The ruling on labeling those who follow the methodology of the Salaf as "Athari"
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Question:
One of the listening brothers sent the following lines, saying: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Your Eminence, may Allah preserve you, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Some of the young people have objected to being called "Athari" and to identifying with the Athar (narrations). They say: "This label divides the Muslims." Is this correct? Or is it merely an attribution to the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to the truth? Especially since some of the renowned scholars, such as al-Hafiz al-‘Iraqi, adopted this title. Is it true that you have reconsidered using this title? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I am not aware of any blame in that. If a person says, "I am an Athari," or if it is said about so-and-so, "He is an Athari," provided that this is true—if he relies on the Prophetic hadiths and the pure Sunnah, and follows the path of the righteous Salaf—then he may be called an Athari, or it may be said that he is from the people of the Sunnah and the community. There is no blame in any of this, and the people of the Sunnah have followed this practice, provided that he is sincere in it. Yes.
The presenter : Does this mean that Your Eminence has not retracted from using this term?
The Shaykh : I did not adopt the title that some people gave me. I did not call myself an Athari; I did not say about myself that I am an Athari. Rather, some people said that about me. Yes.
The presenter : And it was found in some books.
The Shaykh : That is what some people said about me.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : As for me, I say: Yes, I am—Allah willing—from the people of the Sunnah and the community.
The presenter : May Allah accept it.
The Shaykh : And I am—Allah willing—an Athari. I am saying it now. Yes.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. O Allah, amen. May Allah make us and you among the Athariyyun. O Allah, amen.
One of the listening brothers sent the following lines, saying: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Your Eminence, may Allah preserve you, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Some of the young people have objected to being called "Athari" and to identifying with the Athar (narrations). They say: "This label divides the Muslims." Is this correct? Or is it merely an attribution to the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to the truth? Especially since some of the renowned scholars, such as al-Hafiz al-‘Iraqi, adopted this title. Is it true that you have reconsidered using this title? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I am not aware of any blame in that. If a person says, "I am an Athari," or if it is said about so-and-so, "He is an Athari," provided that this is true—if he relies on the Prophetic hadiths and the pure Sunnah, and follows the path of the righteous Salaf—then he may be called an Athari, or it may be said that he is from the people of the Sunnah and the community. There is no blame in any of this, and the people of the Sunnah have followed this practice, provided that he is sincere in it. Yes.
The presenter : Does this mean that Your Eminence has not retracted from using this term?
The Shaykh : I did not adopt the title that some people gave me. I did not call myself an Athari; I did not say about myself that I am an Athari. Rather, some people said that about me. Yes.
The presenter : And it was found in some books.
The Shaykh : That is what some people said about me.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : As for me, I say: Yes, I am—Allah willing—from the people of the Sunnah and the community.
The presenter : May Allah accept it.
The Shaykh : And I am—Allah willing—an Athari. I am saying it now. Yes.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. O Allah, amen. May Allah make us and you among the Athariyyun. O Allah, amen.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.