Who are the Salafs/Salafiyyah/Salafis?
The word Salaf is a shortened version of the word Salafus-Saalih, which means the Righteous Predecessors. It refers specifically to the first three generations of Islam. The first, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, and his Sahaabah (companions, may Allah be pleased with them all). The second, the Taabi’een (the followers of the
companions). The third, the Tabaa’at-Taabi’een (the followers of the followers of the companions). Generally, this term refers to all those pious predecessors who followed the way of the Salaf and who have preceded us in time.
What is Salafiyyah?
It is the way of following the Salaf, in creed/belief, speech and actions, regardless of time or location. It is to understand and implement the religion as was understood and implemented by the Salaf. Following it exactly to the best of one’s ability, and to beware and refrain from that which opposes it.
Who is a Salafi?
The person who ascribes and adheres to the way of the Salaf. Just like the one born in a certain country is called the countryman of that country, due to his ascription to it. In other words the person who says “I am one who ascribes myself to the way of Salafus-Saalih, who are the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, and his Sahaabah, the Taabi’een, and the Tabaa’at-Taabi’een in creed, speech and actions.” It should be noted that a mere claim is not sufficient to establish the proof that one adheres to it.
Is it another party/group?
No it is NOT a party from among the parties, regardless of what people may claim. It is only an ascription to the Salafus-Saalih and their methodology, and calling to this noble methodology. It has NO Imam, except for Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him.
Shaikh Salih al-Fawzaan was asked, “Is Salafiyyah a hizb (party) from amongst the parties. And is ascribing to them (i.e. the Salafis) a blameworthy thing?”
To which he replied, “As-Salafiyyah (i.e. the Salafis) is the Saved Sect, and they are Ahl us-
Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. It is not a hizb (party) from amongst the various parties, those which
are called “parties” today. Rather they are the Jamaa’ah, the Jamaa’ah upon the Sunnah and
upon the Deen (religion). They are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. The Messenger (sallallaahu
alaihi wasallam) said, “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth not being harmed by those who forsake them neither by those who oppose them” and he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said, “And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire but one”. They said, which one is this O Messenger of Allaah? He replied, “They are those who are upon what I and my companions
are upon today”. Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people (i.e. the Salafis) upon the madhhab of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions were upon and it is not a hizb from amongst the contemporary groups present today. Rather it is
the very old Jamaa’ah, from the time of the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) which inherits (this way) and continues, and which never ceases to be upon the manifest truth until the establishment of the Hour, as he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has informed (us).” (Cassette: “at-Tahdheer min al-Bid’ah” second cassette, delivered as a lecture in Hawtah Sadeer, 1416H).
Who are the Wahabi’s
A Wahabi, though no one calls themselves one, is ascribed to one who follows Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab, who lived in the Arabian Peninsula during the nineteenth century. He was a reformer, who called people to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Many of the people who oppose his
teachings seemingly use this title Wahabi as a derogatory title to those who follow the Qur’an
and Sunnah.
Ibn Abdul Wahhab sought to purify Islam with a “back to basics” approach. He called the Muslims to tawheed, Oneness in worshipping Allah alone, where worship is defined as “any action or deed done to please Allah” and oneness in worship as making the religious practices only for Allah and calling only upon Allah.
Ibn Abdul Wahhab called the Muslims to return to the religious practices of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, and the first three generations of Islaam, these being described by Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him, as the rightly guided generations; he saw it as a fundamental necessity to do away with the innovations that, in his opinion, had crept into the religion during the time of the subsequent generations
Who are the Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamma’ah
They are those who hold on to the Sunnah of the Messenger, the ones who unite themselves upon that and they are the Companions of the Messenger, the Scholars of Guidance, who follow the Companions and whoever travels upon their path in terms of belief, speech and action until the Day of Judgement, while remaining steadfast upon this adherence. They
avoid innovating and innovations in whatever place or age/era they may be. They are the ones who will remain uppermost, aided (by Allah) until the Day of Judgement.
So Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah have been described with sticking to the Sunnah and [in all circumstances] avoiding / disregarding the invented matters and innovations in
the Deen (religion).
By the word Jama’ah the totality of Muslims is not meant, nor those who are largest in number or the great majority. This is because the Messenger mentioned that the Ta’ifat ul- Mansurah (The Aided Group: a synonymous term for Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah) is a single group from among the seventy three groups.
Abu Umamah reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him,
said, “My Ummah will split up into seventy-three sects, seventy-two in the Fire and one in Paradise.” We said, “Describe them to us O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “As-Suwad al- A’dham (the Great Majority).” Reported by al-Lalika’i in Sharh Usul il-I’tiqadand Ibn Abi
‘Asim in As-Sunnah. The Great Majority here does not refer to the great majority of people in every age and era. Rather this is specific for the era of the Companions and
the tabi’in. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said, “The Jama’ah is whatever (agrees) with the Truth. Even if it is only one person.” Ishaq ibn Rahawayah (d. 238H) said, “If you were to ask the ignorant people about the Great Majority they would say: The majority of people. They do not know that al-Jama’ah is the Scholar who clings to the narrations from the Prophet, upon whom be peace, and his way. So whoever is with him (the scholar) and follows him, then he is al-Jama’ah.” Reported by Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat ul-Awliyah. In the era of the Companions and their Followers the tabi’in the Great Majority in that time were upon the Truth. This was due to the fact that people were in nearness to the time of the Messenger, peace be upon him, and the Messenger attested to the credibility of the best of generations. As for those who came after them then the fact that they are many is not to be considered due to the generality of the texts which give evidence that evil will
increase and spread amongst the people, the Ummah will split into seventy-three sects and that Islam will return as something strange.
So what is the difference between a Salafi, Wahabi, Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l
Jamaa’ah?
Or even a Sunni, Ahl ul-Hadith, Ahl ul-Athar, At-Ta’ifat ul-Mansurah, Al-Firqat un-Najiyyah and
Ahl us-Sunnah.
All these terms are synonymous-similar. So a real Sunni is a Salafi and a real Salafi is a
Sunni. Likewise a Wahabi is of the Ahl ul-Hadith, and Ahl ul-Hadith is a Sunni.
All these refer to the one group of people who try to be upon the way of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him.
Importance of knowledge to avoid falling into wrong
Knowing what is in the Qur’an and Sunnah helps us from falling into shirk, bid’ah and into wrong. Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) warned us about what will happen when we do not have knowledge. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) said, “Allah does not erase knowledge by erasing the knowledge from slaves. Rather He erases knowledge through the death of scholars. When He leaves (the earth) without scholars people will take the ignorant as leaders. They will be asked, and then give religious rulings without knowledge. Thus they will be led, and will lead (others) astray.” (Ahmad)
Allah warns us about blindly following somebody.
“When it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has sent down,’ They say, ‘No! We shall follow what we found our fathers following.’ What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?” (al-Qur’an 2:170)
Allah also says:
“If you were to follow most of them on earth they will lead you away from the way of Allah.
They follow nothing but conjecture, they do nothing but lie.” (al-Anam 6:116)
So whenever we do an act within our religion, we should know why we are doing that act. We should know the proofs from the Qur’an and the Sunnah to save ourselves, and other people, before a time comes when there will be no saving us.
We might find people opposing us if we turn away from customary acts, and other deeds that have taken a foothold amongst our societies. Mawlid (Milad), asking help from the dead at graves, over jealous praising some of the living (‘peer following’), khatams at funerals, annual death celebrations (Urs), saying one’s intention out loud before prayers, giving some
of Allah’s Attributes which solely belong to Him to one of His prophets or His creation; these are only some examples which people have incorporated with Islam. But we know Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) said the following: “Islam started as something strange, and it would go back to being strange, so good tidings for the stranger.” (Muslim) and in another narration, “So give glad tidings to the strangers, those who put right what the people have corrupted of my Sunnah.” (Tirmidhi)
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