What are Salafis?

:salam2:

Hope you're all in the best of health and iman inshAllah.

My question pertains to the term "Salafi". Now although I have an idea of what this is, I'm not sure if it's the right one. I've also heard this term being used many times, yet unjustly so. So could anyone please put up daleel on what a Salafi actually is?

JazakAllah Khair

As-salaamu `alaykum,

One who follows/ascribes to the way of the Salaf us-Saalih (pious predeccors). Just like the term sunnee refers to one who ascribes to the Prophetic sunnah, salafee is an ascription to the salaf (who are in general, the people of the sunnah and in specific, the generation of the companions and the two following generations). Many of the past `ullemaa' used it as an synonym for sunnee, since the two words refer to one and the same thing.

If that's the case, then why are they looked at so negatively by some, those of whom even go as far to say that its the "wrong type of extremism"?

it's because some people view the term wahabi and salafi as interchangeable.

:salam2:

It is such an important topic and just a couple of 3 liner anwers to that? This is unfair in a forum full of Salafis. I would like to see some detailed responses before I chime in.

Salaam,


We need this topic. I wonder often about the new "salafi". They are very doctrine bound, wear odd clothes, never are fun, and are very judgemental. I see many as being a sect. They seem to be the first to point out what is wrong with everyone one and everything. Now we should get some responses.

alsalam alikom : islam isnot measured by deeds of some muslims but muslims measuring by islam .

saif said:

:salam2:

It is such an important topic and just a couple of 3 liner anwers to that? This is unfair in a forum full of Salafis. I would like to see some detailed responses before I chime in.

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:salam2: there's really no need to react like that. You can find some articles using the search button on top of the page. The topic is very simple, and I think brother Al Kashmiri explained it in a very good way: simply and clearly.
There's this thread anyway that can be read insh'Allah:

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17670&highlight=salafi

Salaam,


We need discussion on the subject. There is a movement in the US that is very decisive. The people who claim to be Salafi are not Sunni. These same people point fingers at Sufi's and Sunni, and Shia's. They have a whorped interpertation of Islam. There needs to discussion. We can not sweep that under the rug. I have had a few encounters with these Salafi's. They are judgemental and there are reports that some of these Salafi's have been physcially abusive to members who are in some disagreement with them. We have to attend to this.

dear mirajmom, insh'Allah u r in good health and imaan

I'm not saying there's nothing to discuss but the thing is very simple. I quote again what brother Al Kashmiri said:

"One who follows/ascribes to the way of the Salaf us-Saalih (pious predecessors). Just like the term sunnee refers to one who ascribes to the Prophetic sunnah, salafee is an ascription to the salaf (who are in general, the people of the sunnah and in specific, the generation of the companions and the two following generations)."

Following the Prophetic sunnah and the generation of the companions.... it means good manners first, doesn't it? And their "ways" to do da'wah. Both things are often forgotten among the Ummah. Both ways are perfect, Muslims aren't. May Allah guide us all!

mirajmom said:

Salaam,


We need discussion on the subject. There is a movement in the US that is very decisive. The people who claim to be Salafi are not Sunni. These same people point fingers at Sufi's and Sunni, and Shia's. They have a whorped interpertation of Islam. There needs to discussion. We can not sweep that under the rug. I have had a few encounters with these Salafi's. They are judgemental and there are reports that some of these Salafi's have been physcially abusive to members who are in some disagreement with them. We have to attend to this.

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:salam2: sister,

I seldom post nowadays, but i cannot help but post on this one as i see you have misunderstood the term salafi

With regards to your run with these "salafi", there is no doubt that it is not the akhlaaq of a muslim to be physically abusive on another muslim just because of some disagreements. These people who are abusive are NOT among those who follow salafus soleh and therefore do not deserve to be called a salafi.

My advice for sister mirajmom is to reread what Al kashmiri wrote. We have to realise that if there are some bad apples in a group but we should never negate everyone because of these few apples. Salafis are not a sect because they are among the best generations muslims. It is upon us to follow the sunnah of the prophet Sallah Wa allihi Wasalam and the people of the salaf who learn directly under prophet Sallah Wa allihi Wasalam

mirajmom said:

Salaam,


We need discussion on the subject. There is a movement in the US that is very decisive. The people who claim to be Salafi are not Sunni. These same people point fingers at Sufi's and Sunni, and Shia's. They have a whorped interpertation of Islam. There needs to discussion. We can not sweep that under the rug. I have had a few encounters with these Salafi's. They are judgemental and there are reports that some of these Salafi's have been physcially abusive to members who are in some disagreement with them. We have to attend to this.

Click to expand...

As-salaamu `alaykum.

I don't so the difference between what you have said (as highlighted). You say they are judgemental and then expel them from the sunnah? Correct me if I'm wrong but that seems like an obvious discrepancy...

Salafiyyah is an attachment to the best of mankind, the salaf. Nothing more, nothing less. Hence, if someone claims to be salafi but behaves in a manner contrary to the salaf, with respect to `aqeedah and the other elements of Islaam, then how can he safely be considered a salafi? Surely he can call himself that, but it becomes an empty statement, one that his actions (and beliefs) may not prove...

Anyway, we say to the non-Muslims not to judge Islaam by the actions of some adherents, but by the scriptures and teachings. I think we ought to owe the same justice to the Salafees...

Also, I've noticed how many, many people can't discern between the one who is Salafi and the one who calls to rebellion and the likes. They make similitude based upon the fact that the Salafees expose the shirk and bid`ah of the shi`a and soofees, and the latter group don't quite expose but attack anyone who opposes them! A big difference which some people do not realise... Attacking people ruthlessly is a bad trait, whereas it is from Jihaad to make clear the innovations of the various sects.

Was-salaam

Happy 2BA Muslim said:

Because of that, we have to differentiate between the Salafi manhaj (way or methodology) which is protected from error as it is based on the sources of sharee’ah, namely the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus, and the individuals who claim to belong to this path. These individuals are not free of error with regard to their knowledge or actions, whether that error is a sin or even a bid’ah (innovation). Rather the person who does it is to blame for it; it is not permissible to blame the manhaj for this mistake. That leads to vilification of the Salafi manhaj on the grounds that so and so (a Salafi) made a mistake and did such and such.

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As-salaamu `alaykum.

Jazaak Allaah khayran. I think that's something many people, be it those who consider themselves Salafi and at the same time, those who criticse them seem to forget...

Salafi Muslims

Asalam wailkium. I would have to disagree with the bros in this case. I know that there are bad apples in every group, and therefore you cannot judge or blame the entire group based on 1 or 2 bad apples.
However, salafis, this group comes about because they believe they follow the way of the sahabah/prophet/early generation correctly compared to the rest of us. Hence thats why they claim this term, salafi, as they believe they practise Islam more closer compared to the rest of us, otherwise why wouldn't this group just refer to themselves as sunni muslims. As sunni muslims also claim to follow the salaf generation.

They are judgemental and there are reports that some of these Salafi's have been physcially abusive to members who are in some disagreement with them. We have to attend to this.

I would agree with this experience.

Amir

Im more interested in the term Ghurabaah and finding out who they are rather than the term Salafi.

I've often thought that the term Ghurabaah cannot be ascribed supremely to a certain sect, the strangers are just indivduals spread over, but they share common characteristics which distinguish them from others.

Its more important to be from among the strangers because the Prophet said 'give glad tidings to the strangers'

“Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” ~ (Muslim)

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So whoever they are, from whatever sect or no sect, they're the winners.

:salam2:

Amir_of_spain said:

Asalam wailkium. I would have to disagree with the bros in this case. I know that there are bad apples in every group, and therefore you cannot judge or blame the entire group based on 1 or 2 bad apples.
However, salafis, this group comes about because they believe they follow the way of the sahabah/prophet/early generation correctly compared to the rest of us. Hence thats why they claim this term, salafi, as they believe they practise Islam more closer compared to the rest of us, otherwise why wouldn't this group just refer to themselves as sunni muslims. As sunni muslims also claim to follow the salaf generation.

They are judgemental and there are reports that some of these Salafi's have been physcially abusive to members who are in some disagreement with them. We have to attend to this.

I would agree with this experience.

Amir

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As-salaamu `alaykum.

That's the case with anything that be can remotely described as an Islamic group... In the time of the Salaf, Sunnee (from Ahl us-Sunnah) was a term exclusive for the truth, the Sunnees were free from the Qadariyyah, Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah etc. Now, not many can tell the difference, the Qadiri has become "Sunnee" to them, the Mu`tazali has become "Sunnee" and the Kharijee has become "Sunnee", despite the Salaf saying otherwise. When people say Salafee, they mean nothing more than what Ahl us-Sunnah intended by calling one another Sunnee in those times of trials.

And being physically abusive is of course, foul. Very foul!!! However, it amazes me how people (more specifically to people in London) talk about these "Salafis" and physical abuse, when in East London's most (in)famous Soofee masjed (and it's two local off-shoots), there have been thousands of reports of fighting going on during Salaah, now they shamefully have to observe jumu`ah under the watch of the police. On the contrary, the one time I heard of a Salafee hitting someone in a masjed is after the soofee mu'adhdhin called the revert a black baboon!

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention this as it seems relevant in light of the points made. Shameful behavior yes, but one would be blind to claim it being exclusive to one people.

Qadariyyah, Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah etc.

Al-Kashmiri said:

As-salaamu `alaykum.

That's the case with anything that be can remotely described as an Islamic group... In the time of the Salaf, Sunnee (from Ahl us-Sunnah) was a term exclusive for the truth, the Sunnees were free from the Qadariyyah, Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah etc. Now, not many can tell the difference, the Qadiri has become "Sunnee" to them, the Mu`tazali has become "Sunnee" and the Kharijee has become "Sunnee", despite the Salaf saying otherwise. When people say Salafee, they mean nothing more than what Ahl us-Sunnah intended by calling one another Sunnee in those times of trials.

And being physically abusive is of course, foul. Very foul!!! However, it amazes me how people (more specifically to people in London) talk about these "Salafis" and physical abuse, when in East London's most (in)famous Soofee masjed (and it's two local off-shoots), there have been thousands of reports of fighting going on during Salaah, now they shamefully have to observe jumu`ah under the watch of the police. On the contrary, the one time I heard of a Salafee hitting someone in a masjed is after the soofee mu'adhdhin called the revert a black baboon!

Anyway, I just thought I'd mention this as it seems relevant in light of the points made. Shameful behavior yes, but one would be blind to claim it being exclusive to one people.

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salaam

whilst we are at discussing different groups can someone explain to me what the Qadariyyah, Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah etc believe in why they are astray?

Thanks.

Zafran said:

salaam

whilst we are at discussing different groups can someone explain to me what the Qadariyyah, Khawaarij, Mu`tazilah etc believe in why they are astray?

Thanks.

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As-salaamu `alaykum.

Don't get me wrong, these groups do accept the six canonical books (Saheeh Al-Bukharee through to Sunan Ibn Maajah). But that doesn't make one a sunnee, the sunne is not merely the one who takes from these books, rather he follows the sunnah with respect to creed, methodology, worship etc.

Regarding the Qadariyyah, then much can be read about them. Even from the Sahaabah. I'll suffice with the following,

http://allaahuakbar.in/qadariyyah/index.htm

The Khawaarij are from the progeny (not necessarily descendants but in terms of thinking) of Dhul-Khuwayshah, the despicable man who told Muhammad sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam to be just!? There are many different narrations about the matter. From the traits of the Khawaarij is their expelling Muslims from the fold of Islaam on account of their major sins (so sinners are kuffaar to them), their rebellion against the Muslim rulers, them not understanding Islamic Politics and many more. The points I mentioned lead them to murdering `Uthmaan Ibn `Affaan, `Alee Ibn Abee Taalib, as well as plotting to kill Mu`aawiyah and `Amr Ibn Al-`Aas, may Allaah be pleased with them all. However, this doesn't mean that todays' Khawaarij are pleased with these deeds, rather they still carry the same traits and beliefs that the held in the time of the Sahaabah.

The Mu`tazilah were founded Waasil Ibn `Ataa, who "withdrew" (I`tizaal) from the lessons of the taabi`ee (a taabi`ee is one who learnt Islaam from the companions) and Imaam, Al-Hasan Al-Basri (who was a slave of the Prophet's, sall-Allaahu `alayhi wasallam wife, Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her). They favoured their intellects over the Qur'aan and Sunnah and used logic and philosophy as proofs in the religion, putting them above the Qur'aan and Sunnah!?!?

Anyway, this is all but an intro, the sects are many and their beliefs are wild. Best thing is to research the matter further, as I only stated these various gorups as examples.

Was-salaam

salaam

Thanks for explaining the basic differences.

May Allah bless you

peace.