Question:
Is Salafism a partisan group like the Muslim Brotherhood, the Sururi movement, or the Tablighi Jamaat?
Answer:
This is a misconception. Rather, Salafism is an authentic, legitimate Islamic designation intended to refer to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Community), the People of Hadith (Ahl al-Hadith), the People of Narrations (Ahl al-Athar), the Saved Sect (Al-Firqah al-Najiyah), the Victorious Group, and the followers of the Sunnah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned in Al-Fatawa, responding to a statement by Izz al-Din ibn ‘Abd al-Salam: “There is no blame on one who manifests the madhhab of the Salaf, affiliates with it, and takes pride in it; rather, accepting that from him is obligatory by consensus. For the school of thought of the Salaf can only be the truth. If a person conforms to it both inwardly and outwardly, he holds the status of a believer who is upon the truth both inwardly and outwardly. If he conforms to it outwardly only and not inwardly, he holds the status of a hypocrite; his outward profession is accepted from him, and his inner state is entrusted to Allah, for we have not been commanded to probe into people’s hearts or split open their bellies.”
He also stated in Al-Fatwa al-Hamawiyyah: “And know that there is nothing in sound reason nor in any authentic textual transmission that necessitates contradicting the Salafi path whatsoever.”
Salafism is Islam itself.
Al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in Al-Tadhkirah in his biographical notice of Ibn al-Salah (may Allah have mercy on him): “He was a Salafi of sound creed, far removed from the figurative interpretations of the speculative theologians (Mutakallimin), believing in what was established by the texts without delving into it or over-complicating it.”
The Eminent Scholar Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in his fatwas: “Wahhabism is not a fifth school of thought (madhhab) as claimed by the ignorant and biased; rather, it is a call to the Salafi creed and a revival of the landmarks of Islam concerning monotheism (Tawhid) which had become obscured.”
He also stated in his advice to some students of knowledge: “We advise you to enroll in the Islamic University of Madinah, for it is a Salafi university that teaches its students the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah.”
The Scholar Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in his explanation of Al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah: “He is mistaken who says: ‘The People of the Community (Ahl al-Jama’ah) are Salafis, Ash’arites, and Maturidites.’ This is a mistake; how can everyone be Ahl al-Sunnah while they are divided?” He then said: “The People of the Sunnah and the Community are the Salafis in creed—even the later generations among them up to the Day of Resurrection, if they are upon the path of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions, then he is a Salafi.”
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in Majallat al-Asalah, answering a question on whether Salafism is a partisan, sectarian, or doctrinal call, or a new sect in Islam: “There are some who claim knowledge who reject this attribution, claiming it has no basis, saying: ‘It is not permissible for a Muslim to say: I am a Salafi who follows the righteous predecessors in what they were upon regarding creed, worship, and conduct.’ There is no doubt that if such a person were to say these exact words, it would necessitate disowning the authentic Islam that our righteous predecessors—headed by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—were upon. There is no doubt that the clear, manifest, and distinguishing designation is to say: ‘I am a Muslim upon the Book and the Sunnah, and upon the methodology of our righteous predecessors,’ or to say concisely: ‘I am a Salafi.’“
Attributing oneself to the Salaf is a great pride that every Muslim should take pride in and cherish. We say to the student of knowledge what Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Be a Salafi upon the straight path.”
Therefore, a student of knowledge must renounce partisanship and distance himself from it.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to the Muhajirin and the Ansar when two men among them disagreed—so the Muhajir called out, saying, “O Muhajirin!” and the Ansari called out, saying, “O Ansar!”: “Is it with the calls of the days of ignorance (Jahiliyyah) that you call, while I am amongst you? Leave it, for it is foul.”
The Muhajirin and the Ansar are Islamic names, yet the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, considered them to be calls of Jahiliyyah because partisanship had crept into them.
However, if the intent is to affiliate with the Sunnah and the righteous predecessors, there is no harm in that.
Thus, Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah do not become multiple parties; the believers are a single party—the Party of Allah—while the disbelievers are the party of Satan.