Dawat-us-Salafiyyah (Call of those who preceeded us) According to Quran and Sunnah Dawah - literally means "call", and in this sense it refers to calling to the Truth through preaching and propagation. Salaf - literally means "those (from history) who precede, have gone before". As-Salaf as-Saalih - The people of the past, namely the first three generations of pious muslims during and after the revelation of the Qur'an, i.e.the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet, saaws , the Taabi'een (followers) and the Taabi Taabi'een (followers of the followers).

Islam teaches that As-Salaf as-Saalih are superior in their understanding of the Revelation of Al-Qu'ran.

The Prophet, saaws, said: "I am leaving you two things and you will never go astray as long as you cling to them -- they are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." [Reported by Al- Haakim - Sahih]. Tirmidhee and Haakim - Sahih] Salafi - means "of the salaf". Using correct arabic grammar, the word "salafi" can only be used in association with words that are of that which is truly from the far past. In order to be a salaf, you had to exist generations prior to the current one. Referring to oneself as a salafi* is permissible in Islam so long as the intention is for identification with the salafi minhaj and this identification does not replace your identification as being MUSLIM, as this is what Allah swt has commanded us in The Qur'an to call ourselves.

"Verily those before you from among the People of the Book split into seventy-two sects and verily this religion . . . ", and in another narration, " . . . this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects: seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise and that is the Jamaa'ah." [Reported by Abu Daawood - Sahih]

When questioned by his Companions about those who will be saved from the Fire, the Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) replied: "They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee from Amr ibn al-Aas - classified as Hasan.]

"And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allâh makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided." [Surah Al-Imrân 3:103].

Whereas a person of a sect may improperly refer to himself as a Shia, Sufi, etc., those who adhere to dawat-us-salafiyyah describe themself as a "Muslim" whose minhaj (methodology/system) is Qur'an and Sunnah and madhdhab (way) is that of the salaf.

As Muslims, we must not dispute over the proper use of the word "salafi." As Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid has said, "The one who is seeking salvation has to work hard to gain beneficial knowledge and do righteous deeds, and he should avoid vain arguments and futile discussions in which there is no benefit." What is important is that we implement the way of the salaf as-saalih in our daily lives.

One can refer to himself as "muttaqi" (male) or "muttaqiyyah" (female) meaning of the muttaqun, but should not make a sunnah of calling himself a "muslim muttaqi". A person alive today can be muttaqi but cannot be salafi because s/he is not of the past.

Those who adhere to the sunnah of the Prophet, saaws, are sadly known as "strange", "odd", etc., to those who have abandoned such adherence. They (muslims on a misguided path) even get to the point that they find it odd that someone would just call themselves a MUSLIM and attach no special group name to the word muslim. Surely the people who deviate are the people who must find a new label for their group. The label "muslim" is the purest word and all we need, insha'Allah, i.e. it is the only identifying label that we should have as a tradition or sunnah for calling ourselves when refering to our faith.

The Prophet, saaws, has mentioned in his saying: "Islam began as a stranger and shall return as a stranger as it began. So give glad tidings to the strangers." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih].

Madhdhab Salafi- means the way (madhdhab) of the salaf (first three generations of pious muslims after the revelation of the Qur'an).

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) says: "There is no blame on the one who manifests/proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq), because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq)." [From Majmoo al-Fataawaa, 4:149.]

Following the madhdhab of the salaf is unlike following one of the madhdhabs (schools of thought) of today. Today when a person says they follow a madhdhab, they mean they follow one of the four Imams (Maliki, Hanafi, etc..), often to the point that even if the Imam's chosen position on any topic is clearly in error, they will follow it anyway, just for the sake of consistency in following the same Imam. In the true use of the word "madhdhab", the way of the salaf is a madhdhab. In the modern sense of the word "madhdhab", the way of the salaf is not a madhdhab, meaning it does not require or encourage blind adherence to a single leader like the practice of muslims who follow any one of the four major madhdhabs of today.

Minhaj Qur'an wa Sunnah- means methodology of Qur'an and Sunnah.

Shaikh Saalih al-Fawzaan said, " The reasons for disunity are many. From amongst the main causes are: Firstly, opposing the minhaj (methodology) of the Salaf, the Companions of Allaah's Messenger and those who follow them. So the Salaf had a minhaj that they adhered to; a manhaj in aqeedah (creed), a manhaj in da'wah (calling to Allaah), a minhaj in enjoining good and forbidding evil, a manhaj in how to judge between people. This minhaj, in all situations, was based upon the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of our Messenger." [Wujoob ut-Tathabbut fil-Akhbaaar p.18]

Bid'a- Innovation in ibaddah [worship], to be avoided!

The Prophet, saaws, has said: "If anyone introduces into this affair of ours (i.e. the religion of Islam) anything which does not belong to it, he will have it rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]. The Prophet, saaws, said: "Whoever does an action which we (Allah and His Messenger) have not commanded it will be rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]

Shirk- To associate a partner with Allah swt. The greatest sin.

Tawheed- The Oneness of Allah, swt.

Tawheed-ar-Ruboobiyya (Oneness of the Lordship of Allah). To believe that there is only one Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, Maintainer, etc., and that is Allah swt. Tawheed-al-Uloohiyya (Oneness of the worship of Allah). To believe that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Worship comes in the form of praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen or anything believed to be a deity (i.e. idols), swearing, slaughtering sacrifices, etc. "And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allâh." [Surah Al-Jinn 72:18]. "Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am only a man like you. It has been inspired to me that your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God i.e. Allâh). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord." [Surah Al-Kahf 18:110]

Tawheed-al-Asma was-Sifat (Oneness of the Names/Attributes of Allah)

To believe that all the best of names/attributes (i.e. "The Most Merciful", etc.) belong to Allah as described in the Qur'an and by Prophet Muhammad saaws, and must not be twisted or expanded upon nor given similtude to human characteristics. "Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): 'He is Allâh, (the) One. Allâh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.' " [Surah Al-Ikhlas 112]. "...

Dawat-us-Salafiyyah (also "Dawah Salafi", or "salafi dawah" although this is an english transposition of the two words- [say DOW-uh(t) uh sal-uh-FEE-uh]) Literally means call of the past, those who preceded us. This is the spreading of Islam in accordance with Qur'an and Sunnah, recognizing the understanding of the pious Salaf in this matter as being superior (more accurate) than modern ideas and inventions, with an intention to avoid innovation in ibaddah (an all encompassing word for worship, i.e. halal [permissible] acts of submission to Allah swt).

Dawat-us-Salafiyyah teaches that the Qur'an is the indisputable Truth of Allah, s.w.t. Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). [The Noble Qur'an Al-Hijr 15:9] Dawat-us-Salafiyyah encourages the muslim to run from Bid'a, actively try to remove shirk, think and act on Tawheed, and compare none to Allah, swt. You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad SAW and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rűf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh. ...[The Noble Qur'an Al-Imran 3:110] Dawat-us-Salafiyyah teaches the Muslim to worship Allah t'ala out of a combination of fear and hope. "And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allâh's Mercy is (ever) near unto the good­doers." [Surah A'râf 7:56]

Dawat-us-Salafiyyah does not neglect the Sunnah of the Prophet, saaws. The muslim who clings to and engages in acts according to the Sunnah, sadly, becomes a 'stranger' to those who have gone astray. The Prophet, saaws, has mentioned in his saying: "Islam began as a stranger and shall return as a stranger as it began. So give glad tidings to the strangers." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]. And in another narration: "So give glad tidings to the few, those who purify, correct what the people have corrupted of my Sunnah." [Al-Silsilah of Shaikh al-Albaani - Sahih].

One cannot follow Dawat-us-Salafiyyah if s/he is Shi'ah or Sufi or if s/he prescribes to a madhdhab based on blind adherence to a single Imam of any generation. Why? The Salaf have informed us not to follow their own ruling on a matter if stronger proof existed elsewhere that they were in error, i.e. contradicting Qur'an or Sunnah, whereas a madhdhab that follows a single Imam (i.e. Imam Hanbal, Imam Malik, etc.) encourages blind adherance to a single Imam and all of his rulings alone. Of course it is permissible to seek guidance from the writings, etc., of Imams, but it is required of the muslim to reject whatever s/he was clinging on to (i.e. beliefs and actions) once the Truth is made plain. Dawat-us-Salafiyyah gives precedence to the Word of Allah far above all others

"O you who believe! Do not put yourselves forward in the presence of Allah and His Prophet and fear Allah. Verily Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing." [Surah al-Hujuraat 49:1].

Dawat-us-Salafiyyah teaches us to love His Prophet, saaws. (but not to worship him!) The Prophet, saaws, said: "None of you believes until I become more beloved to him than his father, child and all mankind." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih].

Modern scholars may only come to teach remind us of the instructions of the original Salaf. Among the scholars who follow(ed) the Salaf-us-Salih in belief and deed, insha'Allah, are: Imam Abu Hanifah (150 AH), Al-Awzai (157 AH), Ath-Thawri (161 AH), Al Laith ibn Saad (175 AH), Imam Malik (179 AH), Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak (181 AH), Sufyan ibn Uyainah (198 AH), Imam Ash-Shafi'i (204 AH), Ishaq (238 AH), Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (241 AH), Al-Bukhari (256 AH), Muslim (261 AH), Abu Dawood (275 AH) and others.

Ibn Taymiyyah (728 AH) and his students, Adh-Dhahabi , Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Katheer and others. [All listed lived between 728 and 774 AH] Muhammed bin 'Abd al-Wahhab [1206 AH] and many of his students Abdul Aziz bin Baz, Muhammed bin Saalih Utheimeen, Muhammed Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaani [of our time].

The Noble Qur'an An-Nisâ' 4:115 And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers' way. We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination.

Shaikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah commented on this verse: "All who contradict and oppose the Messenger after the right path has been clearly shown to them, have followed other than the Path of the Believers; and all who follow other than the Path of the Believers have contradicted and opposed the Messenger after the right Path has been shown to them. If one thinks that he is following the Path of the Faithful Believers and is mistaken, he is in the same position as one who thinks he is following the Messenger and is mistaken."

*Related Link: A Ruling on saying "I am a Salafi" from Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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