The Salafī movement (of Albaani, ibn Uthaymeen, and Bin Baaz) does not represent the creed of the traditional scholars of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamā’ah, because their methodology is inconsistent, contradictory, and runs counter to the Quran & Sunnah.
Following the Salaf or returning to the original scriptures to re-establish their practice is not theoretically problematic. However, it is problematic to claim that your beliefs are the only ones that are accurate while ignoring the possibility that others’ (4 established madhabs may also be correct). For this reason, the four early imams (madhhabs) decided to agree to disagree (with respect and no animosity). However, contemporary 20th-century Salafis view all ikhtilaf as deviance and approach the Salaf as a monolith, which is fundamentally against the way of the Salaf.
| The Authority of Sunnah |
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The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
[Tirmidhi] |
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Imam Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
| “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.” Source: al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1661 |
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From the above 2 Hadeeths, it’s absolutely clear that one must follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Now, to attain what is Sunnah, there are a few important sources.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم), the Hadeeth (words, actions, and silent approvals of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), and the Tabi’een (the 2nd generation of Muslims who also met the Sahabah (رضي الله عنهم)).
The Above 2 Hadeeths from Tirmidhi & al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1661 clearly imply that the straight path, the correct path, is to follow the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
| Quran vs Hadeeth |
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The Salafi methodology is overwhelmingly focused on Hadeeth, especially Hadeeths from Sahih al-Bukhari, to the extent that they consider Sahih al-Bukhari infallible, even if it is counter to the verses of the Holy Quran.
Salafis state they adhere to the Quran and authentic Hadith only.
- In reality, the actual Salaf never accepted a hadeeth that was counter to a verse in the Quran example.
Salafis state: The recital of Surah Al-Fātihah is obligatory upon everyone who prays, including the imām and the one reading behind the imām in Salaah (prayer).
Reason: (Bukhāree 756)
There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the opening Sūrah of the Book.” (Bukhāree 756)
But the Quran states: (Al-A’rāf 7:204)
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“When the Quran is recited, listen to it and be silent that you may receive mercy.” (Al-A’rāf 7:204)
In the above case, the Salafis ignore the Quran, and follow the hadeeth from Sahih al-Bukhari.
Whereas the Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah follow the Quran and stay quiet when reading salaah behind the imam, who is reciting the Surah Al-Fātihah .
- In reality, the actual Salaf did not adhere to every sahih hadith, nor did they reject every weak hadeeth.
The early Salaf prioritised ‘Living Sunnah’ (amal ahl makkah, al-madinah, kufa etc), i.e., the established practices, contextual understanding, and legal principles of the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم) & Taba’een, over scriptures.
| Hadeeth: Literal Analysis (Salafi) vs Contextual Analysis (Madhhabs – Imams) |
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The following hadeeth is Sahih & Tawattur, meaning, it’s bulletproof, it’s error-free, it’s infallible, and its from Sahih al-Bukhari.
“I was ordered to fight people until they bear witness that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the ritual prayer, and pay almsgiving. So if they do that, their lives and wealth are safe from me, except for a right recognised in Islam. Their accounting, however, will be with Allah.” [Bukhari, Muslim]
If you take the literal meaning of this hadeeth, it implies continuous “holy war – jihad” and bloodbath, and this is what the Salafi-dominated ISIS and Al-Qaida propagated.
However, contextual analysis and scholarly interpretation (Madhhabs – Imams) show that the hadeeth does not call for any kind of battle, holy or unholy, and does not apply to all people. Understanding the precise meaning of the word “people” in the phrase “I was ordered to fight people” is therefore crucial to comprehending the hadith. For this, you would have to further look at other hadiths, the Quran, and the Sunnah.
This is how Salafism, differs from Madhhabs and Imams.
| Anti Taqleed, Anti Madhhab and Pro Self-Teaching by going directly to the source ie hadeeth. |
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Anti Taqleed, Anti Madhhab and Pro Self Teaching by going directly to the source ie hadeeth.
.A Baseless Question
The anti-Taqleed lobby tries to trick unsuspecting Muslims by posing the question:
“Did the Madh’habs exist at the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد and the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم)?”
In response, it could be asked:
Did Sahih al-Bukhari exist in the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد? The Answer obviously is NO.
If they answer “Yes,” we will reply that the Madh’hab did exist during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. ﷺ مُحَمَّد.
In reality, the very question that Salafis ask demonstrates either their blatant ignorance or their intent to deceive the gullible.
If the madhhab did not exist during the time of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد and the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم), the logical conclusion is that the entire Shar’iah which the distinguished Imaam have expounded is not the Shar’iah taught by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد and the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم). However, this is foolish and idiotic..
The teachings of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the Hadeeth constitute the teachings of the Imams and the Madhabs. The Qur’an, Sunnah, and Hadith are in no way in conflict with anything in the Madhabs. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد and the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم), are not in conflict with the madhhabs. The Madhabs and the 4 Imams acquired various techniques from the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم), who in turn obtained it from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد.
The differences were inherited from the Sahaba (رضي الله عنهم) and such differences are by Divine Decree, hence Prophet Muhammad ﷺ مُحَمَّد said:
“The differences of my Ummat is a Rahmat.”
| Salaf (al-salaf al-salih) |
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Salafis claim to follow the Salaf (al-salaf al-salih) – (1st , 2nd & 3rd generation Muslims) – but in reality, this is lip service only; nearly all the prayers, rulings, fiqh, and masails come from 4th generation Muslims or after.
| Return to the Original Scriptures. |
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At face value, the concept of return to the original scriptures and the way of the early muslims is appealing, but to achieve this, the Salafis wholly rely on scholars who fit their narrow-minded ideology (Albaani, ibn Uthaymeen, and Bin Baaz), and ignore the long-standing scholarly tradition of al-salaf al-salih (Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik etc)
| Agreed to Disagree with Respect & Jahiliyya |
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The 4 madhhabs (schools of thought) established during the Salaf period have maintained unity and harmony and avoided division within the Muslim community (Ummah); i.e., the actual Salaf agreed to disagree with respect. This unity in the modern era has been shattered. The Salafis, along with the Shia, have arguably caused more friction in the Ummah than the non-believers.
In the Salafi doctrine, anyone who does not conform to their beliefs is labeled as a Jahil (plural – Jahiliyya), meaning the ignorant one.
| Al-firqa al-Najiya (The Saved Sect) |
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Anyone who does not ascribe to Salafism is a Jahil, and anyone who adheres to the Salafi doctrine is of the Al-firqa al-Najiya (the Saved Sect). Salafis are a tiny minority in Islam; therefore, this small, incoherent, radical group classifies itself as pure and saved and classifies mainstream Islam, the majority Islam, as Jahiliyya.
