In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] says:

Salafiyyah entails adhering to the footsteps of the Salafus Saaleh, which includes the noble companions (Sahaabah), the righteous successors (Taa’bi’een), and the virtuous generations that followed. Allah says:

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِـإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ

And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhaajiroon (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhaajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him].

And Allah [The Most High] says about the Sahaabah:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَـٰهَدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِہِمۡ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَواْ وَّنَصَرُوٓاْ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ بَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ

Verily, those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard and fought with their property and their lives in the Cause of Allah as well as those who gave (them) asylum and help, – these are (all) allies to one another [8:72] – up to His statement: [وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَـٰهَدُواْ مَعَكُمۡ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مِنكُمۡ‌ۚ – And those who believed afterwards, and emigrated and strove hard along with you, (in the Cause of Allah) they are of you].

Allah [Glorified be He and free is He from all Imperfections] says in Surah Al -Hashar:

لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ ٱلۡمُهَـٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمۡ وَأَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلاً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٲنً۬ا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ
وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَـٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡہِمۡ

(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say); And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them.” [59:8-9]- up until His [The Most High] statement: [وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٲنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ – And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith].

The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: “This ummah will split into seventy-three sects; all of them will enter the fire except one”. They said, “Which is that (saved sects) O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “Those who are upon that which I and my companions are upon today” The Prophet said: “Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khulafaa after me”.

Salafiyyah is the prescribed Methodology that we must adhere to, forsaking all other methodologies that contradict it. The adherents of Salafiyyah are the saved sect, Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jamaa’ah, and they are the supported group until the Day of Judgement. May Allah include us among them. However, affiliation with this methodology necessitates understanding its principles so that the Muslim can follow it. Knowledge of the opposing methodologies is essential to avoid them. Salafiyyah, following the path of the righteous predecessors, must be founded on knowledge and insight. It is insufficient for an individual to claim association without understanding it or going against it. This is why Allah, The Most High, says: [وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِـإِحۡسَـٰنٍ۬ – And also those who followed them (i.e. the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar) exactly (in Faith)].

They follow based on knowledge- neither fall into extremism nor negligence. They do not exaggerate or fail to give proper consideration to matters, unlike those who claim to follow the Mad’habs of the four Imams (Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Shaafi’ee, and Ahmad) but contradict them in their beliefs and worship. Similarly, some claim to follow the methodology of the Salaf but declare Muslims as disbelievers or rebel against Muslim rulers, or they adopt extreme positions. Such individuals are not truly Salafi, but rather they are known as Kharijis or Mutazilis. Some claim to follow the methodology of the Salaf but express the beliefs of the Mur’ji’a regarding faith and disbelief. This is not Salafiyyah. Therefore, it is important to distinguish the Salafi methodology from other opposing methodologies and refrain from making reckless statements such as “none of these methodologies, including Salafiyyah, are part of Islam.” This is reckless speech, a judgement that is tantamount to oppression and deception. [1]

Identifying with the Muslim community is a core principle upheld in Islamic law. Muslims are a fair and moderate Ummah, following a balanced path set by Allah and His Messenger. Allah says:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Thus We have made you [true Muslims – real believers of Islamic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a Wasat (just) (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad) be a witness over you. And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad) from those who would turn on their heels (i.e. disobey the Messenger). Indeed it was great (heavy) except for those whom Allah guided. And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. your prayers offered towards Jerusalem). Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful towards mankind. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Ayah 143]

They are the best of all nations. Allah (The Most High) says:

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ

You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar(polytheism, disbelief, and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. [Surah Aal Imran. Ayah 110]

Allah named us Muslims:

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ ۚ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ۚ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ ۚ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ ۖ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

And strive hard in Allah’s Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islamic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islam), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham) (Islamic Monotheism). It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’an), that the Messenger (Muhammad) may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind! So perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), give Zakat and hold fast to Allah [i.e. have confidence in Allah, and depend upon Him in all your affairs] He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper! [Surah Al-Hajj Ayah 78]

One of the elements of this identification is to attribute oneself to Salafiyyah because attributing oneself to Salafiyyah means attributing oneself to Islam based on the teachings of the Prophet and his companions. It is important to clarify that attributing oneself to Salafiyyah should not be understood as aligning with a faction that promotes illegal partisanship, where love and hate are based on criteria other than what the Prophet and his companions followed. Such behavior is condemned and considered a form of detestable partisanship. Identifying oneself as a Muslim is necessary to distinguish oneself from followers of other religions, identifying oneself as a Sunni is necessary to distinguish oneself from the Shiites and those who follow innovations in religious matters, and identifying oneself as a Salafi is necessary to distinguish oneself from the various deviant groups that follow misguided methodologies. Therefore, a Muslim should say that they are a Muslim, Sunni, and Salafi. [2]

Categorising The People and Attributing Them to Their Creeds

Categorising people and assigning them to their respective beliefs, religions, and characteristics has always been a fundamental aspect of knowledge. This practice, known as Jarh Wat Tadeel, has been an integral part of our Ummah since time immemorial. It serves as a means to pass judgment and establish principles. It is important to note that this knowledge will continue to exist within our Ummah as long as day and night persist. However, some attempt to undermine this discipline for their own personal or political agendas, or out of fear for their loved ones who may have been rightfully criticized. Such individuals are misguided and lead others astray. Categorizing people based on truth and clear-sightedness is crucial for safeguarding the religion ordained by Allah. It helps to counteract the distortions of those who exceed the limits, the false claims of the falsifiers, and the misguided interpretations of the ignorant. Additionally, it serves as a defense against the deviations of religious innovators, the schemes of the Khawaarij, and all other deviant sects that emerge within our community. On the other hand, those who are followed and establish principles of innovation in religion, calling people towards their misguided beliefs, are themselves marked by the bidah they have introduced. They do not deserve any honor. [3]

All The Sects In The Fire Except One – [A Precise Clarification By Imaam Abdul Azeez In Baaz]

All The Sects In The Fire Except One – [A Precise Clarification By Imaam Abdul Azeez In Baaz]

[1]An Excerpt from Al-Bayaan Li-Akh’taa’I Ba’dil Kuttaab. 2/173-174

[2] Silsilah Ar-Rasaa’il Al-Manhajiyyah Fin Nus’hi Wal Irshaad Wat-taw’iyah. pages 45-46

[3] Tasneefun Naas Aw Ar-Radd Alaa Munkiriy At-Tasneef’ page 6