Dawat-us-Salafiyyah (Call of those who preceded us)

Dawah - literally means"call", and in this sense it refers to calling
to the Truth through preaching and propagation.
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Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allâh and that which has been sent
down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham),
Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob), and to Al-Asbât
[the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)], and that which has been given to
Mûsa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the
Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them,
and to Himwe have submitted (in Islâm)." [The Noble Qur'an Al-Baqarah
2:136]
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Invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW ) to the Wayof your Lord (i.e. Islâm)
with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'ân) and fair
preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your
Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best
Aware of those who areguided. [The Noble Qur'an An-Nahl 16:125]
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Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is
good (Islâm), enjoining Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all
that Islâm orders one todo) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and
disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden). And it is they who are
the successful. [The Noble Qur'an Al-Imran 3:104]
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Say (O Muhammad SAW): "This is my way; I invite unto Allâh (i.e. to
the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and
whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allâh i.e to
theOneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And
Glorified and Exalted be Allâh (above all that they associate as
partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikûn (polytheists,
pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh; those who
worship others along with Allâh or set up rivals or partners to
Allâh)." [The Noble Qur'an Yusuf 12:108]
Salaf - literally means"those (from history) who precede, have gone before".
As-Salaf as-Saalih - The people of the past, namely the first three
generations of pious muslims during and after the revelation of the
Qur'an, i.e. the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet, saaws , the
Taabi'een (followers) andthe Taabi Taabi'een (followers of the
followers).
Islam teaches that As-Salaf as-Saalih are superior in their
understanding of the Revelation of Al-Qu'ran. Generally speaking, the
people present during any event (such as the revelation of the Quran)
will understand it better than those who read about it later.
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The Prophet, saaws , said: "I am leaving you two things and you
willnever go astray as long as you cling to them -- they are the Book
of Allah and my Sunnah." [Reported by Al- Haakim - Sahih].
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"The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them,
then those who come after them (i.e. the first three generations of
Muslims)." [Reported by Bukhari and Muslim- Mutawaatir. Muslim,
Narrated 'Aisha - Shaykh Al Albaanee declares it Hasan in Saheeh Al
Jaami' no.3288].
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"The best of people are my generation, then the second, then the
third, then there will come a people, having no good in them."
[[related by Ibn Mas'ood] [Tabaraanee in Al-Kabeer] Shaykh Al Albaanee
declares it to be Hasan. See Silsilatul Ahaadeeth ad-Da'eefah no.3569,
and Saheeh Al Jaami' no. 3293.]
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"My Ummah will not unite upon error." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee and
Haakim - Sahih]
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The best of people are my generation, then those who follow after
them, then those who follow after them, then there will come after
them a people who willbe fat, and they will love obesity, bearing
witness before being asked to." [related by the Umars, sons of
Husayn(r)] [Tirmidthee, authenticated by Imaam Al Haakim] Shaykh Al
Albaanee declares it to be Saheeh. See Silsilatul Ahaadeeth
As-Saheehah no. 699, and Saheeh Al Jaami' no. 3294 .
Salafi - means "of the salaf". The "i" (sounds like "ee") on the end
of the word means "of the","of" and/or "are". Using correct arabic
grammar, the word "salafi" can only be used in association with words
that are of that which is truly from the far past . Inorder to be a
salaf , you had to exist generations prior to the current one.
Referring to oneself as a salafi * is permissible in Islam so long as
the intention is for identification with the salafi minhaj and this
identification does not replace your identification as being MUSLIM,
as this is what Allah swt has commanded us in The Qur'an to call
ourselves. While it is important, as many scholars have said, to
distinguish ourselves from the innovators, we first do this in our
actions (i.e. do not sit with the people of innovation, engage the
sunnah in our daily lives, etc.), and to do so in speech, we can best
do so by clearly stating that we are followers of the pious
predecessors ("Ana a-taaba as-salaf as-saalih").
Those Muslims whose intentions are to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah
ofthe Prophet saaws and the salaf, know better than to divide
themselvesinto a sect (a dissenting or schismatic religious body;
especially one regarded as extreme or heretical) that parts
fromfollowing clear proof in Quran and Sunnah.
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"And this Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects all of which
except one will go to Hell and they (i.e. the Saved Sect) are those
who are upon what I and My Companions areupon (i.e. those who follow
My Way and the Way of my Companions.)" [Reported by at-Tirmidhee -
Hasan]
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"Verily those before you from among the People of the Book splitinto
seventy-two sects and verily this religion .. . ", and in another
narration, " . . . this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects:
seventy-two will be in the Fire and one in Paradise and that is
theJamaa'ah." [Reported by Abu Daawood - Sahih]
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When questioned by his Companions about those who will be saved from
the Fire, theMessenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) replied: "They
are thosewho are upon what I and my companions areupon." [Reported by
at-Tirmidhee from Amr ibn al-Aas - classified as Hasan.]
A muslim may announce his intentions to adhere to the
Dawat-us-Salafiyyah , which is identical to saying the dawah of Islam
with mere emphasis on rejecting innovation in implementing and
understanding the Qur'an and Sunnah of theProphet Muhammad saaws and
accepting the guidance of the Salaf-as-Saalih (as instructed by
Muhammad saaws to do so). Because not one ounce of arrogance will
make it into the gates of Paradise, no muslim would want to be so
boldas to declare himself as a member of Firqatun-Naajiyyah (the saved
group of Muslims), for only Allah swt knows who that truly is, but
instead would speak of his intentions to be of thesaved group, by his
intentions to adhere to the dawat-us-salafiyyah .
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Sheikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: " It is self-delusion to say 'I
am saved' and not pessimistic, for examplebeing too secure saying'I
have the attributes of the salaf, I am saved', We still have to humble
ourselves and not to say that we have the attributes of the Salaf. So
I say to these people,not everybody who opposes me a thing from this
path will become one of those who will perish, for verily the disputer
may be a mujtahid who waswrong, and Allaah will forgive him his
mistakes. Or maybe the proof did not reach him, enough to satisfy his
needs (i.e. to understand it). Or maybe he has enough good deeds in
which Allaah will wipe away his bad deeds."
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"O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allâh and
His Messenger (SAW), and fear Allâh. Verily! Allâh is All-Hearing,
All-Knowing." [Surah al-Hujuraat 49:1].
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"And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this
Qur'ân), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allâh's
Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your
hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in
Islâmic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He
saved you from it. Thus Allâh makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may
beguided." [Surah Al-Imrân 3:103].
Muslim - Whereas a person of a sect may improperly refer to himself as
a Shia, Sufi, etc., those who adhere to dawat-us-salafiyyah describe
themself as a"Muslim" whose minhaj (methodology/system) is Qur'an and
Sunnah and madhdhab (way) is that of the salaf . There is ample proof
to say it is more than sufficient to call oneself simply a Muslim.
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And strive hard in Allâh's Cause as you ought to strive (with
sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior).
He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islâmic Monotheism to
mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islâm), and has not laid
upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father
Ibrahim (Abraham) (Islâmic Monotheism). Itis He (Allâh) Who has named
you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur'ân) , that the Messenger
(MuhammadSAW) may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over
mankind! So perform As­Salât (Iqamat-as-Salât), give Zakât and hold
fast to Allâh [i.e. have confidence in Allâh, and depend uponHim in
all your affairs] He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an
Excellent Maula(Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper!
[Surah Al-Imrân 3:78]
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Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah reported that one of the Salaf (Pious
Predecessors) said, "I do not mind which out of the two blessings was
greater. that Allaah guided me to Islaam, or that he kept me away from
these innovated sects. By Allaah , the Most High, in the Qur'aan He
called us the Muslims, the Believers and the Worshippers of Allaah, so
we will not leave themanes which Allaah hasnames us with in favour of
names innovated by the people which they call themselves by and also
their forefathers for which Allaah has send down no proof". (In
al-Wasiyyatul-Kubraa.Taken from the Book