Question:
Your Eminence, Sheikh! A listener of the program asks: Is there a difference between our saying, ‘This is the view of the Salaf (pious predecessors),’ and ‘This is the view of Ahl al-Sunnah (the people of the Sunnah)’?
Answer:
The meaning is the same. The Salaf are Ahl al-Sunnah, and they are the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and those who followed them in righteousness. They are called ‘the Pious Predecessors’ (al-Salaf al-Salih), and they are also called Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. So if that is what is intended, there is no harm; the expression means the same thing: Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah and al-Salaf al-Salih. What is meant by this among the people of Sunnah are the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and whoever followed them in righteousness in creed, speech, and actions. Yes.