The Shaykh’s mention of a discussion that took place between him and one who hesitates to say, “I am a Salafi.”

The Shaykh : In this very room, a discussion took place between me and one of those who claim to follow the Book and the Sunnah. He is with us to some extent in that, but as you know, the matter varies depending on how deeply this claimant is versed in the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah. Many things from the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah may be hidden from him. However, he does not say, “I am a Hanafi, a Maliki, or a Shafi'i”; rather, he says, “I am on the Book and the Sunnah,” but only to the extent of the knowledge that has reached him. In many of the sessions and discussions that took place between us, I came to know and perceive that he flees from this affiliation, especially the name “Salafi.” So I directed the following question to him, and I think recounting this session is useful in this regard. I said to him, “If someone asked you, ‘What is your madhhab (school of jurisprudence)?’” He said, “I would tell him, ‘I am a Muslim.’” I said, “That is not an answer to the question.” He asked, “Why?” I said to him, “If someone asked you, ‘What is your religion?’ What would your answer be?” It is the same answer, whereas the answer should differ according to the question. My question was, “What is your madhhab?” So it became obvious to him that his answer was incorrect, and therefore he corrected it. But he did not correct it properly. He said, “Then I will say, ‘I am a Muslim on the Book and the Sunnah.’” That is correct, but it is not sufficient today; it is not sufficient. I said, “If the one being asked were someone else from these people—whether from the madhhab-based scholars who are, by the modern definition today, from the people of the Sunnah and the community, or from the other madhahib, for example, if we asked an Ibadi or a Khariji, ‘What is your madhhab?’ If he wanted to say what you said first, he would say, ‘I am a Muslim,’ and we have agreed that this answer is not an answer. If he were to say what you said second, which is ‘on the Book and the Sunnah,’ he would be truthful in the depths of his heart; he is truthful. So what is the difference between you and him? And the examples multiply with the multiplication of the madhahib, and so on. Do you not see with me, Professor?” I said to him, “It is necessary to add something here.” I mentioned a word revolving around the previous verse . The believers here are, without a doubt, the righteous Salaf. He said, “That is correct. So I will say, ‘I am on the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous Salaf.’” I said, “Well, you are a man of good manners and have some knowledge of the Arabic language and its etiquette. Is it not possible to summarize this religion with one name? Instead of saying ‘on the Book and the Sunnah and the methodology of the righteous Salaf,’ could one say, for example, ‘I am a Salafi’?” The man fell silent. He did not object, nor did he mean to say the word of truth. The point is that this discussion clarifies the actual reality now. Therefore, this expression, “the people of the Sunnah and the community,” does not represent the call to the truth, which is the Book, the Sunnah, and the methodology of the righteous Salaf. This is what appeared to me to mention on this occasion.