All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Creed is having certainly in one's mind about something: if this complies with reality, it is sound creed; if it differs from reality, it is false creed.
Sound creed is that which was followed by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his Companions and the early Muslims who lived in the preferred centuries. This is indicated by the Saying of Allaah the Almighty (that means):
· {So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension.} [Quran 2:137]
· {And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen [emigrants] and the Ansaar [their helpers] and those who followed them with good conduct - Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.} [Quran 9:100]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, illustrated that the group who will be saved is those who follow him and his Companions in everything. [At-Tirmithi]. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also stated that the best people were his Companions, may Allaah be pleased with tem, then the generation who follow them and then the generation who follow them… [Al-Bukhari].
There are also further proofs to that effect.
Allaah Knows best.