A Statement on Who Is Called the People of the Sunnah and the Community
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Question:
Or one doubts that it is possible that meeting Paradise and the Community differs; much evil enters into this, [regarding those] who claim this name rightfully or partially. As for the phrase "the Salaf al-Salih" (the righteous predecessors), it is a term that is not adopted except by those who are easygoing and brought it about. As for the people of Paradise, they look at this matter as they saw it in this Salaf.
Answer:
The people of the Sunnah and the Community do not gather except for those who hold fast to the Sunnah, except for those who hold fast to the Sunnah.
So this is what is called the people of the Sunnah. As for one who opposes the Sunnah and follows other ideas and schools of thought, it is not said that he is from the people of the Sunnah. He may be from the people of the Sunnah in some matters, and not from them in others. He may have a connection to the Salaf, but in error he opposes the Sunnah from another angle. However, to say absolutely that he is from the people of the Sunnah is not applied to him as long as he has opposition. But it is said he is from the people of the Sunnah in such-and-such only. As for the absolute designation, it is not applied except to one who agrees with the Sunnah in all its matters and does not oppose it. Yes.
The discussion is not about the name; the discussion is about the reality, the reality and the conformity. We know their school and their statements in light of the Sunnah. If they conform to it, they are of the Sunnah. If you say, "No, you are not of the Sunnah," they oppose. No, the discussion is not about the name only; the reality and the scale are necessary. I weigh their statements and schools against the Sunnah. Yes. To the tenth session.
No, no, [it is] not gloomy. They say, "Do not call yourselves Salafi, do not call yourselves the people of the Sunnah, you divide the people, and do not call yourselves [by] the creed, because this divides the people." This is a false statement. We take pride, and praise be to Allah, in being called by the Sunnah, by following the Salaf, and by the correct creed. This is an honor for us, and we do not care about anyone, nor do we mind the innovators or the opponents taking offense at us. No, we do not mind. Yes. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and peace be upon the mention of Allah.
Or one doubts that it is possible that meeting Paradise and the Community differs; much evil enters into this, [regarding those] who claim this name rightfully or partially. As for the phrase "the Salaf al-Salih" (the righteous predecessors), it is a term that is not adopted except by those who are easygoing and brought it about. As for the people of Paradise, they look at this matter as they saw it in this Salaf.
Answer:
The people of the Sunnah and the Community do not gather except for those who hold fast to the Sunnah, except for those who hold fast to the Sunnah.
So this is what is called the people of the Sunnah. As for one who opposes the Sunnah and follows other ideas and schools of thought, it is not said that he is from the people of the Sunnah. He may be from the people of the Sunnah in some matters, and not from them in others. He may have a connection to the Salaf, but in error he opposes the Sunnah from another angle. However, to say absolutely that he is from the people of the Sunnah is not applied to him as long as he has opposition. But it is said he is from the people of the Sunnah in such-and-such only. As for the absolute designation, it is not applied except to one who agrees with the Sunnah in all its matters and does not oppose it. Yes.
The discussion is not about the name; the discussion is about the reality, the reality and the conformity. We know their school and their statements in light of the Sunnah. If they conform to it, they are of the Sunnah. If you say, "No, you are not of the Sunnah," they oppose. No, the discussion is not about the name only; the reality and the scale are necessary. I weigh their statements and schools against the Sunnah. Yes. To the tenth session.
No, no, [it is] not gloomy. They say, "Do not call yourselves Salafi, do not call yourselves the people of the Sunnah, you divide the people, and do not call yourselves [by] the creed, because this divides the people." This is a false statement. We take pride, and praise be to Allah, in being called by the Sunnah, by following the Salaf, and by the correct creed. This is an honor for us, and we do not care about anyone, nor do we mind the innovators or the opponents taking offense at us. No, we do not mind. Yes. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and peace be upon the mention of Allah.
Source
شرح العقيدة الواسطية [ صالح الفوزان ] [ الشرح القديم ]، اعتقاد الفرقة الناجية المنصورة — islamhouse.com (57:14)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.