salafiyyah?

Definition of Salifiyyah

by Sheikh Ibn Al-Utaymeen
Yarhamahu Allah (May Allah have mercy on him)

From his book, "Liqaa-al-Baab al-Maftooh", Q # 1322

Muhammad Salih Ibn al-Uthaymeen said: "Salafiyyah is following the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and his Sahabah for they are our Salaf (predecessors) who preceded us, so following them is Salafiyyah. As for taking Salafiyyah as a special Manhaj such that everyone who differs with it is considered astray even if he was on the truth; then this is beyond doubt opposite to Salafiyyah.

All the Salaf called to Islam and to unite upon the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and they did not declare astray anyone who differs with them (in a certain issue) because of (a different) interpretation (Taweel), except in matters of Aqeedah because they considered him, who differed in Aqeedah as astray.

But, in our time, some who took the path of Salafiyyah consider astray everyone who differs from them even if the truth were to be on his side. And they took a Hizbi (partisan) Manhaj, just like the other Hizbs (parties), who divide the religion. This (their way) must be rejected and not be approved of.

It is said, 'Look at the way of the Salaf as-Salih and what did they do in regards to differences and wideness of their hearts with regards to Ikhtilaaf (differences) in matters in which Ijtihad was feasible. (They differed with each other) to the degree that they differed in big issues, in (minor) issues of Aqeedah and (minor) issues of knowledge - for example, some of them denied that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saw His Lord and some of them confirmed of it. Some of them said, 'the deeds would be weighted on the Day of Judgment', whilst others held that "the books which record the deeds will be weighed." They also differ in matters of Fiqh, Marriage, obligations, buying and selling, etc. Despite this, they did not declare each other astray.

Thus, Salafiyyah that is taken to mean a special party (Hizb) with specific rules whose members consider anyone who differs with them as astray then they have nothing to do with Salafiyyah.

But the Salafiyyah that is to follow the Salaf in beliefs, sayings, actions, their way of differing and unity, their way of being merciful and compassion to one another as the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."Then this is the true Salafiyyah."

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Salaf - literally means "those (from history) who precede, have gone before".

As-Salaf as-Saalih - The people of the past, namely the first three generations of pious muslims during and after the revelation of the Qur'an, i.e.the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet, saaws , the Taabi'een (followers) and the Taabi Taabi'een (followers of the followers).

Islam teaches that As-Salaf as-Saalih are superior in their understanding of the Revelation of Al-Qu'ran. Generally speaking, the people present during any event (such as the revelation of the Quran) will understand it better than those who read about it later.

• The Prophet, saaws, said: "I am leaving you two things and you will never go astray as long as you cling to them -- they are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." [Reported by Al- Haakim - Sahih].
  

• "The best of people are my generation, then the second, then the third, then there will come a people, having no good in them." [[related by Ibn Mas'ood] [Tabaraanee in Al-Kabeer] Shaykh Al Albaanee declares it to be Hasan. See Silsilatul Ahaadeeth ad-Da'eefah no.3569, and Saheeh Al Jaami' no. 3293.]

• "My Ummah will not unite upon error." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and Haakim - Sahih]

• The best of people are my generation, then those who follow after them, then those who follow after them, then there will come after them a people who will be fat, and they will love obesity, bearing witness before being asked to."[related by the Umars, sons of Husayn(r)] [Tirmidthee, authenticated by Imaam Al Haakim] Shaykh Al Albaanee declares it to be Saheeh. See Silsilatul Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah no. 699, and Saheeh Al Jaami' no. 3294.

Salafi - means "of the salaf". The "i" (sounds like "ee") on the end of the word means "of the", "of" and/or "are". Using correct arabic grammar, the word "salafi" can only be used in association with words that are of that which is truly from the far past. In order to be a salaf, you had to exist generations prior to the current one. Referring to oneself as a salafi* is permissible in Islam so long as the intention is for identification with the salafi minhaj and this identification does not replace your identification as being MUSLIM, as this is what Allah swt has commanded us in The Qur'an to call ourselves. While it is important, as many scholars have said, to distinguish ourselves from the innovators, we first do this in our actions (i.e. do not sit with the people of innovation, engage the sunnah in our daily lives, etc.), and to do so in speech, we can best do so by clearly stating that we are followers of the pious predecessors ("Ana a-taaba as-salaf as-saalih").

Those Muslims whose intentions are to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet saaws and the salaf, know better than to divide themselves into a sect (a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially one regarded as extreme or heretical) that parts from following clear proof in Quran and Sunnah.

• "And this Ummah will divide into seventy-three scts all of which except one will go to Hell and they (i.e. the Saved Sect) are those who are upon what I and My Companions are upon (i.e. those who follow My Way and the Way of my Companions.)" [Reported by at-Tirmidhee - Hasan]

• "Verily those before you from among the People of the Book split into seventy-two sects and verily this religion . . . ", and in another narration, " . . . this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects: seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise and that is the Jamaa'ah." [Reported by Abu Daawood - Sahih]

• When questioned by his Companions about those who will be saved from the Fire, the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) replied: "They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee from Amr ibn al-Aas - classified as Hasan.

Following the madhdhab of the salaf is unlike following one of the madhdhabs (schools of thought) of today. Today when a person says they follow a madhdhab, they mean they follow one of the four Imams (Maliki, Hanafi, etc..), often to the point that even if the Imam's chosen position on any topic is clearly in error, they will follow it anyway, just for the sake of consistency in following the same Imam. In the true use of the word "madhdhab", the way of the salaf is a madhdhab. In the modern sense of the word "madhdhab", the way of the salaf is not a madhdhab, meaning it does not require or encourage blind adherence to a single leader like the practice of muslims who follow any one of the four major madhdhabs of today.

Minhaj Qur'an wa Sunnah- means methodology of Qur'an and Sunnah.

• Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan said, " The reasons for disunity are many. From amongst the main causes are: Firstly, opposing the minhaj (methodology) of the Salaf, the Companions of Allaah's Messenger and those who follow them. So the Salaf had a minhaj that they adhered to; a manhaj in aqeedah (creed), a manhaj in da'wah (calling to Allaah), a minhaj in enjoining good and forbidding evil, a manhaj in how to judge between people. This minhaj, in all situations, was based upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of our Messenger." [Wujoob ut-Tathabbut fil-Akhbaaar p.18]

Bid'a- Innovation in ibaddah [worship], to be avoided!

• The Prophet, saaws, has said: "If anyone introduces into this affair of ours (i.e. the religion of Islam) anything which does not belong to it, he will have it rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih].

• The Prophet, saaws, said: "Whoever does an action which we (Allah and His Messenger) have not commanded it will be rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]

Shirk- To associate a partner with Allah swt. The greatest sin.

Tawheed- The Oneness of Allah, swt.

• Tawheed-ar-Ruboobiyya (Oneness of the Lordship of Allah).

  • To believe that there is only one Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, Maintainer, etc., and that is Allah swt.

• Tawheed-al-Uloohiyya (Oneness of the worship of Allah).

  • To believe that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Worship comes in the form of praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen or anything believed to be a deity (i.e. idols), swearing, slaughtering sacrifices, etc.

    • "And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allâh." [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18].

    • "Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [Surah Al-Kahf 18:110]

• Tawheed-al-Asma was-Sifat (Oneness of the Names/Attributes of Allah)

  • To believe that all the best of names/attributes (i.e. "The Most Merciful", etc.) belong to Allah as described in the Qur'an and by Prophet Muhammad saaws, and must not be twisted or expanded upon nor given similtude to human characteristics.

    • "Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): 'He is Allâh, (the) One. Allâh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.' " [Surah Al-Ikhlas 112].

    • "...There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." [Surah Ash-Shura 42:11]

source : http://muttaqun.com/salafiyyah.html