Dawat-us-Salafiyyah
(Call of those who preceeded us)

Salafiyyah

According to Quran and Sunnah

Bismillah ahRahman nirRaheem (In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)


Dawah - literally means "call", and in this sense it refers to calling to the Truth through preaching and propagation.

·         Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allâh and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qűb (Jacob), and to Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qűb (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Műsa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islâm)." [The Noble Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:136]

·         Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided. [The Noble Qur'an An-Nahl 16:125]

·         Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rűf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. [The Noble Qur'an Al-Imran 3:104]

·         Say (O Muhammad SAW): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e to the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikűn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to Allâh)." [The Noble Qur'an Yusuf 12:108]

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. Generally speaking, the people present during any event (such as the revelation of the Quran) will understand it better than those who read about it later. 

Salafi - means "of the salaf".  The "i" (sounds like "ee") on the end of the word means "of the", "of" and/or "are".  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. While it is important, as many scholars have said, to distinguish ourselves from the innovators, we first do this in our actions (i.e. do not sit with the people of innovation, engage the sunnah in our daily lives, etc.), and to do so in speech, we can best do so by clearly stating that we are followers of the pious predecessors ("Ana a-taaba as-salaf as-saalih").

 

Those Muslims whose intentions are to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet saaws and the salaf, know better than to divide themselves into a sect (a dissenting or schismatic religious body; especially one regarded as extreme or heretical) that parts from following clear proof in Quran and Sunnah.  

A muslim may announce his intentions to adhere to the Dawat-us-Salafiyyah, which is identical to saying the dawah of Islam with mere emphasis on rejecting innovation in implementing and understanding the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad saaws and accepting the guidance of the Salaf-as-Saalih (as instructed by Muhammad saaws to do so).  Because not one ounce of arrogance will make it into the gates of Paradise, no muslim would want to be so bold as to declare himself as a member of Firqatun-Naajiyyah (the saved group of Muslims), for only Allah swt knows who that truly is, but instead would speak of his intentions to be of the saved group, by his intentions to adhere to the dawat-us-salafiyyah.

Muslim - 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 madh-haab (way) is that of the salaf. There is ample proof to say it is more than sufficient to call oneself simply a Muslim.

The belief that "times have changed" and that we should now do differently than what Allah swt commanded us, is an innovated madh-haab (way). There were sects during the time of the Prophet (saaws) and immediately following, just as there are today. The companions of 'Iesa (Jesus) and Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both, all referred to themselves simply as Muslims.

 

However, as Muslims, we must not dispute over simple titles, as the correct way of living is of upmost importance, not the labels we claim upon ourselves. 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, insomuch as it is consistent with Quran and Sunnah.

 

Names - you can name yourself, your masjid, your computer files, your associations, etc. - anything halal. For instance if a baby is named "Yasmin" meaning jasmine, the mother who chose the name is not stating that she IS a jasmine stone or even that she has the attributes of a jasmine; such a name is a permissible name because the item itself, the jasmine, is not haram. So if a name includes the word "salaf" anywhere in it, this is halal. However for a person of today to identify oneself AS a salaf is incorrect.

 

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.


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

Following the madh-haab of the salaf is unlike following one of the madh-haabs (madhaahib) (schools of thought) of today.  Today when a person says they follow a madh-haab, 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 "madh-haab", the way of the salaf is a madh-haab.  In the modern sense of the word "madh-haab", the way of the salaf is not a madh-haab, 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 madh-haabs (madhaahib) of today.


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

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

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


Tawheed- The Oneness of Allah, swt.

Dawat-us-Salafiyyah maintains that these three principles of Tawheed are inseparable from one another because they are the pillars of the meaning of the testimony: "Laa ilaaha il Allah" (There is nothing which has the right to be worshipped except Allah). Dawat-us-salafiyyah encourages the Muslim to apply Tawheed to his or her daily way of thinking and acting.

 

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).

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

Action Items for the Muttaqun:

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!