What Is Salafiyyah?
﷽
All praises are due to Allâh (ﷻ) alone, we praise Him, and we seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allâh from the evil of our own souls and from our evil actions. Whomsoever Allâh guides will not be led astray and whomsoever He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh, alone without partner or associate, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and His Messenger. To proceed:
Linguistically the word ‘Salaf’ means a predecessor or someone that came before. For example, your grandfather is a Salaf (a predecessor) for you. Just as The Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) mentioned to Fatimah (رضي الله عنها) while he was on his deathbed:
❝ Fear Allaah, and be patient. For indeed I am a righteous Salaf (predecessor/ancestor) for you ❞
❝ فَاتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي فَإِنَّهُ نِعْمَ السَّلَفُ أَنَا لَكِ ❞
Sahih Muslim 2450
In the religion (i.e. Islâm) the word ‘Salaf’ refers to the first three generations of Muslims. Generally, they are called The Salaf as-Sâlih (The Pious Predecessors or The Righteous Predecessors), and the head of them (meaning the top of them and the best of them) is Allâh’s Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ).
When we speak of the Salaf generally we’re speaking of The Sahâbah (Companions), The Tabiʾeen (Those who followed the Sahâbah), and The Atbaʾ ut-Tabiʾeen (Those who followed the Tabiʾeen).
The Sahâbah (Companions)
May Allâh be pleased with them
The Sahâbah are The Companions of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The Sahâbah were the students of The Messenger of Allâh (ﷺ), and they learnt the religion directly from him. The most excellent of the Companions are (in the following order):
Abu Bakr as-Siddîq, then ʿUmar b. al-Khattâb, then ʿUthmân b. ʿAffân, then ʿAlî b. Abi Tâlib (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين)
The rest of the ten, who are promised paradise
Those that fought at The Battle Badr
Those that took the oath of allegiance, of Ar-Ridwaan, at Al-Hudaybiyyah, under the tree
The Muhâjirun - those who migrated from Makkah to al-Madînah
The Ansâr - the people of al-Madînah who welcomed the Muhâjirun
Those who embraced Islâm, before the conquest of Makkah
Those who embraced Islâm, after the conquest of Makkah
Allâh (ﷻ) praised The Companions in various places in the Qurʾân :
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn ) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.
﴾ Surah at-Tawbah : 100 ﴿
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضْوَٰنًا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ
(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 Allâh and to please Him, and helping Allâh (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say).
﴾ Surah al-Hashr : 8 ﴿
Allâh showed us in the Qurʾân the obligation of following the way of The Sahâbah, also the danger of opposing their way:
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) 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!
﴾ Surah an-Nisaʾ : 115 ﴿
And who were the believers at the time the Qurʾân was being revealed? None other than The Sahâbah - May Allâh be pleased with them.
The Tabiʾeen (Those Who Followed The Sahâbah)
The Tabiʾeen were the students of The Sahâbah. They learnt the religion from The Sahâbah. They followed The Sahâbah exactly in faith and methodology. The Tabiʾeen are the best generation after The Sahaabah, and we know this from the Hadith of Nabiyullâh Muhammad (ﷺ) :
Narrated ʿAbdullah (رضي الله عنه) :
❝ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation) ❞
Sahih al-Bukhaari 6429
Likewise, this Hadith also shows the virtue of the generation after The Tabiʾeen; The Atbaʾ ut-Tabiʾeen - who were the students of the Tabiʾeen. These two generations followed the Shahâbah exactly in faith - just as Allâh (ﷻ) mentioned in Âyah 100 of Sûrah at-Tawbah.
The Difference Between Salafiyyah And Other Sects
The Messenger of Allâh (ﷺ) mentioned:
❝ My ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them will be in the Fire except for one, and that is the Jamaaʾah.” It was said, “And who are they, O Allaah’s Messenger?” He (ﷺ) responded, “That which I and my Companions are upon today. ❞
Tirmidhi, no. 2641; Ibn Nasr al-Marwazī in As-Sunnah, no. 59; Al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak, 1/218; Al-Aajurri in ash-Shareeʾah, no. 23; Al-Laaikaaʾi in Sharh Usool al-Iʾtiqaad, no. 147; Ibn Battah in al-Ibaanah, no. 196; and many others. It has support from the hadīth of Anas reported by Tabaraani in Al-Awsat, no.7840; and in As-Saghir, no. 724; It has been authenticated by a large body of scholars from the past and present.
Understanding.
Every group will claim to be upon the Qurʾân and Sunnah - but with whose understanding? Your personal understanding? The understanding of your parents or tribespeople? Rather, we must understand the religion how The Messenger of Allâh (ﷺ) and his companions understood it - 〝That which I and my Companions are upon today.〞
Allâh mentioned :
فَإِنْ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِمِثْلِ مَآ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ فَقَدِ ٱهْتَدَوا۟ ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِى شِقَاقٍ ۖ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
So if they believe in the like of that which you believe, then they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allâh will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
﴾ Surah al-Baqarah : 137 ﴿
So, if you were to believe, and implement Islâm in the same way as the Messenger (ﷺ) and his companions believed then you would be rightly guided! True guidance is in following the Sunnah of The Messenger (ﷺ) as shown by various Âyât (verses) in the Qurʾân :
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
﴾ Surah Aal-ʿImraan : 31 ﴿
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْهِ مَا حُمِّلَ وَعَلَيْكُم مَّا حُمِّلْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا۟ ۚ وَمَا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
Say: "Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad ﷺ) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allâh’s Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger’s duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."
﴾ Surah an-Nur : 54 ﴿
Salafiyyah In Brief
In short, Salafiyyah is to follow the Qurʾân, and the Sunnah upon the understanding of The Salaf as-Sâlih (The Pious Predecessors). So, when you hear an Âyah (a verse) from the Qurʾân you strive to act upon it and understand it just as the Salaf did. Also, when you hear a Hadîth you seek to understand it just like the Sahaabah did, and not with the understanding of such-and-such person.
