Therefore, upon comprehending this, a Muslim has no option but to become a Salafi; since in doing so he attaches to that group which has been guaranteed success, victory, salvation and safety from the Fire by the Prophet, peace be upon him, Sahih (Authentic) hadiths, and he dissociates himself from that which has deviated and separated from the Firqatun- Naajiyah (the Saved Sect.).
What are the Knowledge-Based Fundamentals of the Salafi Da'wah?
The belief that Allah exists and is the Creator of all things, and all other aspects of Tawheed.
Rather this fundamental encompasses much more. It means:
Belief in Allah's Names and Attributes mentioned in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, in accordance to their literal Arabic meanings without denial of these attributes or likening them to the attributes of His Creation. This principle is known as Tawheed-ul-Asmaa' was-Sifaat (Unity of Names and Attributes). Allah says in the Qur'an: "Say, (O Muhammed): He is Allah the One, Allah the Self-Sufficient Master (whom all creatures need). He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is nothing comparable to Him." [Surah al-Ikhlaas 112]. And Allah also says: "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." [Surah ash-Shoora 42:11]
To single out Allah in all acts of worship. This principle is known as Tawheed-ul-Ibaadah (Unity of Worship). Allah says in the Qur'an: "And the Mosques are for Allah (alone) so do not invoke anyone along with Allah." [Surah al-Jinn 72:18]. And He says: "Whoever has hopes in the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteous actions and in the worship of his Lord admit no one as partner." [Surah al-Kahf 18:110]
To single out Allah in His Ruboobiyyah (Lordship). This principle is known as Tawheed-uRuboobiyyah (Unity of Lordship)
The Salafi Minhaaj (i.e. methodology of beliefs) maintains that these three aforementioned principles of Tawheed are inseparable from one another because they are the pillars of the meaning of the testimony: "Laa ilaaha illallaah" (There is nothing which has the right to be worshipped except Allah). Under these principles lie many issues which the scholars among the Salaf have expounded upon in their books throughout the centuries. The Salafi constantly directs his attention to learn and apply these issues so that he may actualize and perfect his Tawheed.
Ittiba'a (Following)
"Say: If you (men) really do love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah Aali Imraan 3:31]
After the Salafi has learnt Tawheed in accordance with its aforementioned principles, it is incumbent upon him to adhere to the way of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him. This is the actualization of his declaration that: "Muhammed ar-Rasoolullaah" (Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah). This fundamental does not only mean that Muhammed ibn 'Abdullah is the last Prophet and Messenger, rather this fundamental is incomplete except with the following:
Belief that the Prophet , peace be upon him, came with two revelations: the Qur'an and the Sunnah. The Prophet, peace be upon him, has said: "I have indeed been given the Qur'an and something along with it." [Reported by Abu Daawood and Daarimee - Sahih]. And he, peace be upon him, has said: "As long as you hold fast to two things which I have left among you, you will never go astray: Allah's Book (i.e. the Qur'an) and the Sunnah of His Messenger." [Reported by Al-Haakim - Sahih].
Belief that obedience to the Messenger is absolute and that his position is unapproachable by anyone else among mankind. Therefore, the Prophet , peace be upon him, is alone to be obeyed and followed. All beliefs, statements, deeds and morals which are against his are to be rejected and annihilated.
Adherence to the Way of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, is never complete except with the perfection of love towards him. What assists in developing this love is constant adherence to his commands, haste in obeying him, placing forward his statements above all others, the study of his Seerah (life and biographical accounts) and the study and practical implementation of his Sunnah in everyday life. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "None of you believes until I become more beloved to him than his father, child and all mankind." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih].
It is unfortunate that true adherence to the Way of the Prophet , peace be upon him, has weakened in the Ummah and true love for him has all but disappeared. This is due to many reasons among which are:
The abandoning of the Sunnah of our Prophet, peace be upon him, its removal from our daily lives, belittling it and the attitude of pride and arrogance towards it.
The spread of numerous unsubstantiated and fabricated hadiths throughout the Ummah, which are the among the sources of difference and disunity.
The spread of many innovated practices among the Ummah.
The requiring of each Muslim to blindly adhere to a particular madhhab (i.e. taqleed: literally "blind following").
The deliverance of religious verdicts without knowledge or evidence.
The cessation of the implementation of the Sharee'ah (Islamic Law) throughout the lands of Islam and its replacement by the ways and laws of the Kuffaar (disbelievers).
Tazkiyah (Purification)
"Allah did confer a great favour upon the believers when He sent a Messenger from amongst themselves reciting unto them His verses (i.e. the Qur'an) and purifying them (from sins and pagan ignorance by their adoption of his way) and instructing them in the Book (i.e the Qur'an) and the Wisdom (i.e. the Sunnah) while before they had been in manifest error." [Surah Aali Imraan 3:164]
The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only sources for Tazkiyah (i.e. purification, integrity, honesty, righteousness, justice, etc.).
The Prophet Muhammed , peace be upon him, is the purest of mankind in his soul, and his character was that of the Qur'an. There is none that comes close to him in this. For this reason he is the model for Tazkiyah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah is a beautiful pattern of conduct to follow for anyone whose hopes lie in Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah abundantly." [Surah al-Ahzaab 33:21].
The Prophet's Companions and the rest of the Salaf are also, as a whole, a fine model to follow in Tazkiyah.
There is no way of drawing closer to Allah except by adhering to what the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, came with. The Prophet, peace be upon him, has said: "If anyone introduces into this affair of ours (i.e. the religion of Islam) anything which does not belong to it, he will have it rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]. And he, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever does an action which we (Allah and His Messenger) have not commanded it will be rejected." [Reported by Muslim - Sahih]
There does not exist any specific set of actions which lead to Tazkiyah, rather the whole of Islam leads to Tazkiyah (i.e. purification of the soul). Allah says: "O you who believe! Enter into Islam wholeheartedly (i.e. obey all the regulations of Allah and His Messenger) and follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan. Verily! He is to you an open enemy." [Surah al-Baqarah 2:208].
The farce referred to as Sufism has corrupted the beliefs, deeds and morals of the Muslims.
The Salafi Minhaaj (i.e. methodology or way) stands between the two extremes of mysticism (i.e. Sufism) and scholastic theology (i.e. the use of logical and rationale "proofs" to explain the teachings of Islam -- such as the misguided Mu'tazilah).
The Salafi Minhaaj represents a true exemplification of piety. It is Imaan (Faith) and not Nifaaq (hypocrisy), purity and not filth.
The Aims of the Salafi Da'wah
The Salafi Da'wah is neither directed towards a specific belief nor a particular action. Likewise the Salafi Da'wah is neither a movement of social reform nor a political party. Rather the Salafi Da'wah is that of Islam in the total sense of the word. As Islam is the religion of Allah, it follows therefore, that it is neither the religion of a specific nation nor of a particular group of people. It is the religion intended for the whole earth and all of mankind. For this reason the Salafi Da'wah is neither one of a specific nation nor of a particular group of people; but it is the Minhaaj inclusive of understanding Islam and acting according to its teachings. Built upon this understanding is the realization that the aims of the Salafi Da'wah are the same as those of the Da'wah (Call) of Islam and not those of a particular religious sect or group, therefore the Salafis remain distinct from the various sects and groups in respect to the way and methodology of Da'wah (i.e. calling, propagating, preaching). They call to Islam as a whole, for its correct understanding and implementation. They do not call to particular aspects of Islam, unlike the many misguided groups who emphasize and call to a particular aspect of it, thereby playing fast and loose with its other aspects to suit their own needs. Thus this true call is, in essence, the call of all the Prophets; to the Tawheed of Allah, the annihilation of Shirk, sincerity in His worship, obedience to his Messengers and the following of their way; this is also the essence of the Salafi Da'wah.
Here are the aims of the Salafi Da'wah which are included in, and of themselves are, the aims of the Da'wah of Islam:
To produce "true" Muslims.
To bring into existence a "true" Islamic Society. Allah says: "They (i.e. the Believers) are those who if We give them the authority in the land, establish the prayer, give the obligatory charity (i.e. Zakat) and enjoin what is good (i.e. to worship Allah in His Oneness and to obey all of His commandments) and to forbid wrong (i.e. to join others in worship with Allah and to disobey any of His orders). And with Allah rests the decisions of all affairs." [Surah al-Hajj 22:41].
To establish the proofs of Allah against the Kuffaar and the deviant heretics and groups within the Ummah. Allah says in the Qur'an: "[We have sent] Messengers as bearers of good news and as warners, in order that mankind shall have no plea against Allah after the Messengers. And Allah is Ever-Powerful, All- Wise." [Surah Aali Imraan 3:165].
To absolve ourselves with Allah by discharging the trust of Da'wah which He has made obligatory upon us. Allah says: "And when a community amongst them said: 'Why do you preach to a people whom Allah is about to destroy and punish with a severe torment?' The preachers said: 'In order to be free from guilt before your Lord (i.e. Allah) and perhaps that they may fear Allah.'" [Surah Araaf 7:164].
The Distinguishing Characteristics of the Salafi Da'wah
Among the distinguishing characteristics of the Salafi Da'wah are:
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Shaikh Ahmad bin Yahyaa An-Najmee
SOURCE: Al-Fataawaa al-Jaliyyah ‘anil-Manaahij Ad-Da’wiyyah (pg. 56-57) compiled by Hasan
Ibn Mahmood Ibn Mansoor ad-Daghreeri
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com
The Salafee Manhaj
1. We worship Allaah by way of Tawheed. So we do not supplicate to anyone besides Allaah nor do we seek refuge in anyone besides Him in matters of bringing about good or repelling some harm. We perform worship by having hatred and enmity for the polytheists. However, we are obligated to call them to Tawheed first and clarify to them that there is no Islaam without Tawheed and that whoever calls unto other than Allaah has committed disbelief. So whoever persists after that, then at that point we are obligated to distance ourselves from him and hate him for the sake of Allaah.
2. The Creed of the Salaf is established upon the principle that "Allaah is described with what He has described himself with in His Book and upon the tongue of His Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), without resorting to tahreef, tamtheel, tashbeeh, ta’teel or ta’weel." [1]
3. We affirm for Allaah the best of Names, which He has affirmed for Himself and which He has praised Himself with, whether they are mentioned in the Qur’aan or the Sunnah.
4. We believe that there is no path towards achieving Allaah’s contentment, or a way towards Paradise, except through the Way of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). And whoever seeks a way towards gaining Allaah’s contentment through other than the Way of Allaah’s Messenger, then he has gone astray and been blinded from the truth. And he has lost in this world and the next.
5. We believe that the Legislation of Allaah is what has been brought down through the two revelations: The Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). This is what our Lord has indicated in his saying: "Then we placed you on a Sharee'ah (Legislated System) based on Our Command, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who have no knowledge." [Surah Al-Jaathiyah: 18]
