What is the ruling on claiming affiliation with the righteous Salaf and saying, “I am a Salafi in creed”?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. A questioner asks: “O honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on claiming affiliation with the righteous Salaf and saying, ‘I am a Salafi in creed’?”
The Shaykh : Claiming affiliation with the righteous Salaf is obligatory, because the righteous Salaf are those who were upon what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was upon. As for saying “I am a Salafi,” if one intends to establish a party or affiliation with a party, then we oppose parties and hold that the Muslim community must be one party upon the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. If one intends by “I am a Salafi” that I follow the Salaf and I do not wish to establish a party to misguide those who differ with me, then this is the truth. We are all Salafis. We all ask Allah the Exalted to let us die upon the path of the Salaf. We all ask Allah for that. But to establish a party called Salafi, another party called Ikhwan, another party called Tabligh, and another party called such and such—we do not see this. We do not see this. Was there any party formation among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) like this? Answer: No. We say no, and we say that whoever has a claim other than this, let him bring it. Did the Salaf of the Ummah all form parties? No, they were all upon the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), following his traces outwardly and inwardly, in creed, speech, and action. As for party formation, we deny it most strongly and hold that the Muslim community must be one party upon the methodology of whom? Upon the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, and his Companions.
The Shaykh : Claiming affiliation with the righteous Salaf is obligatory, because the righteous Salaf are those who were upon what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was upon. As for saying “I am a Salafi,” if one intends to establish a party or affiliation with a party, then we oppose parties and hold that the Muslim community must be one party upon the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. If one intends by “I am a Salafi” that I follow the Salaf and I do not wish to establish a party to misguide those who differ with me, then this is the truth. We are all Salafis. We all ask Allah the Exalted to let us die upon the path of the Salaf. We all ask Allah for that. But to establish a party called Salafi, another party called Ikhwan, another party called Tabligh, and another party called such and such—we do not see this. We do not see this. Was there any party formation among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) like this? Answer: No. We say no, and we say that whoever has a claim other than this, let him bring it. Did the Salaf of the Ummah all form parties? No, they were all upon the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), following his traces outwardly and inwardly, in creed, speech, and action. As for party formation, we deny it most strongly and hold that the Muslim community must be one party upon the methodology of whom? Upon the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions, and his Companions.