Bismillaah walhamdulillaah. Wassalaatu wassalaamu ‘ala rasoolillaah. Wa ba’ad,
I thought a small introduction to the topic of “Salaf us-Saalih” was necessary, especially for those who are new to words like “salaf”,”salafiyyah”, “aqeedah”, “manhaj” etc. It is far from exhaustive, but I hope this compilation helps even a beginner to understand who the Salaf were, their importance and the obligation of following them at least to a good extent, InshaaAllaah. I hope Allaah accepts this little effort for His Sake.
Who are the Salaf?
It refers specifically to the first three generations of Islaam in which the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described as being the best generations of Muslims *. The first, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Sahaabah (companions). The second, the Taabi’een (the followers of the companions). The third, the Tabaa’at-Taabi’een (the followers of the followers of the companions).Generally, this term refers to all those pious predecessors who followed the way of the Salaf and who have preceded us in time. This is the true manhaj of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jamaa’ah.
Source: http://abdurrahmanorg.wordpress.com/
* “The best of people (mankind) is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
[Related by al-Bukhaaree (5/199) and Muslim (7/184), from Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu ’anhu).]
Source: http://theclearsunnah.wordpress.com/ourdawah/
Is the word “Salaf” an innovation?
The word “Salaf” was used by the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) himself when he said to Faatimah (radiallaahu ‘anha),
“How excellent a Salaf I am for you.” (Muslim, no. 2450).
www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=SLF01&articleID=SLF010007&articlePages=1
Is it obligatory to follow the manhajus-Salaf (the methodology of the Salaf)?
Yes. Islaam is only one in its purest form and every other way is misguidance and deviation, leading to Hell-Fire.
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Every innovation is misguidance and going astray” Reported by Abu Daawood (no. 4607), at-Tirmidhee (no. 2676) and it is saheeh. Ibn Hajr authenticated it Takhreej Ahaadeeth Ibn ul-Haajib (1/137).
And he (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) also said: “… and every innovation is misguidance and all misguidance is in the Hellfire.” Reported by an-Nasaa’ee (1/224) from Jaabir bin Abdullaah and it is saheeh as declared by Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah in Majmoo’ ul-Fataawaa (3/58).
Source: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=BDH&loadpage=displaysection.cfm
The true and pure form of Islaam is the way the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) taught his companions (the sahaabah – radiallaahu ‘anhum ajma’een).
“And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon (the Emigrants from Makkah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Al-Madeenah who helped the Muhajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [Qur'an 9:100]
“You are the best of peoples ever raised for mankind, you enjoin good and forbid evil, and you believe in Allah.” [Qur'aan 3:110]
The Qur’aan also stresses the obligation of following their way. For instance it is mentioned,
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad salallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) 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.” [Qur'aan 4:115]
Also, the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stated,
“And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire but one”. They (the companions) said, “Which one is this O Messenger of Allaah?”. He replied, “They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon today” (Tirmidhee, no.2643)
Statements from the past ‘Ulemaa (scholars) about ascription to the Salaf
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]
Abu Haneefah (d. 150H) (rahimahullaah) said: “Adhere to the athar (narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation” [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam p.32]
lbn 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 adh-Dhahabee (d.748H) – rahimahullaah – said: “It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than ‘ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: He never entered into ‘ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, he should be a Salafee (a follower of the Salaf).”[Siyar 16/457]
As-Sam’aanee (d.562H) said in al-lnsaab (3/273): “As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them.” lbn al-Atheer (d.630H) said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab (2/162), commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam’aanee: “And a group were known by this ascription.” So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam’aanee, or before him.
Source: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=SLF01&articleID=SLF010001&articlePages=1
Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan – may Allaah preserve him – (one the senior-most ‘aalim/scholar living today. Click here for biography) said,
The reasons for disunity are many. From amongst the main causes are: Firstly, opposing the manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf, the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger and those who follow them. So the Salaf had a manhaj that they adhered to;
- a manhaj in aqeedah (creed),
- a manhaj in da’wah (calling to Allaah),
- a manhaj in enjoining good and forbidding evil,
- a manhaj in how to judge between people.
This manhaj, in all situations, was based upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of our Messenger . [Wujoob ut-Tathabbut fil-Akhbaaar p.18]
Source: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&loadpage=displaysection.cfm
Hence,
The Salafis are distinguished for their adherence to the methodological principles outlined in the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of His Messenger and the practice of the Companions.
Thus, in the arena of aqeedah (creed) the Salaf us-Saalih follow a particular methodology, which is opposed to that of other than them, such as the Ash’arees, the Mu’tazilah and their likes whose hallmark is to raise the intellect and kalaam (theological rhetoric) over the texts of the Book and the Sunnah and the well-known sayings of the Imaams of this ummah.
Similarly, in the arena of ibaadah (worship), the Salaf us-Saalih adhere to a methodology opposed to that of the intoxicated Soofees and grave worshippers, who invent and innovate into the religion that for which Allaah sent down no authority.
Similarly, in the arena of da’wah (calling to Allaah) and current affairs, the Salafis are distinguished from the innovated and pretentious methodologies of the political activists, who under the guise of following the Salaf and the contemporary Ulamaa, rouse the emotions and sentiments of the common-folk, take them away from the firmly established scholars and merely call to themselves.
Source: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?secID=MNJ&loadpage=displaysection.cfm
Does Salafiyyah cause disunity/splitting and is it a sect (hizb)?
When it is the case that Salafiyyah is the understanding of the Book and the Sunnah upon the understanding of the Salaf and the Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stated, “And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Hellfire but one”. They (the companions) said, “Which one is this O Messenger of Allaah?”. He replied, “They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon today” (Tirmidhee, no.2643) – and when it is also the case that the splitting occurred by their (the Muslims) abandoning the correct understanding, then Salafiyyah is but the way forward for unity and is not splitting or sectarianism.
As Shaikh Salih al-Fawzaan said, “As-Salafiyyah (i.e. the Salafis) is the Saved Sect, and they are Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. It is not a hizb (party) from amongst the various parties, those who which are called “parties” today.… Hence Salafiyyah is a group of people (i.e. the Salafis) upon the madhhab of the Salaf, upon what the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) and his companions were upon and it is not a hizb from amongst the contemporary groups present today.”
(Cassette: “at-Tahdheer min al-Bid’ah” second cassette, delivered as a lecture in Hawtah Sadeer, 1416H).
Source: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=SLF01&articleID=SLF010007&pfriend=
Some of the scholars who were upon the way of the Salaf
The Pious Forefathers (i.e. As-Salaf as-Saalih) of the Islamic Community of Believers are the Companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, their Followers (the Taabi’een and the Taabi Taabi’een (i.e. the first three generations of Muslims) and the Scholars of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah after them who followed their way in belief and deed. Among them are :
Imam Abu Hanifah (150 AH), Al-Awzai (157 AH), Ath-Thawri (161AH), Al Laith ibn Saad (175 AH), Imam Malik (179 AH), Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (181 AH), Sufyan ibn Uyainah (198 AH), Imam Ash-Shafi’i (204 AH), Ishaq (238 AH), Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (241 AH), Al-Bukhari (256 AH), Muslim (261 AH), Abu Dawood (275 AH) and others.
Ibn Taymiyyah (728 AH), and his students: Adh-Dhahabi (748 AH), Ibn al-Qayyim (751 AH), Ibn Katheer (774 AH) and others.
Muhammed bin ‘Abd al-Wahhab (1206 AH) and many of his students.
And in our time (who passed away recently): Abdul Aziz bin Baz, Muhammed bin Saalih Uthaimeen, Muhammed Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaani.
The Salafis are the Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah. They are the Taaifatul- Mansoorah (the Aided, Victorious Group) and the Firqatun-Naajiyyah (the Saved Sect) which have been mentioned in the following statements of the Messenger, peace be upon him:
“There shall not cease to remain a single group from my community upon the Truth, victorious; they are unharmed by those who abandon them and those who oppose them. They will remain (in my community and in such a state) until they fight the liar (i.e. the Anti-Christ (Dajjal).” [Reported in Sahih Muslim]
Reference: http://www.salafipublications.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=SLF02&articleID=SLF020001&pfriend=
For more information and details on this topic, refer to the below provided links:
A Brief Introduction to Salafi Da’wah
Answers to common misconceptions on naming with Salafiyyah
Your brother for the sake of Allaah,
Farhan Fazel Hussain
فـرحان ابن فـضل حسيـن
