Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan

Ascription to Salafiyyah and Saying 'I am Salafi'

Many from the hizbiyyeen (those whose walaa and baraa' is not entirely based
around the usool of the Salafi aqidah and manhaj) have utilized certain
statements of the Scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah who may discourage using the label
of "Salafi" and "Salafiyyah" due to a) it not being necessary in a land where all
the people are on the Salafi aqidah and manhaj already and b) when it is used in
falsehood when a person is not truly upon the way of the Salaf. And there is no
doubt that both of these observations are correct and true. But the Hizbiyyoon
use these statements wrongly thinking that to use the label Salafi therefore is
blameworthy, absolutely, without detail. This is an error, for when we put all of
the statements of the Scholars together, we learn that on the contrary, whilst
they blame an incorrect usage of this lofty and honourable label, they actually
state it is recommended and even obligatory in certain situations, when it is done
truthfully. In particular, when there are present the deviant sects and groups
which oppose the way of Ahl al-Sunnah in aqidah and manhaj. And therefore,
for the purpose of distinction, this label (as in ascribing oneself to the Salaf)
becomes necessary in the view of some of the Scholars. The following fatwa
from Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan is a refutation of those Hizbiyyeen who perhaps
resent that people make their clarity in aqidah and manhaj manifest by ascribing
to the Salaf due to the abundant presence of the groups and sects of innovation
in their lands.
In the third volume of Muhaadaraat Fil-Aqeedah wal-Da'wah of Shaykh
Saalih al-Fawzaan, the following question occurs:

Translation
What is the ruling on ascribing to the Righteous Salaf and naming oneself
with that (i.e. as a 'Salafi')?
The Shaykh's answer:
Those intended by [the term] 'al-Salaf al-Saalih' are the first of this Ummah,
at the forefront of whom are the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam). Allaah, the Exalted said,
"And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhaajireen (those who migrated
from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah
who helped and gave aid to the Muhaajireen) and also those who
followed them exactly (in Faith). Allah 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." (At-Tawbah 9:100)
And He - the Sublime and Exalted - said, when He mentioned the Muhaajireen
and Ansaar in Surah al-Hashr,
"For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their
properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval and supporting
Allah and His Messenger, [there is also a share]. Those are the truthful."
(al-Hashr 59:8).
Then He said regarding the Ansaar,
"And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the
faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not
any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give
[them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation.
And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who
will be the successful." (al-Hashr 59:9).
Then he said concerning those who came after them,
"And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, 'Our Lord,
forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our
hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord,
indeed You are Kind and Merciful'." (al-Hashr 59:10).
So these (ones mentioned in these verses), they are the Righteous Salaf: The
first of this Ummah from the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu
alayhi wasallam) and from the Taabi'een (Successors) and whoever came after
them from the excellent generations, and everyone who held fast to this manhaj
and traversed upon it from those who came after them and traversed upon their
way, just as Imaam Maalik bin Anas (rahimahullaah) said, "The latter part of this
ummah will not be rectified except with what rectified its earlier part."

And ascription to the Righteous Salaf is an honour when the ascription is

actualized [made real through true following] and is not a mere claim. As for a
person saying, "I am Salafi", or "This group is a Salafi group", if there is
something necessitating this, then there is no harm, like when there are
opposing sects and sects antagonistic to the Righteous Salaf, and so a person
makes apparent his freedom from these opposers and ascribes to the Salaf,
there is no harm in that. Rather, this is absolutely necessary () . Allaah, the
Lofty and Exalted, said,
"And who is better in speech than the one who calls to Allaah, works
righteous deeds and says, 'I am from the Muslims'." (Fussilat 41:33).
This ascription is to the Muslims and a proclamation for this ascription.[*] As for
when there is nothing necessitating (this ascription) and when all of the society
or land is upon the aqidah of the Salaf and upon the manhaj of the Salaf, then it
is not desirable for a person to say, "I am Salafi", because this comprises a
tazkiyah (self-commendation) for oneself without anything necessitating this
matter. So the matter, as is apparent, requires clarification (tafseel), and Allaah
knows best.
[*] The Shaykh intends by this verse to demonstrate evidence that a Muslim who
works righteous deeds upon the foundation of Tawheed may proclaim his
ascription to the Muslims, indicating his freedom from others (who are not upon
the foundation of Tawheed) from the opposers and that proclaiming an
ascription openly by which one distinguishes himself from that which is
opposition and falsehood is a permissible matter, in fact a necessary matter in
the appropriate situation. The Shaykh used this verse as proof to demonstrate
that a person may ascribe to the Salaf and identify himself as a Salafi to indicate
that which he is upon of the aqidah and manhaj of the Salaf in order to
distinguish himself from all the opposers from the various groups and sects.
Translation by Abu Iyaad.
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