The Salafi Da'wah

O you who deceive others! We are not the first to use this term (salafi), nor do we bring about innovation, so you should review the ascriptions. (Sheikh Muqbil bin Haadi al-Waadi'ee rahimahullah)

Sheikh Salih bin Fawzaan hafidhullah said: Ahl Sunnah have been called Ahl Sunnah, due to their ascription to an Nabi salla lahu alayhi wa salaam, and they don't ascribe themselves to particular statements or other minhaj'.

This is in contrast to the Ahl Bidah. They ascribe to their innovations and misguidance.

The founder to the dawahtus salafiyyah is the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. All of them called to one manhaj, creed and methodology.And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination. (An-Nisa 4:115)

So If they believe in the like of that which you believe, then they are rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allâh will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:137)

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, "The people of my generation are the best, then those who follow them (Taabi'een), and then whose who follow the latter (Taabi ut-Taabi'een). After that there will come some people whose witness will preceed their oaths, and their oaths will preceed their witness." (Narrated by Abdullah radi Allahu anhu, Collected by Imam Ahmad, Bukhari and Muslim)

Salafi means, each and everyone who traverses upon following and emulating the companions of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam , even if they are in our time.This is what the statement of the Ahl Ilm is based upon, so it is an ascription that does not go outside of The Book and Sunnah, and doesn't stray from it. Rather Salafiyyah is from them and returns back to them.

Sheikh Bakr bin Abdullah Abu Zaid said: Be a Salafi upon the correct path, upon the way of the Salaf as Salih (the companions), and those who traversed upon their tracks in every area of the religion.The term Salafi was not used during the time of the companions, because all of them were reliable; they all agreed upon the truth, everyone understood it and it was known.

The well known principal "Distinguishing Truth from Falsehood" had to be established when the deviant sects emerged, so the term began to be used. From the beginning of the time line of the usage of the term Salaf, is what has been collected by Bukhari and Muslim (wording by Muslim), in the hadith of Aishah radi Allahu anha: Fatimah radi Allahu anha stated, an Nabi salla lahu alayhi wa salaam was speaking to me... "and you are the closest of my family to me, and what a good and blessed Salaf (preceded your arrival, so therefore return your affairs back to me) I am for you."

A claim that salafiyyah is wrong

As Salamualikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh

Concerning the Claim: Salafiyyah is not from Islam. Answered by the Noble Shaykh, Dr. Saalih Ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan. Shaykh al-Fawzaan refutes Al Areefi's claim that 'salafiyyah is not from Islam' defending it (salafiyyah) as the Manhaj (methodology) of truth and that we proceed upon it and we leave those who oppose it.

“Then Salafiyyah is the methodology of truth which is compulsory for us to proceed upon and to leave what opposes it from the other methodologies and its people. And their people (the Salafees) are from the saved sect, Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah and they are the aided group until the day of judgment, may Allaah make us from them.”

The virtuous Doctor, Shaykh Saalih Bin Fawzaan al Fawzaan, who is of the members of the major scholars refuted what was published in (Ukaadh) surrounding a guest article by the Da'ee, Ash-Shaykh Muhammad al 'Areefi.. and the refutation of Dr. Fawzaan was upon the first Halqah (section) which was entitled: "Salafee, Tableeghee, Ikhwaanee: names that are not from Islaam" and the following is the refutation (of this) from the virtuous Shaykh:
Alhamdulillaah and I proceed:

I read the Ukaadh magazine on Sunday 28 Rabee' Uth Thanee 1426 number 14162, an evil title of which I spoke about to with some of the virtuous scholars and it is:

Salafee, Tableeghee are names that are not from Islaam. I was amazed how the author added that Salafiyyah is not from Islam when it means following the way of the Salafus-Saalih from the Sahaabah and the Tabi'een and the preferred generations and Allaah has said: "And those who preceeded from the emigrants and the helpers and those who follow them in goodness Allaah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah..."(At-Tawbah 9:100).

And Allah said about the Sahaabah: "Verily, those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the Cause of Allaah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and help, - these are (all) allies to one another." (Al-Anfal 8:72) Until Allaah may he be glorified said: "And those who believed afterwards, and emigrated and strove hard along with you, (in the Cause of Allaah) they are of you." (Al-Anfal 8:75).

And Allah said in Soorah Hashr: "(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allaah and to please Him. And helping Allaah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say);-And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them. (Al-Hashr 59:8-9) Until Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) said: And those after them who said our Lord forgive us and our brothers who came before in faith." (Al-Hashr 59:10).

And the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: This Ummah will seperate into 73 different groups all of them are in the fire except one. They asked who are they 'O Messenger of Allah. He said: Whomsoever is upon what I am upon and my companions. (Tirmidhi, vol. 2, pg. 89).

And he said (allayhee salat wassalam): "Upon you is my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs after me." ([Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawood (Eng. Trans. 3/1294/no.4590), at-Tirmidhee (no. 2676), Ibn Maajah (no. 42) ad-Daarimee (no.96) and Ibn Abee ‘Aasim in as-Sunnah (no. 54)]. Shaikh al-Albaanee declares, “It’s isnaad is saheeh, It’s isnaad is saheeh, its narrators reliable.”).

Then Salafiyyah is the methodology of truth which is compulsory for us to proceed upon and to leave what opposes it from the other methodologies and its people. And their people (the Salafees) are from the saved sect, Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama'ah and they are the aided group until the day of judgment, may Allaah make us from them. And (Shaykh) Fawzaan pointed out that when one ascribes to this Manhaj he needs to know the principles so the Muslim would hold onto it and he needs to know the methodologies that oppose it until he leaves them off. For holding unto Salafiyyah is upon knowledge and insight. And it is not enough to ascribe oneself to it from ignorance or opposition because Allaah said:"And those who followed them in goodness." (At-Tawbah 9:100).

Meaning goodness in knowledge and goodness in obedience without going to extremes or being too lenient... like those who who ascribe themselves to the Madhabs of the four Imams: Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Ash Shafi'ee and Ahmad and they oppose their methodology in belief and worship. And also the one who ascribes himself to the methodology of the Salaf and he calls a Muslim a non Muslim or opposes the Muslim rulers or goes into a direction of extremism he is not a Salafee rather he is called a Kharijee or Mu'tazilee. And like this is the one who ascribes himself to the way of the Salaf and he says the statement of the Murji'ah in the issues of belief and disbelief, (then) he is not Salafee.

Therefore it is compulsory to pay attention to this issue and to not mix the methodology of the Salaf with other Methodologies that go against it. And it is said that these (other methodologies) are all not from Islam because of their nonsensical statements and oppression in making rulings and covering the truth with covering the truth with falsehood for the people.

Source: http://www.troid.org