Salafi movement
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
| Part of a series on |
| Islam |
|---|
 |
A Salafi (Arabic سلفي referring to early Muslim), from the Arabic word Salafسلف (literally meaning predecessors or early generations), is a practitioner of Salafiyyah. Modern usage from the Islamic phrase manhaj Al-Salaf منهاج السلف, or method of the early Muslims.
Overview
The word Salaf means predecessors (or ancestors) and refers to the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (the Sahaba), the early Muslims who followed them, and the scholars of the first three generations of Muslims. They are also called Al-Salaf Al-Saalih or "the Righteous Predecessors".
The Salafis view the first three generations of Muslims, who are the prophet Muhammad's companions, and the two succeding generations after them, the Taba'een and the taba Tabe'een as perfect examples of how Islam should be practiced in everyday life. These three generations are often referred to as the Pious generations. This principle of law is derived from the following hadith (tradition) stated by the Prophet Muhammad: "The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them (i.e. the first three generations of Muslims)." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim b. al-Hajjaj).
Distinctive beliefs and practices
In doctrinal matters, Salafis adhere to pure Islamic monotheism, or tawhid. Salafis believe that widespread practices such as venerating the graves of Islamic prophets and saints are prohibited. Photographs of any living being that possesses a soul (either hung up or not) are prohibited and are one of the many ways that lead to shirk, a comprehensive term which is commonly translated as polytheism. Salafis believe that Shirk is not exclusively limited to idolatry, in contrast to the common misconceptions prevalent today.
Regarding the attributes of Allah, the nature of the Quran, seeing Allah in the Hereafter, Allah's decree, and the Last Judgment, Salafis reject the interpretations of the various Muslim schools of theology (kalam) and hold to the Islamic doctrine expressed in the creedal statements written by all early scholars including Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi, and Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal. They also have high regards for Ibn Taymiya, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Kathir, Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab and many modern day scholars such as Muhammad bin Ibrahim al al-Shaykh, Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee, Muhammad bin al-Amin al-Shinqiti, and Ahmad Shakir.
Salafis say that the proper sources of Islamic law are:
- The Quran, the revealed word of Allah
- The Hadith, the recorded traditions of the prophet, his companions, and the next two generations
- And the Ijma' or consensus of scholars of Ahl Al-Sunna Wal-Jamaa
Salafis hold that Quran, Hadith, and Ijma' should be interepreted as the first three generations of Muslims would have interpreted them, and not according to innovative ways. They believe, then, that they are the true followers and will not accept any new idea that has no basis in the matter of faith. One of the most commonly repeated hadith is what the prophet Muhammad said in many narrations, "Every Bid'ah (Arabic: بدعه ) innovation in Islam is misguidance and every misguidance is in the hellfire." (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
In other words, Salafis do not adhere to any single of the four Sunni schools of thought, in contrast to the adherence of the four schools of thought. Salafis hold true some views from each of the four.
Ahl ul-Hadith
The followers of the Salaf also are reffered to as Ahl ul-Hadith (People of the Hadith).
Among the highly regarded for Salafis are the companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the best of them being the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Abu Bakr Al-Sidiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan and Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
they are the Taba'een and the best of them being: Uwais al Qarni, Saeed Ibn Al-Musayyib (d. 90H), Urwah Ibn Zubair (d. 94H), Alee Ibn Al-Hussain Zain Al-Aabideen (d. 93H), Muhammad Ibn Hanafiya (d. 80H), Ubaydullaah Ibn Abdillaah Ibn Utbah Ibn Masood (d. 94H), Saleem Ibn Abdillaah Ibn Umar (d. 106H), Qaasim Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abee Bakr Al-Sidiq (d. 106H), Hasan Al-Basree (d. 110H), Muhammad Ibn Sireen (d. 110H), Umar Ibn Abdul-Azeez (d. 101H) and Muhammad Ibn Shihaab Al-Zuhree (d. 125H).
After them taba Taba'een and the best of them being: Imam Malik (d. 179H), Al-Awzaaee (d. 157H), Sufiyaan Ibn Saeed Al-Thawree (d. 161H), Sufyaan Ibn Uyayna (d. 198H), Ismael Ibn Ubya??? (d. 193H), Layth Ibn Sa'd (d. 175H) and Abu Hanifa (d. 150H).
After them the best of them being: Abdullaah Ibn Al-Mubaarak (d. 181H), Wakee Ibn Al-Jarraah (d. 197H), Imam Shafi (d. 204H), Abdul Rahman Ibn Mahdee (d. 198H), Yahya ibn Saeed Al-Qataan (d. 198H) and Afaan Ibn Muslim (d. 219H).
Then their students who followed them in their teachings and the best of them being: the Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241H), Yahya Ibn Ma'een (d. 233H) and Ali Ibn Al-Madeenee (d. 234H).
Then their students like Al-Bukhari (d. 256H), Imam Muslim (d. 261H), Abu Hatim (d. 277H), Abu Zara (Abu Zur'ah?) (d. 264H), Abu Dawud (d. 275H), Al-Tirmidhi (d. 279H) and Al-Nasa'i (d. 303H).
Those who followed then in their teachings like, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (d. 310H), Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311H), Al-Daraqutnee (d. 385H) in his time, Al Khateeb Al-Baghdaadee (d. 463H) and Ibn Abdul Barr Al-Niwaaree (d. 463H).
And then the later generation of respected scholars such as, Abdul Ghanee Al-Maqdase (d. 620H), Ibn Salah (d. 643H), Ibn Taymiya (d. 728H), Al-Mizzee (d. 743H), Al-Dhahabee (d. 748H), Ibn Kathir (d. 774H) and many more who came after them. Their students who tought teachings no different than theirs, until the present day.
The scholars of Hadith are without exception the most knowledgeable of the Sunnah of the Prophet, his guidance, manners, battles, etc. This is due to their particular study of the Sunnah and whatever is connected to it from knowing the biographies of the narrators and stories behind the Hadith.
Modern usage
The Salafi Manhaj was always around the Arab region but did not have much strength until it was revived by Al-Mujadid Sheikh-ul-Islam, Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). His Alliance with Muhammad bin Saud gave the Salafi Manhaj dominance in the Arab region which is now present day Saudi Arabia. The discovery of oil in Saudi Arabia in the late 1930's gave a giant boost to the economy. With its Ravenous the House of Saud helped propagate the teachings of the Salaf throughout the world.
Many claim that the official religion of Saudi Arabia is Wahabbi. This is absolutely false for the simple fact that Wahhabism does not exist. Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab himself admited that he was a devout follower of the Salafi Manhaj. He studied the works of Ibn Taymiya, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Kathir, Al-Tahawi, Al-Nawawi, Al-Bukhari and of the likes. All known for their devoutness in Manhaj Al-Salafiyyah. He did not come with anything new but with the same basic Creed that the rest of the past scholars had.
King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud) of Saudi arabia said regarding the claim of being labeled Wahhabies:
“They have labeled us with the term ‘Wahhabiyoon’, and they have named our madhhab as ‘Wahhabi’ considering it as a specific madhhab, and this is a wicked mistake, appearing from the false propaganda which has been spread by the people of gossip. We are not the people of a new madhhab or new aqeedah. Our aqeedah is the aqeedah of the rightly guided predecessors the (Sahaba, Taba'een and taba Tabe'een). We respect the four Imaams and we make no distinction between Imam Malik, Shafi, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, and Abu Hanifa, all of them are deeply respected in our view.
This aqeedah is the one, that was re-established by Sheikh-ul-Islam, Muhammad bin Abdul-Wahhab, and the one that he called towards. This is our aqeedah and it is the structured aqeedah upon the tawheed of Allah, free from defect, far removed from any innovation.”
Wahhabi was the label given to the Salafis of Saudi Arabia, and now the world, by Sufis and Shia.
There is not one known incident of which any Imam of the Salaf of Ahl Al-Sunna Wal-Jamaa ever calling himself a Wahhabi or the aqeedah of which he follows Wahhabi. But all were true in calling to the teaching of the Salaf, Sahaba, Taba'een and taba Tabe'een whom are the followers of Ahl Al-Sunna Wal-Jamaa.