بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
What is Salafism or Salafiyyah? What are these names/terms like 'Salafi'?
Salafism (or Salafiyyah) is the true Path in following Islam and the Sunnah. A Salafi is one who follows the path of the Salaf As-Sālih exactly without alteration.
As-Salaf As-Sālih (“The Pious Predecessors”) are the Companions of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and the three generations that came after them. They are also called Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah, the Salaf, As-hābul-Hadeeth and Ahlul-Hadeeth. Whoever accepts them and follows their path precisely in belief, methodology and religion is upon true guidance.
The terms Salafi, Sunni, Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah, As-hābul-Hadeeth and Ahlul-Hadeeth are interchangeable. All these titles refer to the same body of people who all follow the same path. However, not everyone who uses these titles is a true adherent of what they represent. In fact, the majority of people who ascribe themselves to these labels have beliefs and methodologies in opposition to the path of the Salaf As-Sālih. You must know how to distinguish between a mere claimant and a true adherent.
For example: Many Sufis use the term sunni and ahlul sunnah wa’l jama’ah. This is why it is best to use the term salafi.
Question: Why do you use names like Salafi, Ahlus Sunnah, Ahlul Athar?
Answered by Ustadh Uways At-Taweel [listen here]:
https://on.soundcloud.com/xFYRLbrcuKagB3uK9
Question: Why do we have to call ourselves Salafi?
Answered by Ustadh Abu Khadeejah [listen here]:
https://youtu.be/D_hAnAp1iAk?si=YoYokmoYqDx-PzAo
Question: When this person begins Ruqiyah (reciting Qur’aan upon a person as a form of treatment) he says: ‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’
Answered by Shaykh Salih as-Suhaymee & Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya:
‘As for the saying: ‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’ Then this statement is contradictory!
The Sunni O you Miskeen (impoverished person) is the Salafi, and the Salafi is the Sunni. Whoever distinguishes between the two then he has distinguished between two things which resemble each other; so the Salaf are the Ahl-ul-Sunnah and the Salafeeyoon are the followers of the Sunnah, and whoever absolves himself from that then he is not a Sunni nor a Salafi!
Just because some of the people claim Salafeeyah and they do not actually exemplify it, then this does not allow you to free yourself from Salafeeyah, rather it is obligatory upon you to honour yourself by ascribing yourself to the Salaf and to the Manhaj of the Salaf, since indeed ascription to that is obligatory.
Ahl-ul-Sunnah, the Salaf, the followers of the Salaf, the Firqat an-Najjeeyah, the Taifat-ul-Mansoorah, the Jamaa’ah, the Salafi and the Sunni, all of these mean one title: and they are the Jamaa’ah, and they are similar to those whom were upon what the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– and his Companions were upon.
So be a serious Salafi – be a serious Salafi, just like the Salaf used to say – a Salafi ascribing to the Manhaj of the Salaf in sayings, actions and belief.
And I believe that whoever brags with this type of talk (‘I am a Sunni and I am not a Salafi.’) is very far from the Manhaj of the Sunni which is the Manhaj of the Salaf.
May Allaah give everyone the capability to obtain beneficial knowledge and righteous actions. May Allaah send prayers, peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his Family and all his Companions.’
[Taken from the Shaykh’s lesson from the ‘Explanation of ‘an-Nasihah al-Waladeeyah liAbee al-Waleed al-Bajee Rahimullaah-’ end of tape one.]
To be a Salafi means adhering to the Creed, Methodology and the way of life of the Salaf As-Sālih (the Pious Predecessors). The earliest Salaf were the generation of our Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Companions. Then after them came the three virtuous generations of believers who held fast to the Sunnah (Path) of the Prophet and his Companions.
The person who understands this path correctly, follows it exactly, without introducing anything into it and nor deviating from it is a Salafi. To be a Salafi is not merely to imagine that one is upon the true path of the Salaf, but Salafism is to study the religion of the Companions and follow it — it was they who understood best the meanings and intent of the speech and actions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). So, if someone asks: “What is the Call (Da’wah) and Methodology (Manhaj) of the Salafis in learning, practising and teaching the Religion?” We can answer by saying: Here is our Da’wah explained in the following 89 points: Follow the link below:
https://abukhadeejah.com/what-is-salafism-and-salafiyyah/
What is Salafiyyah? — Lectures by Markaz Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak: https://on.soundcloud.com/Ezo4Uj2fhuVvVdfc6
What is Salafiyyah? - Shaykh Dr. Abdullah al-Bukhari — Lectures by Al Markaz as Salafi Leicestershire: https://on.soundcloud.com/kMNFMJkKEkKmFGob7
Majority of this information was taken from Abu Khadeejahs Article/pdf — What is Salafism and what does it call to? Read Here: https://abukhadeejah.com/what-is-salafism-and-salafiyyah/