Discussion of those who avoid being called Salafi

The student : He mentioned to me that Shaykh Sa'd said to him, "We are Salafis, meaning there is a matter between one person and another that he mentioned to me, and so on." He said to him, "We are Salafis; it is not necessary for us to be like this, or that we must apply the way of the Salaf. Since our name is Salafi, why is our name Salafi if we do not want to apply what the Companions used to do?"

The Shaykh : Yes.
The student : So he said to me, "I do not believe in this term."

The Shaykh: Allahu Akbar.
The student : And we say that we are Salafis, and that is enough; we say [we follow] the Book and the Sunnah only.

The Shaykh : ... .
The student : So frankly, I did not like to argue with him because the subject was different, meaning I said that arguing with him would not yield any fruit.
The student : My Shaykh, this is truly strange. I have seen, my Shaykh, the Saudi constitution, or I should say the Saudi methodology in creed, and they said, of course... Islamic in the Salafi creed, word for word. So, glory to Allah, I mean.

The Shaykh : This was a decision, my brother; a decision was made when a conference was held of scholars from various parts of the Islamic world in Madinah al-Munawwarah, specifically at the Islamic University. I had graduated from it as a teacher many years ago. They held a conference and invited scholars from various Islamic countries, and I was among those invited. Several sessions were held, and each session was a committee with a responsible Shaykh. In summary, the entire conference agreed, praise be to Allah, on the necessity of returning to the Book and the Sunnah in deriving rulings. No one raised the issue of "Salafi" or "Salafiyah" at all, except Al-Albani. I was, of course, a member of one of those committees. I submitted such a proposal. The head of the committee, like all committees, submits proposals to a smaller committee composed of specialists in handling the submitted proposals. So, praise be to Allah, they adopted this proposal because, in truth, it is irrefutable by a knowledgeable person. And as we always cite, He—Exalted is He—said: .
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : But now, when a person deals with some social matters and is not strong in his knowledge and creed, he is forced to compromise, approximate, and seek words that do not provoke the feelings of the opponents. Our brother, Shaykh Sa'd, is of this type. He is a political man; it is enough that he has what they call the diplomatic bag. He cannot use the term "Salafi" because it would highlight a distinct creed, and the Muslim Brothers, the Party of Liberation, and the Tabligh, among others, would be repelled by him. He is a messenger to gather, and so the Muslim Brothers do, and even some Salafis today, such as those who travel or others, use the term "People of the Book," "People of the Sunnah and the Community," "People of the Sunnah and the Community," and especially Sirrur in his magazine rarely use the words "Salaf" and "Salafiyah." And I am a Salafi. One says to me, "This is a policy, this is surprising to me now regarding Shaykh Sa'd, because..."

The questioner : It is surprising to you.

The Shaykh : Hmm.

The questioner : It is surprising to you.

The Shaykh : Yes, that he does not say, "I am a Salafi."

The questioner : Ah, he told me this recently, a few days ago.

The Shaykh : I am telling you, it is surprising; this is a verbal policy of his. I hope it is not a creedal one.
The student : We ask Allah for that.