In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
To proceed:
The Prophet ﷺ informed us that division would occur in this nation just as it occurred in previous nations. He advised us, when that happens, to hold fast to what he ﷺ and his companions were upon.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The Jews split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects. My nation will split into seventy-three sects; all of them will be in the Fire except one.” It was asked, “Who is that one, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Those who follow that which I and my companions are upon today.”
And he ﷺ said: “Indeed, whoever among you lives long enough will see much differing. So adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me. Hold fast to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is bid’ah (an innovation), and every bid’ah (innovation) is misguidance.”
And in another narration: “…and every misguidance is in the Fire.”
This is how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed us to stick to what he and his companions were upon when differences and divisions arise—because division was bound to happen, and it has indeed occurred just as he ﷺ foretold.
The path to salvation is to adhere to what the Messenger ﷺ and his companions were upon. This is the Saved Sect (Al-Firqah An-Najiyah) which is rescued from the Fire, while all other sects are in the Fire.
That is why the Saved Sect is called ‘Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah’. This group is distinguished from all others by its adherence to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Any group besides it is a misguided sect, even if they attribute themselves to this nation, because their methodology opposes that of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
Following the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) with Excellence
This advice demonstrates the perfection of the Prophet’s ﷺ sincere counsel and clear guidance to the people. The path is clear, praise be to Allah: following the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and what the Salaf pious of this Ummah (Muslim nation)—the Companions, the Successors (Tabi’un), and those who followed them—were upon up through the end of the virtuous generations (the first three or four generations).
As the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
The narrator added: I do not know whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation. Then he said: “After them will come a people who swear oaths without being asked to do so, give testimony without being asked to testify, betray trust and cannot be trusted, and obesity will appear among them.”
Although these negative matters appear after the virtuous generations, anyone who adheres to the Manhaj (methodology) of those virtuous generations—even if they live on the very last day of the world—will be saved and delivered from the Fire.
Allah Almighty says: “And the foremost first [converts] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them in goodness—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.” [At-Tawbah: 100]
Allah guaranteed His pleasure to those who follow the Muhajireen and Ansar under one key condition: “in goodness” (bi-Ihsan)—meaning with precision and complete correctness, not through mere claims or affiliation without true verification, whether due to ignorance or desires. Not everyone who claims affiliation to the Salaf is truthful until their following is bi-Ihsan. This is a condition set by Allah Himself.
True Affiliation Requires Knowledge and Patience
Ihsan means precision and perfection. This requires followers to study the methodology of the Salaf, know it, and adhere to it. Simply claiming a connection to them while remaining ignorant of their methodology and creed yields no benefit, does not profit a person, and does not make them a Salafi—because they did not follow the Salaf in goodness as Allah stipulated.
Therefore, praise be to Allah, what is taught in this university, in this country, and in its mosques is the methodology of the Pious Salaf (Predecessors), so that we may follow them with precision—not merely through claims and labels.
How many claim Salafism and assert that they are upon the path of the Salaf, yet act contrary to it? Either due to ignorance of the Salaf’s path, or due to personal desires—knowing the truth but following their own whims instead.
Furthermore, anyone on the path of the Salaf needs two fundamental things:
- Knowledge of the Salaf’s methodology.
- Adherence to it regardless of the cost.
They will inevitably face harm, stubborn opposition, accusations, and bad names from detractors. However, they must remain patient because they are convinced of their path. Storms will not shake them, nor will trials alter them; they remain patient until they meet their Lord.
They must first learn the methodology, follow it with precision, and bear the hardships imposed by people with patience. But even that is not enough—they must also spread this methodology and invite others to Allah, calling people to the way of the Salaf, explaining it, and disseminating it. This is the true Salafi.
As for someone who claims Salafism but:
- Does not know the Salaf’s methodology, or knows it but does not follow it, instead following popular culture or personal desires—this person is not a Salafi, even if they call themselves one.
- Cannot endure trials, compromises their religion, flatters others at the expense of their faith, or surrenders parts of the Salaf’s methodology—this person is not upon the methodology of the Salaf.
What matters is reality, not claims. This requires us to prioritize understanding and studying the Salaf’s methodology across belief (‘Aqeedah), character, and actions across all areas of life.
The Straight Path vs. Deviant Paths
This is the methodology that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was upon, as well as those who followed his example until the Day of Judgment.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A group from my nation will remain steadfast on the truth, victorious; they will not be harmed by those who forsake them or oppose them, until the command of Allah comes.”
His statement “they will not be harmed by those who forsake them or oppose them” indicates that there will indeed be people who oppose and abandon them. But it will not dishearten them; they will continue on their journey to Allah, bearing whatever afflicts them patiently.
This aligns with Luqman’s advice to his son: “O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Verily! These are some of the important commandments ordered by Allah with no exemption.” [Luqman: 17]
This is the methodology of the Salaf, their demeanor, and their trait. Allah Almighty says: "”And verily, this (i.e. Allah’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V. 2:2).”“ [Al-An’am: 153]
- “This is Straight Path”: He attributed the path to Himself as an honor and nobility for the path and for those who walk upon it.
- “Straight”: Meaning upright and balanced.
- “So follow it, and follow not (other) paths”: This indicates that there are other paths—many unspecified ways.
- “for they will separate you away from His Path”: These deviated methodologies lead away from Allah’s singular path, trapping people in confusion, error, and destruction.
There is no salvation, righteousness, or success except by clinging to the Straight Path—Allah’s path. Every other path is a path of Satan, with a devil at every crossroad calling people toward it. We must beware of this and not be deceived by the large number of opponents, nor care about their doubts, insults, or put-downs. We move forward toward Allah with clear insight.
Beneficial Knowledge and Righteous Deeds
Allah made it obligatory upon us to recite Surah Al-Fatihah in every unit of prayer, concluding with:
“Guide us to the Straight Path” [al-Fatihah: 6]—meaning guide us, direct us, and make us firm upon the Straight Path.
“The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor.” [al-Fatihah: 7]
Who are those walking this path?
“And whoso obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqun (those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddiq), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” [An-Nisa: 69]
These are your companions on this journey. Therefore, do not feel lonely while walking this path, even if other roads and sects multiply. You are on the path of Allah.
“Not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.” [al-Fatihah: 7]
Those who evoked anger: Those who possess knowledge but do not act upon it, such as the Jews. Knowledge without action becomes an evidence against its owner on the Day of Resurrection. Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.
Those who are astray: Those who perform acts of worship and asceticism, but without knowledge or guidance from Allah, such as the Christians. Their deeds become scattered dust because they are lost from the Straight Path.
In Islam, groups like the Sufis tread a similar misstep: they engage in worship and asceticism while abandoning knowledge. They discourage people from seeking knowledge or sitting with scholars, claiming that knowledge distracts from worship, or that knowledge comes automatically if one simply worships enough. This is pure misguidance.
Knowledge can only be acquired through learning from people of knowledge and insight. Knowledge precedes both speech and action. Imam Al-Bukhari titled a chapter in his Sahih: “Chapter: Knowledge Before Speech and Action,” citing the verse:
“So know (O Muhammad ﷺ) that La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and ask forgiveness for your sin…“ [Muhammad: 19]
First learn, then seek forgiveness and act. Knowledge is the guide to Allah Almighty. He sent His Messenger with beneficial knowledge and righteous action:
“It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam)…“ [At-Tawbah: 33]
- Guidance: Beneficial knowledge.
- Religion of Truth: Righteous action.
Both must be combined. This is authentic Salafism (al-Salafiyyah), and these are the core traits of the Salaf al-Salih (Pious Predecessors): beneficial knowledge paired with righteous action.
“Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed.” [Al-Hashr: 10]