call to the methodology of the pious predecessors- to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]. We use the book of Allaah and the Sunnah as proof for our beliefs, our acts of worship, dealings with rulers and their subjects, in dealing with the groups and sects. As for the others, they are upon tricks, deception etc By Allaah, you will not find with them anything but tricks and manipulating the emotions of youth”. (3)

[Ref 1: Al-Itisaam of Imaam Shaatibee 1/28]

[Ref2:https://salaficentre.com/2021/01/10/rectification-of-modern-societies-by-imaam-abdul-azeez-bin-baaz-rahimahullaah/ ]

[Ref 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rlacl-3GbM ] [Paraphrased]