What is the ruling on rejecting the term "Salafi" on the grounds that it divides the Muslims and they cannot unite on it, and that it is obligatory to use the term "Ahl al-Sunnah"?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is your opinion regarding the insistence of some of the current youth on the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" over "Salafis"? Their argument is that they say: "You will not be able to unite the Ummah on this term!"
The Shaykh : Which term?
The questioner : The one that is Salafiyyah.
The Shaykh : And on which term?
The questioner : They say: By what they claim is "Ahl al-Sunnah."
The Shaykh : "Ahl al-Sunnah"?!
The questioner : That they gather the Ummah on "Ahl al-Sunnah."
The Shaykh : Well, first of all, we cannot gather the Ummah on this term, nor on that one.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has stamped the Ummah with His saying:[Hud 11:118-119]. This is first. Second: Is the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" a term explicitly mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah? Or is it an old convention? The answer: Without a doubt, it is a convention.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Well, so now: Does the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" mean the same as the term "Salafiyyah"? The answer: No. And if that is the case, and this can be easily proven, then we say that what permitted those before us to use and agree upon the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" is what permits us to use the term "Salafiyyah." This is because the first term no longer expresses the correct meaning that exists in it. Is the concept clear to you up to here?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Well, and I claim that the reason is that this term is contested today, and many Muslims who are neither in the caravan nor in the army regarding this term claim it: "Ahl al-Sunnah." Perhaps you and those of your kind among the students of knowledge know that the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" today, when first used, is intended to mean the Asha'irah. The scholars of al-Azhar who study creed only study the creed of the Asha'irah, and by "Ahl al-Sunnah" they mean the Asha'irah, not even the Maturidiyyah. And conversely: "Ahl al-Sunnah" are the Maturidiyyah in their own selves. Then, if this term is used in the present era for a broader meaning, specifying it for the Asha'irah, or specifying it for the Maturidiyyah, then what is intended by it are these two sects. So, who is included today in the designation of this convention? The Salafis who adopt the Book and the Sunnah, and follow the methodology of the righteous Salaf. This is a long discussion, and we have some tapes on this.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Perhaps you will ask about it and find a satisfying answer, if Allah wills.
The Shaykh : Which term?
The questioner : The one that is Salafiyyah.
The Shaykh : And on which term?
The questioner : They say: By what they claim is "Ahl al-Sunnah."
The Shaykh : "Ahl al-Sunnah"?!
The questioner : That they gather the Ummah on "Ahl al-Sunnah."
The Shaykh : Well, first of all, we cannot gather the Ummah on this term, nor on that one.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Because Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has stamped the Ummah with His saying:
but they will not cease to differ. (119) Except whom your Lord has given mercy
وَلَا يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ * إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Well, so now: Does the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" mean the same as the term "Salafiyyah"? The answer: No. And if that is the case, and this can be easily proven, then we say that what permitted those before us to use and agree upon the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" is what permits us to use the term "Salafiyyah." This is because the first term no longer expresses the correct meaning that exists in it. Is the concept clear to you up to here?
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Well, and I claim that the reason is that this term is contested today, and many Muslims who are neither in the caravan nor in the army regarding this term claim it: "Ahl al-Sunnah." Perhaps you and those of your kind among the students of knowledge know that the term "Ahl al-Sunnah" today, when first used, is intended to mean the Asha'irah. The scholars of al-Azhar who study creed only study the creed of the Asha'irah, and by "Ahl al-Sunnah" they mean the Asha'irah, not even the Maturidiyyah. And conversely: "Ahl al-Sunnah" are the Maturidiyyah in their own selves. Then, if this term is used in the present era for a broader meaning, specifying it for the Asha'irah, or specifying it for the Maturidiyyah, then what is intended by it are these two sects. So, who is included today in the designation of this convention? The Salafis who adopt the Book and the Sunnah, and follow the methodology of the righteous Salaf. This is a long discussion, and we have some tapes on this.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Perhaps you will ask about it and find a satisfying answer, if Allah wills.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.