السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ

If someone looks a little more in detail, they might have come across the great scholar of Ahlus Sunnah, Sheikh Muhammed ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, mentioning the danger of using the term ‘Salafi’ to show attribution to the Salaf. I want to clear this up with what Sheikh Uthaimeen said himself:

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Uthaymeen said:
“It is obligatory to subscribe to the Salaf since they followed that which the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) followed. As for calling oneself “Salafî” intending to establish a sect or subscribe to a sect, then we fight against the sects. We deem that the Islâmic Ummah should be one single group in accordance with the way of the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his companions. However, if he means by the word “Salafi” that he is following the Salaf without intending to establish a sect that accuses dissidents to be deviant, then this is correct. We’re all Salafiyyûn! We all ask Allâh to allow us to die upon the way of the Salaf. We ask Allâh for it. To establish a sect by the name “Salafî”, or some other by the name “Ikhwânî”, or a third by the name “Tablîghî” and so on is not something I deem to be allowed. Did the companions divide in this way? No. The one who says the opposite has to prove it.”

In conclusion, if you use the term ‘Salafi’ in order to create a sect in Islam, this is not allowed. However, if you use the term ‘Salafi’ in order to show that you follow the way of the Salaf without creating a sect, this is correct. This is the way we use the term to ascribe ourselves to the way of following the Quran, Sunnah, and way of As-Salaf us-salih.

And Allah Subhanahu w Ta’ala knows best.

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