Are they called Salafis in this era, or the people of the Sunnah?

The questioner : Which is more appropriate to use, O Shaykh, the term "people of the Sunnah" or the term "Salaf"?

The Shaykh : Salaf.

The questioner : Well, some people say that the term "Salaf" was not used until later, meaning they consider it to be late, dating from the time of Ibn Taymiyyah, whereas the term "people of the Sunnah and the community" has been in use from early on?

The Shaykh : When is the date of this? Stop the donkey.The Shaykh : At the obstacle.

The questioner : By Allah, I asked which is more appropriate, when the term "Salaf" dates from, and they said it is not known except from the time of Ibn Taymiyyah!

The Shaykh : You have taken the side of those over these. Why did you not also ask about this?

The questioner : It slipped my mind, O Shaykh, but you answer me.

The Shaykh : I tell you: My knowledge, and Allah knows best, of course, is that both usages are recent, but this recency has no connection to innovation, meaning it has no connection to bid'ah (religious innovation), but its connection is to custom. The term "people of the Sunnah and the community" has always meant and still means various groups of people, whereas the term "Salaf" or "Salafi" or "Salafis" means a specific group of people. Is the speech understood up to here? Well, there is no doubt that the victorious group and the saved sect is one sect or group, but "people of the Sunnah" in the terminology of those who use this term means many sects and groups. The first thing that comes to mind for those who use this word, prior to the present era, is that they are the Asha'irah and the Maturidiyyah who are the people of the Sunnah and the community. If you read in the books of creed known as the science of kalam, for example, al-Jawharah and its marginal notes and commentaries and the like, you will know, and we praise Allah that you do not know, that the intended meaning of this word is those Asha'irah and Maturidiyyah. I notice now that this word is used as a political term to catch some people with sweet words and to increase the number of the calling group, even if their call is predominantly leaning toward error, but they have seasoned it with political words and methods. Therefore, what appeared to me, and Allah knows best, and based on what appeared to me, I suggested to some of them to abandon this usage, "people of the Sunnah and the community," because when they use it, the masses of Muslims today, even if we limit them to those who call themselves people of the Sunnah and the community, because the intended meaning of this name is, for example, being opposed to the Rafidah, the Khawarij, the Ibadis, the Mu'tazilah, and so on, whereas the Asha'irah and Maturidiyyah are the first to fall under this name. So when some of the callers today use this term, even if they are on the Salafi methodology, they use it politically. And the Salafi call is a call like Islam, clear and evident, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Therefore, the political call suits political words that please all people, whether they are with them or against them. But the call to truth knows only one clear method, like the sun at noon. The greatest proof of this is if I say, "I call to the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and I am a Salafi," based on that, it is not accepted from you. But if I say, "I am from the people of the Sunnah and the community," it is accepted from you. Why? Because this terminology is comprehensive. And this call, no blame, has no connection or kinship with backbiting. This is the call of the Muslim Brotherhood, for example, who gather Salafis, Khalafis, Sufis, and Shi'ah, and so on, because it is a general call; they do not want the purification that we are singing about. And perhaps it is appropriate to say now that the purification we call for is not only in creed and worship, but also in words, because it is part of the perfection of worship. Our Prophet (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) ... La ilaha illa Allah ... was part of the perfection of his (peace be upon him) call and his reform of the Muslims that he concerned himself with the rectification of their outward appearances, not only their inward states. So often we see him (peace be upon him) treating verbal errors, especially when the word was contrary to tawhid (the oneness of Allah), even if the one uttering that word did not intend what appears from his word of contradicting tawhid. I said, and especially that, because his (peace be upon him) reform of words was much broader than that. The matter reached him (peace be upon him) to the point that he said: Here the Muslim is speaking about himself, not about his Lord. Nevertheless, when the Muslim wants to speak about something not good that he finds in himself and wants to express it with a word that is foul, he should not express the foul thing he finds in himself with this same word. He says: And the meaning of "laqast" is "I became foul" in the language, but as you see, this word is very gentle; it expresses the meaning in the ugly word usually. If that is the case, we take the etiquette that we should leave peaceful words from implying a matter ... Is it time for prayer? ... No, whoever needs to perform wudu' (the ablution for prayer) should stand up.

The questioner : So, O Shaykh, the use of the term "people of the Sunnah and the community" is not precise?

The Shaykh : How?

The questioner : No, it is not precise?

The Shaykh : Ah, it is not precise, but it is elastic ... .

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : And beware of that.

The questioner : ... Hadith ... and whoever disobeys them has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger?

The Shaykh : This, may Allah bless you, falls within what I said ... .

The questioner: That is my intention.

The Shaykh : But I wanted to draw attention to what is ... .

The questioner : Other than tawhid.

The Shaykh : Ah, because that is even more so.

The questioner : There is no doubt.

The Shaykh : But this is what we start with in reforming words, even those related to words ... tawhid is the greatest ... .