:salam2:
Few days ago I got into a dispute which I would rather describe better as confusion or not understanding properly what some other members wanted to say. So to end that confusion and to express my way of understanding I am providing this excerpt from MUTTAQUN.COM which I believe is a reliable source, inshaAllah. It includes quotes from Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) and the likes.
One think that I want to emphasise is that please, all the readers who are willing to read this, read the portions of the article related to naming oneself and the Fatwas of Shaikh Salih al Uthaymeen (RA) at the end of the article as the first Fatwa is exactly what I wanted to convey earlier to my fellow members.
I hope this will not be seen as a counter action but just as an expression and clarification of my point of view, inshaAllah.
I also want to apologise to those brothers and sisters whom, I feel, I have hurt or have said something wrong or harsh to. Forgive me for the sake of Allah and pray that Allah guide us all to the truth and unite us all upon it.
JazakAllah khairan to all those who took the time out to read it.
:salam2:
P.S. I have changed the colours and format in few places and have ommited a part of the article. Anyone who wants to read it in its original form please refer to the link of the source provided.
Few days ago I got into a dispute which I would rather describe better as confusion or not understanding properly what some other members wanted to say. So to end that confusion and to express my way of understanding I am providing this excerpt from MUTTAQUN.COM which I believe is a reliable source, inshaAllah. It includes quotes from Shaykh al Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) and the likes.
One think that I want to emphasise is that please, all the readers who are willing to read this, read the portions of the article related to naming oneself and the Fatwas of Shaikh Salih al Uthaymeen (RA) at the end of the article as the first Fatwa is exactly what I wanted to convey earlier to my fellow members.
I hope this will not be seen as a counter action but just as an expression and clarification of my point of view, inshaAllah.
I also want to apologise to those brothers and sisters whom, I feel, I have hurt or have said something wrong or harsh to. Forgive me for the sake of Allah and pray that Allah guide us all to the truth and unite us all upon it.
SourceSalaf - literally means "those (from history) who precede, have gone before".
As-Salaf as-Saalih - The people of the past, namely the first three generations of pious muslims during and after the revelation of the Qur'an, i.e.the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet, [FONT=Helvetica, Arial]saaws[/FONT] , the Taabi'een (followers) and the Taabi Taabi'een (followers of the followers).
Islam teaches that As-Salaf as-Saalih are superior in their understanding of the Revelation of Al-Qu'ran. Generally speaking, the people present during any event (such as the revelation of the Quran) will understand it better than those who read about it later.
Salafi - means "of the salaf". The "i" (sounds like "ee") on the end of the word means "of the", "of" and/or "are". Using correct arabic grammar, the word "salafi" can only be used in association with words that are of that which is truly from the far past.
In order to be a salaf, you had to exist generations prior to the current one. Referring to oneself as a salafi* is permissible in Islam so long as the intention is for identification with the salafi minhaj and this identification does not replace your identification as being MUSLIM, as this is what Allah swt has commanded us in The Qur'an to call ourselves.
While it is important, as many scholars have said, to distinguish ourselves from the innovators, we first do this in our actions (i.e. do not sit with the people of innovation, engage the sunnah in our daily lives, etc.), and to do so in speech, we can best do so by clearly stating that we are followers of the pious predecessors ("Ana a-taaba as-salaf as-saalih").
Those Muslims whose intentions are to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet [FONT=Helvetica, Arial]saaws[/FONT] and the salaf, know better than to divide themselves into a sect (a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially one regarded as extreme or heretical) that parts from following clear proof in Quran and Sunnah.
However, as Muslims, we must not dispute over simple titles, as the correct way of living is of upmost importance, not the labels we claim upon ourselves. Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid has said, "The one who is seeking salvation has to work hard to gain beneficial knowledge and do righteous deeds, and he should avoid vain arguments and futile discussions in which there is no benefit." What is important is that we implement the way of the salaf as-saalih in our daily lives, insomuch as it is consistent with Quran and Sunnah.
Names - you can name yourself, your masjid, your computer files, your associations, etc. - anything halal. For instance if a baby is named "Yasmin" meaning jasmine, the mother who chose the name is not stating that she IS a jasmine stone or even that she has the attributes of a jasmine; such a name is a permissible name because the item itself, the jasmine, is not haram. So if a name includes the word "salaf" anywhere in it, this is halal. However for a person of today to identify oneself AS a salaf is incorrect.
One can refer to himself as "muttaqi" (male) or "muttaqiyyah" (female) meaning of the muttaqun, but should not make a sunnah of calling himself a "muslim muttaqi". A person alive today can be muttaqi but cannot be salafi because s/he is not of the past.
Those who adhere to the sunnah of the Prophet, saaws, are sadly known as "strange", "odd", etc., to those who have abandoned such adherence. They (muslims on a misguided path) even get to the point that they find it odd that someone would just call themselves a MUSLIM and attach no special group name to the word muslim. Surely the people who deviate are the people who must find a new label for their group. The label "muslim" is the purest word and all we need, insha'Allah, i.e. it is the only identifying label that we should have as a tradition or sunnah for calling ourselves when refering to our faith.
Definition of Salifiyyah
by Sheikh Ibn Al-Utaymeen
Yarhamahu Allah (May Allah have mercy on him)
From his book, "Liqaa-al-Baab al-Maftooh", Q # 1322
Muhammad Salih Ibn al-Uthaymeen said: "Salafiyyah is following the way of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and his Sahabah for they are our Salaf (predecessors) who preceded us, so following them is Salafiyyah. As for taking Salafiyyah as a special Manhaj such that everyone who differs with it is considered astray even if he was on the truth; then this is beyond doubt opposite to Salafiyyah.
All the Salaf called to Islam and to unite upon the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and they did not declare astray anyone who differs with them (in a certain issue) because of (a different) interpretation (Taweel), except in matters of Aqeedah because they considered him, who differed in Aqeedah as astray.
But, in our time, some who took the path of Salafiyyah consider astray everyone who differs from them even if the truth were to be on his side. And they took a Hizbi (partisan) Manhaj, just like the other Hizbs (parties), who divide the religion. This (their way) must be rejected and not be approved of.
It is said, 'Look at the way of the Salaf as-Salih and what did they do in regards to differences and wideness of their hearts with regards to Ikhtilaaf (differences) in matters in which Ijtihad was feasible. (They differed with each other) to the degree that they differed in big issues, in (minor) issues of Aqeedah and (minor) issues of knowledge - for example, some of them denied that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) saw His Lord and some of them confirmed of it. Some of them said, 'the deeds would be weighted on the Day of Judgment', whilst others held that "the books which record the deeds will be weighed." They also differ in matters of Fiqh, Marriage, obligations, buying and selling, etc. Despite this, they did not declare each other astray.
Thus, Salafiyyah that is taken to mean a special party (Hizb) with specific rules whose members consider anyone who differs with them as astray then they have nothing to do with Salafiyyah.
But the Salafiyyah that is to follow the Salaf in beliefs, sayings, actions, their way of differing and unity, their way of being merciful and compassion to one another as the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."Then this is the true Salafiyyah."
Warning to the followers of the salafi group
by Sheikh Ibn Al-Utaymeen
Yarhamahu Allah (May Allah have mercy on him)
From his [the Prophet]() statement,
"Whoever lives amongst you will see much differing, so adhere to my Sunnah",
It can be learnt that if parties (ahzaab) within the ummah emerge in increasing numbers then one should not affiliate himself to a party (hizb). In the past, many groups have appeared; Khawaarij, Mu'tazilah, Jahmiyyah, Shee'ah, even Raafidah. Then there appeared, later on Ikhwanis, Salafis, Tablighis, and all those like them. Put all of them to one side and take [the path] ahead. Which is what the Prophetguided to. "Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs." No doubt, it is obligatory for all Muslims to adopt the way of the salaf as their madhhab, not affiliation to a specific party (hizb) named, "The Salafis". It is obligatory for the Islamic Ummah to adopt the way of the salaf as-salih as their madhhab, not bigotry to those called "the salafis". Pay attention to the difference: There is the way of the salaf, and there is a party (hizb) called "the salafis".
What is the objective? Following the Salaf. Why? The salafi brothers are the closest sect to that which is right, no doubt, but their problem is the same as others, that some of these sects declare others as being misguided, they declare them to be innovators and as being sinners. We don't censure this, if they deserve it, but we censure handling this bid'ah in this way. It is obligatory for the leaders of these sects to get together and say, “Between us is the book of Allah, and the Sunnah of His messenger, so lets us judge by them and not according to desires, opinions and not according to personalities. Everyone makes mistakes and achieves correctness no matter what he has reached with regards to knowledge and worship. Infallibility is [only] in the religion of Islam."
In this hadeeth the Prophetguided to the way in which a person secures himself. He doesn't affiliate him to any sect, only the way of the salaf as-salih, to the Sunnah of our Prophetand the rightly guided caliphs.
The Noble Qur'an An-Nisâ' 4:115
And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) 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.
Shaikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah commented on this verse: "All who contradict and oppose the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to them, have followed other than the Path of the Believers; and all who follow other than the Path of the Believers have contradicted and opposed the Messenger after the right Path has been shown to them. If one thinks that he is following the Path of the Faithful Believers and is mistaken, he is in the same position as one who thinks he is following the Messenger and is mistaken."
JazakAllah khairan to all those who took the time out to read it.
:salam2:
P.S. I have changed the colours and format in few places and have ommited a part of the article. Anyone who wants to read it in its original form please refer to the link of the source provided.
