There is a group that says we must follow one imam, and they rebuke those who differ with them by following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), calling them Salafis in a mocking tone.

The questioner : The questioner says: There is a group that says we must follow one imam, and they rebuke those who differ with them using the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), calling them Salafis, meaning Salafis in a mocking tone, and they consider them strange among them. What should be done with them?

The Shaykh : I agree with these people that a person must follow one imam, but which imam is it that one must follow? It is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Whoever claims that anyone other than the Messenger (may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him) must be followed in everything he says is in great danger, and this claim may lead to his disbelief, for no one among the creation is to be obeyed and followed in everything he says except the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Whoever claims that he must affiliate himself to Abu Hanifah, or al-Shafi'i, or Malik, or Ahmad, has spoken about Allah without knowledge, and he must repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) from this claim, for Allah says: and He says: So this matter is incorrect. As for their labeling the Salafis as Salafis, I agree with that as well. I say that the Salafis are Salafis, but they refute innovations and put an end to them, and they revive the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Salafis are excellent companions and a good people. However, I do not mean by Salafis the partisan groups, but I mean by a Salafi one who follows what came from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) without partisanship. I reject all partisanship, whatever its color or whatever its name. I say that the Muslim community is one party: So the party of Allah are those who hold fast to the Shari'ah of Allah (the Exalted) in appearance and in reality, who reject innovations, both small and large, who do not prefer the saying of anyone over the saying of Allah and His Messenger, who do not go before Allah, and who do not raise their voices against the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in speech, and who do not prefer the sayings of anyone from the creation over the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the party of Allah, the Salafi, the Ahl al-Hadith party, to which we must all organize ourselves, and these so-called parties, which are in reality a burden on Islam, must all be melted together in this crucible, the crucible of the party of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). I do not mean by the party of Allah anyone except those who are upon the way of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and as for those other than them, they are not of the party of Allah, even if they call themselves the party of Allah.