Question:

What is “Salafiyyah”? and what is your opinion regarding it?

Answer:

Salafiyyah is an attribution to the Salaf. The Salaf are the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the leaders of guidance from the first three preferred generations (may Allah be pleased with them). These are the ones for whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ testified to their goodness in his saying: “The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come people whose testimony precedes their oath and whose oath precedes their testimony.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim) [1].

Salafis (Al-Salafiyyun): This is the plural of “Salafi,” which is an attribution to the Salaf (as defined above). They are those who follow the methodology (Manhaj) of the Salaf in adhering to the Quran and the Sunnah, calling people to them, and acting upon them. By doing so, they are the “Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah”.