Question:

May a person say, “I am a Salafi”?

Answer:

The righteous Salaf (al-Salaf al-Salih) are Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Muslim Community), the Saved Sect (al-Firqah al-Najiyah), the Victorious Group (al-Ta’ifah al-Mansurah), the people of truth, and the people of uprightness. All of these names refer to one and the same reality. The Salaf (predecessors) of this Ummah are the Companions, the Successors (Tabi’in), the leading imams, and the scholars.

Therefore, if a person says: “I am from the righteous Salaf,” or “I am from Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah,” there is no harm in it.

This is because the righteous Salaf are Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, concerning whom the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A group of my Ummah will remain steadfast upon the truth, victorious; they will not be harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them, until the command of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, comes to pass.”

Thus, everyone who adheres to the Sunnah is considered part of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah, and it can be said of him that he is a “Salafi” because he follows the righteous Salaf, even if he came long after them.

As for the assertion by some people that the Saved Sect is different from the Victorious Group, this is incorrect. The Victorious Group is the Saved Sect, and they are Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. They are the ones mentioned in the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “This Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Fire except one.” It was asked: “Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Those who are upon what I and my Companions are upon today.”

And in another narration: “And they are the Jama’ah (Muslim Community).”

That is: Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. At the forefront of them are the scholars, as well as everyone who adheres to the truth—even if he is a farmer, a merchant, a blacksmith, a carpenter, a baker, a cobbler, a builder, a tile setter, or a painter—so long as he is steadfast in the obedience of Allah.

The Victorious Group may be gathered in one place or dispersed across multiple places; they may grow strong and numerous in some locations or decrease in others. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave glad tidings regarding them, saying: “A group of my Ummah will remain steadfast upon the truth, victorious; they will not be harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them, until the command of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, comes to pass.”

Whoever claims to be a Salafi while intending by it partisan factionalism (al-tahazzub), this is prohibited and not permissible, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Leave it, for it is foul.”

Similarly, regarding one who claims to be a Salafi while he is not truly a Salafi, the poet said: Everyone claims a connection to Layla. And Layla does not acknowledge any of them for that.

The true criterion in all of this is following the Book and the Sunnah. Whoever follows the Book and the Sunnah is upon the truth. As for mere names, they neither advance nor retard anything; what truly matters are the realities.