Question: Why do I have to call myself "Salafee?" Please clarify.
Answer by Abu Khadijah (hafidhahullaah): I don't say that you have to call yourself "Salafee" and the majority of ahlul-'ilm and the scholars of the past and present didn't say you have to call yourself "Salafee", but they do say: it is obligatory to distinguish your Islam. Distinguishing [your Islam] is what is important. Because many of the Salaf of this Ummah didn't call themselves "Salafee," but they said, "I am Atharee," or "Ashabul-Hadeeth," or "Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah" to distinguish the people of truth from the people of falsehood.
This distinction between the people of truth and the people of falsehood is something that is obligatory. And the people may say, "Where is this distinction made in the Qur`an and the Sunnah?"
Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) said:
quote:
Bada Al-Islamu ghariban wa sa ya-'udhu ghariban kama bada`aa fa tooba lil ghuraba (Islam began as something strange and it will return strange as it began, so glad tidings for the strangers).
And the term that the Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) used here was ghuraba (strangers). The Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) did not say Islam began as something strange and it will return strange as it began, so glad tidings be upon the Muslims. He did not say "Muslims" because they were known to be Muslims. But what he mentioned was tooba lil ghuraba. [Glad tidings to] the strangers.
So therefore it is clear that the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) used these statements.
Even in the hadith of the 73 sects. What did the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) say? When he mentioned that this Ummaah will divide into 73 sects. [He said:]
quote:
Kulluha fi nar ila wahida wa hiya al Jama'ah. (All of them into the fire except one and it is the Jama'ah.)
He did not say, "It is the Muslims." He used the term "Jama'ah."
And in the narration of Abu Ummamah (radiallaahu 'anhu), he (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) said:
quote:
"they are Sawaadul a'dham (the main body)." He did not say Muslims; he mentioned them with the term Sawaadul a'dham (the main body)."
So [Ghuraba], Jama'ah, Sawaadul a'dham.
And likewise in the narration of Al-Mugheerah bin Shu'bah, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) said:
quote:
"La tazalu ta`ifatu min ummati dhahirina hata yu'tihim amrullaah wa hum dhahirun (There will never cease to be a group of my Ummaah ta`ifa manifestly upon the truth...)."
He used the term ta`ifa, manifestly upon the truth. So the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam) mentioned another term - ta`ifa tul mansura (Aided Sect).
quote:
So these distinctions are reported in the hadith of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam), who made distinctions between the generality of the Muslims and the Muslims who are upon the truth.
And that's why you find recorded by Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) and many of the books of the Salaf (rahimahumullaah) [that] Ibn 'Abbas (radiallaahu 'anhuma) said [in his tafsir] concerning the aya [On the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black; as for those whose faces will become black (to them will be said): "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment (in Hell) for rejecting Faith." (Aali 'Imraan 3:106)]:
"Taswaddu Wujooh: Ahlul-Bid'ah; wa Tabyaddu Wujooh: Ahlus-Sunnati wal-Jamaa'ah (Some faces that Day will be dark and they are Ahlul-Bid'ah, and some faces that Day will be white and they are Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah).
This is from Ibn 'Abbas himself, the companion of Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihin wa sallam).
quote:
So we say that it is obligatory to distinguish - and the term of distinction in our times is "Salafi." Do I say it is obligatory to call yourself "Salafi"? No,but you must distinguish your da'wah. Your da'wah must be distinct. It must be clear, with one of the titles that Ahlul-'ilm have used or [still] use.
Source" A Conference "State of the Ummah: Causes of Weakness and Means of Revival" earlier in the year (1430 H) in London.
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The great scholar (and former Mufti of Saudi Arabia) 'Abdul-'Aziz bin 'Abdullaah bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) was asked: What do you say about someone who calls himself "Salafi" and "Athari"? Is he praising himself (i.e. tazkiyah)?
He [Shaikh Ibn Baaz] replied:
quote:
"If he is truthful in that he is an Athari (follower of the narrations) or a Salafi (follower of the Salaf), then there is nothing wrong with this, as this is what the Salaf [rahimahumullaah] would do, since they would say, 'So and so is Salafi...So and so is Athari.' This is a tazkiya (recommendation) that is required. It is a tazkiyah that is obligatory."
[From a lecture called "The Right of the Muslim" recorded in Taa'if on 1/16/1413H]
Abu Khadeejah [from the first post] did not say: the previous generations of scholars did not call themselves "salafi"
Rather he said:
quote:
Because many of the Salaf of this Ummah didn't call themselves "Salafee," but they said, "I am Atharee," or "Ashabul-Hadeeth," or "Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah" to distinguish the people of truth from the people of falsehood.
Meaning not all of the Salaf called each other "Salafi"; some of them, yes, did call each other "Salafi," while others called each other "Athari" or "Ashabul-Hadith" or "Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah."
In addition, Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alayhi wassallam) told his daughter Fatima,
quote:
"...I am a blessed Salaf for you."
(Bukhari, Muslim)
So the best of mankind called himself a "Salaf." In shaa` Allaah, that is clear, baarakAllaahu fikum.
The two posts which bookend your question have some of the answers/clarifications to your question. Shaikh Al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) previously answered the last part of your question by saying to the one who asked him similiar:
quote:
"Do you find any of those [people of bid'ah] whom we have just mentioned by way of example saying, 'I am a Muslim who is not upon the Book and the Sunnah?'" Who is the one who says, 'I am not upon the Book and the Sunnah?'"
Here is a transcript of that highly beneficial exchange between Shaikh al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) and that questioner from various sources:
Allaah Has Named us "Muslims," So Why call ourselves "Salafi"?
This doubt was very beautifully answered by Imaam al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) in his discussion with someone on this subject, recorded on the cassette entitled "I am Salafi." Here is a presentation of the vital parts of it:
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "When it is said to you, 'What is your madhhab', what is your reply?"
Questioner: "A Muslim."
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "This is not sufficient!"
Questioner: "Allaah has named us Muslims" and he recited the saying of Allaah Most High, "He is the one who has called you Muslims beforehand." (al-Hajj 22:78)
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "This would be a correct answer if we were in the very first times (of Islaam) before the sects had appeared and spread. But if we were to ask, now, any Muslim from any of these sects with which we differ on account of 'aqeedah, his answer would not be any different to this word. All of them - the Shi'ite Rafidi, the Khaariji, the Nusayri Alawi - would say, "I am a Muslim." Hence, this is not sufficient in these days."
Questioner: "In that case I say, I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah."
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "This is not sufficient either."
Questioner: "Why?"
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "Do you find any of those whom we have just mentioned by way of example saying, 'I am a Muslim who is not upon the Book and the Sunnah?" Who is the one who says, 'I am not upon the Book and the Sunnah?'"
[At this point, the Shaikh began explaining in detail the importance of being upon the Book and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih (righteous predecessors).]
Questioner: "In that case, I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf us-Saalih."
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "When a person asks you about your madhhab, is this what you will say to him?"
Questioner: "Yes".
Shaikh al-Albaanee: "What is your view that we shorten this phrase in the language, since the best words are those that are few but indicate the desired intent, so we say, 'Salafi'?" End of quotation of transcript.
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Hence, the point is that naming with "Muslim" or "Sunni" is not enough, since everyone will claim that - even the Sufi and the Kharijee and the Ikhwani and the Tableeghi. And Shaikh emphasized the importance of the truth being distinguished from the falsehood. Shaikh al-Albaanee mentioned that our 'aqidah and manhaj must be taken from the Salaf us-Salih (Prophet and his companions, the tabi'een, and the tabi tabi'een) and not from the various sects and groups whose understandings are based upon those of their mentors and leaders, or their own opinion.
The Salafees are those who follow the Salaf in 'aqidah, manhaj, character, and manner of worship.
...and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience... (Luqman 31:15)
And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad, (salallaahu 'alayhi wassallam)) 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)
Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ud-Deen Al-Albanee (rahimahullaah) points out that Allaah says (what means) "and follows other than the believers' way." Al-Albanee elaborated, "Our Lord did not stop short in this aya. And if He would have, the aya would still be correct and true. He did not say: And whoever opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination. Instead, due to His infinite Wisdom, He included: And He follows a way other than the way of the believers - and this is what we are focusing on. I hope that this aya becomes firmly grounded in your minds and in your hearts, and I hope that you don't forget it, because it is the truth."
Statements from other Salaf and their followers:
Imaam al-Awzaa'ee (d. 157H) - rahimahullaah - said: "Adhere to the narrations of the Salaf (the Prophet and sahaaba; tabi'een; and atba tabi'een), even if the people were to abandon you. And beware of the opinions of people, no matter how much they beautify it with speech."
Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah - said: "There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq)." [Majmoo al-Fataawaa 4:149]
Imaam al-Asbahaanee (d.535H) - rahimahullaah - said: "The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen." [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364
Ibn Taymiyyah said, "The Sunnah is connected to the Jama'ah, like Bid'ah is to splitting. So we say: Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah, and [we say concerning people of bid'ah] Ahlul-Bid'ah wal Firqa.
Source: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=9&Topic=9696