Who is a Salafi?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : It has become customary to describe a certain group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Shaykh : Which specific group?
The questioner : A certain group.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, come on, let us hear, my brother, and straighten your tongue; do not twist it. Say it?
The questioner : That it has become customary to describe a certain group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Shaykh : Describe?
The questioner : A certain group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
The questioner : And that this name does not extend to other Muslims.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The question here is: if Islam and Salafism are one and the same, and there is no difference between a Muslim called a Salafi and a Muslim, then, just as in Islam there is a committed Muslim, a sinful Muslim, and an innovating Muslim, is it possible to say that there is a committed Salafi, a sinful Salafi, and an innovating Salafi? We can describe a sinful singer as a Muslim, but can we call this sinful singer a Salafi?
The Shaykh : Why is this question so long?
First: It must be known that a Salafi is not confined to a certain group. Whoever holds to the methodology of the Salaf is a Salafi, whether his time is early or late. As for making it a specific group and saying, "These are Salafis and these are rationalists," that is wrong. But let it be known that some scholars emphasize the aspect of reason, while others emphasize the aspect of the Shari'ah. Therefore, you will find in books of jurisprudential disagreement that when they want to speak about the followers of Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), they describe them as "the people of opinion" (ahli al-ra'y), because they have the people of evidence and the people of opinion. So take this rule: A Salafi is one who holds to the methodology of the Salaf, and it is not restricted to a specific sect. It is not permissible for us to classify people and say, "These are Salafis and these are rationalists" or the like. Yes, I say: A Salafi is one who takes the methodology of the Salaf in creed, speech, and action, in any place. It is not correct to divide Muslims and say, "This one is a rationalist and this one is a Salafi" or the like. Rather, it is obligatory for everyone to be Salafis. This is not a partisan issue, nor is it that it is the truth. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[At-Tawbah 9:100] Did you understand, O questioner?
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Which specific group?
The questioner : A certain group.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, come on, let us hear, my brother, and straighten your tongue; do not twist it. Say it?
The questioner : That it has become customary to describe a certain group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Shaykh : Describe?
The questioner : A certain group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right.
The questioner : And that this name does not extend to other Muslims.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The question here is: if Islam and Salafism are one and the same, and there is no difference between a Muslim called a Salafi and a Muslim, then, just as in Islam there is a committed Muslim, a sinful Muslim, and an innovating Muslim, is it possible to say that there is a committed Salafi, a sinful Salafi, and an innovating Salafi? We can describe a sinful singer as a Muslim, but can we call this sinful singer a Salafi?
The Shaykh : Why is this question so long?
First: It must be known that a Salafi is not confined to a certain group. Whoever holds to the methodology of the Salaf is a Salafi, whether his time is early or late. As for making it a specific group and saying, "These are Salafis and these are rationalists," that is wrong. But let it be known that some scholars emphasize the aspect of reason, while others emphasize the aspect of the Shari'ah. Therefore, you will find in books of jurisprudential disagreement that when they want to speak about the followers of Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), they describe them as "the people of opinion" (ahli al-ra'y), because they have the people of evidence and the people of opinion. So take this rule: A Salafi is one who holds to the methodology of the Salaf, and it is not restricted to a specific sect. It is not permissible for us to classify people and say, "These are Salafis and these are rationalists" or the like. Yes, I say: A Salafi is one who takes the methodology of the Salaf in creed, speech, and action, in any place. It is not correct to divide Muslims and say, "This one is a rationalist and this one is a Salafi" or the like. Rather, it is obligatory for everyone to be Salafis. This is not a partisan issue, nor is it that it is the truth. Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him
والسابقون الأولون من المهاجرين والأنصار والذين اتبعوهم بإحسان رضي الله عنهم ورضوا عنهThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Yes.