Question:
May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence. A questioner asks: Recently, there has been an increase in mutual name-calling and accusing one another by saying that “so-and-so is not a Salafi” or “not from the Salafis.” Is this expression considered Tabdi’a (labeling someone as an innovator), and accordingly, is it necessary to establish proof against him first?
Answer:
By Allah, I warn against this mutual name-calling. Praise be to Allah, the children of the Muslims and the students of knowledge are all—In sha’ Allah—upon goodness, and they are all upon the aqidah (creed) of the Salaf. Even if some of them have shortcomings or ignorance, that does not take them out of the fold of Salafiyyah.
This kind of talk is not permissible. This speech is not permissible among brothers, students of knowledge, the children of Muslims, and in the lands of the Muslims. It is not permissible, and mutual advising is obligatory. If you see a shortcoming in your brother, you advise him.
But as for calling him names and saying he is not of the Salaf or Salafiyyah—perhaps you do not even know what Salafiyyah is yet! For indeed, some people claim Salafiyyah and do not know it, and whoever disagrees with them, they say: “He is not a Salafi.” Yet if you were to ask him about Salafiyyah and what it means, he would not know.