Question: Some Duaat in the arena [of Dawah] – may Allah guide them- say: that the word Salafi splits the people. So do not say: “I am Salafi”.
Answer: “The word Salafi splits between the Salafis who are upon the Mathhab of the Salaf and between the innovators and the people of desires. This is an excellence that a person is upon the Mathhab of the Salaf. Yusuf (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ
“And I have followed the religion of my fathers, – Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaque (Isaac) and Ya’qub (Jacob)], and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. [12:38]
So following the Salaf upon Tawheed and the Aqeedah is a honor and praise. So we take pride in that and we ask Allah to make us upon the Mathhab of the Salaf and to make us firm upon it, even if whoever splits from us does so. We do not gather the people. Verily we call them to the Mathhab of the Salaf and to the sound Aqeedah. If they respond to it, all praise is due to Allah and if they want to part/split, then for them is what they choose for themselves”.
[al-Ijaabaat al-Faasilah ‘ala ash-Shubuhaat al-Haasilah (pg. 60)]
Translated by
Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
