People who strictly follow a particular madhhab or Sufi tareeqah are often labelled accordingly (e.g. Tablighi, Deobandi, Qadiri, Naqshbandi, Chishti, Tijani, and others). Even those who do not adhere to a particular madhhab but instead follow the teachings of Islam based on the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih are labelled by some Muslims as “Wahhabis” or “Salafis”.
I do not call myself a “Salafi”. I have been labelled as such before, as if the term “Salafi” were the name of a sect. I do not follow any sect. I call myself a Muslim who strives to adhere to the understanding of as-Salafus-Salih. Allah says:
“…It is He (Allah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’an), that the Messenger (Muhammad ﷺ) shall be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind…” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Al-Hajj, verse 22:78]
Allah says in another place in the Noble Qur’an:
“And who is better in speech than he who invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Fussilat, verse 41:33]
Is there any evidence from the Qur’an or the Sunnah for calling oneself a Salafi? There isn’t, right?
Is there any evidence from the Qur’an or the Sunnah for calling oneself a Muslim? 🤔
Know that our Ummah will split into seventy-three sects so be wary not to join any sect. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned us:
“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy are in the Hellfire. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one are in the Hellfire and one of them is in Paradise. By the One in whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of them is in Paradise and seventy-two are in the Hellfire.” It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are the ones in Paradise?” The Prophet said, “Al-Jamaa‘ah (those who are upon what the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions were upon).” [Sunan Ibn Majah (3992)]
Follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and obey him. Do not follow practices that have no basis in Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah.
I pray that Allah guides us to adhere strictly to Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah, and study them as much as possible. I pray that He protects us from being influenced by the Ahlul-Bid‘ah (the innovators) that are prevalent in our Ummah. I also pray that Allah increases us in beneficial knowledge, grants us enthusiasm in seeking it, and bestows upon us true understanding of the pure teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Aameen.