Questioner: It has become customary to describe a specific group of Muslims as Salafis…
The Sheikh: A what group?
Questioner: A specific group.
The Sheikh: Yes? Stand up so we can hear you, my brother, and speak clearly in plain Arabic—do not twist your tongue. Go on, say it?
Questioner: That it has become customary to describe a specific group of Muslims as Salafis…
The Sheikh: To describe…?
Questioner: A specific group of Muslims as Salafis.
The Sheikh: Yes, quite so.
Questioner: And that this designation does not extend to other Muslims.
The Sheikh: Yes.
Questioner: The question here is: If Islam and Salafism are one and the same thing, and there is no difference between a Muslim who is called a Salafi and a regular Muslim—and consequently, just as within Islam there is a committed Muslim, a disobedient Muslim, and an innovating Muslim—is it possible for us to say that there is a committed Salafi, a disobedient Salafi, and an innovating Salafi? To the extent that we could describe a sinful singer as being a Muslim, but can we call this sinful singer a Salafi?
The Sheikh: What is the point of prolonging the question like this?
Firstly: We must know that the term ‘Salafi’ is not confined to a specific group. Anyone who adheres to the methodology (madhhab) of the Salaf is a Salafi—that is the definition of a Salafi, regardless of whether they lived in the past or the present era. As for restricting it to a specific faction, where we say, “These are Salafis and those are rationalists (‘Aqlāniyyūn),” then this is an error.
However, let it be known that among the scholars are those who grant greater weight to the intellect (‘aql), and among them are those who grant greater weight to the divine law (shar’). For this reason, you find in the books of comparative jurisprudence (fiqh) that when they wish to speak about the companions of Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), they describe them as Aṣḥāb ar-Ra’y (the People of Legal Opinion) because they categorize them into the People of Textual Evidence (Aṣḥāb ad-Dalīl) and the People of Legal Opinion.
So, take this rule: A Salafi is whoever adheres to the methodology of the Salaf. It is not exclusive to a specific faction, and it is impermissible for us to classify people and say, “These are Salafis and those are rationalists,” or the like. Yes, I say: The Salaf are those who adopt the methodology of the Salaf in creed (‘aqīdah), speech, and action, in any place. It is incorrect to divide Muslims by saying, “This one is a rationalist and this one is a Salafi,” and so forth. Rather, it is obligatory upon everyone to be Salafi—not on the basis of it being a partisan faction (hizbiyyah), but because it is the truth. Allah—Mighty and Majestic—said: “And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him” [At-Tawbah: 100]. Do you understand, questioner?
Questioner: May Allah reward you with goodness, O Sheikh.
The Sheikh: Yes.