24/08/2023
August 24, 2018
In religion, there's no doubt that some issues are controversial. The controversy arises either from the propagators or the shallow knowledge people have on such issues. For instance, in Islaam, many people now claim they follow salafism, and anybody that's not upon what the salafs were is a weak Muslim. Is this so? Is there any establishment of this claim from Prophet Muhammad? How did the Prophet even win the hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims? Adiatullahi Seleem A. Imogbemi discussed this with Ajetunmobi Umar Olansile on this edition of . Seleem studies Islamic Law at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
These days, it's become widespread among some Muslim youths to regard themselves as 'Salafy' because they adhere to the teachings of our pious predecessors. Who is really a Salafy? Does being a Salafy an ordinary thing of the mouth?
B'ismi -l- Laah, wa -l- hamdu li -l- Laah, wa -s- solātu wa -s- Salāmu 'alā Rosūli -l- Laah, wa ālihi wa sohabihi ahli -l- Laah.
It's of no doubt that Islam covers all aspects of human life, with special care in aspect of creed and jurisprudence which are propagated on clear evidences from Kitâb and Sunnah. Hence, the prophet said in hadeeth of 'Irbad ibn Sâriyat: "I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah and the path of the rightly-guided Caliphs, and cling strongly to it. And beware of newly-invented matters, for every innovation is going astray". This means the only way to perform this deen is the way it was performed by the prophet and his right guided successors. Then, it is a clear fact that when Prophet left us, a lot of religious conflicts popped up and Muslims went to different directions; theologically and juridically, but the only direction which was authorised to be followed right from the era of sohaabats till date is the 'Ahlu -s- sunnah wa -l- jamâ'at' direction and whosoever adheres to it is called 'Sunniy', based on the afore quoted hadeeth. The Prophet told his companions that none of all sects will be safe from hellfire on the day of judgement except one. They asked him "And which is it O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "What I am upon and my Companions.", which is sunnah. Thus, being regarded as a or -S- SUNNAH WA -L- JAMÂ'AT can be backed up by evidences from the tradition of the Prophet. Unlike the title or (which literally means an adjective to qualify whoever adheres to the thoughts of predecessors. It's derived from the Arabic word 'salaf' which means predecessor.) which was never known in the first three best generations mentioned by the Prophet, but later in the fourth century (History Of Islamic Sects: SHEIKH MUHAMMAD ABU ZAHRAT 181-185).
SHEIKH MUHAMMAD SA'EED RAMADAN AL-BŪTIY also explained (in his book As-Salafiyyat, pg 236-237) that: it's not wrong to say I am among the Ahlu Sunnah wa l jamaa'at because this goes with the teachings from tradition unlike any other name which you will never see any of the salaf scholars calling himself with it. In fact, calling oneself another name apart from a is bid'at. Instead of attaching yourself to any sect which you are blind of its background, attach yourself to sunnah of the Prophet and become a Sunniy. This is clear with Kitaab and Sunnah. I may not know what a real salafiy is, but I know who is a real Sunniy and it's clear to everyone too. The reason is that, in anything you might be doing, you will have salaf, either good or bad. The word salafy which denotes the one who adheres to what the predecessors say has never specified what exactly the reality of the person hearing it is, whether on the right way or the wrong way. Only Allah knows what those called salaf are doing because the predecessors are not necessarily to be pious or on a right way. It is not necessary to be on Kitaab and Sunnah. That is why being a salafiy has never meant that only your view is right or you are safe.
What qualifies someone to be called a Salafy?
I would have loved it more if you ask me about what qualifies someone to be a Muslim or a sunniy. This is simple and stress-free. It will not cause any commotion and you won't even need to launch much evidences because it's known. You will be safe as well because there are evidences for that. Apart from the afore-quoted hadeeths, Allah Has given us the name and defined the qualifications in Al-Quran 22:78 "....He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the path of your father Abraham. It is Who has you , both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector - the Best to protect and the Best to help!"
Allah named us to be Muslims, what name are you still giving yourself? Adherence to His Messanger's teachings will qualify you to be a Sunniy. What do you need again? So, be a Muslim or a Sunniy, then strive to meet up with the qualifications which was stressed in the verse (So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector - the Best to protect and the Best to help!)
Not long ago, some people said Al-Imaamu An-Nawwawi is not a Salaf because he grouped bid'iah (innovation) into some categories. What is your position to this?
I am not sorry to call such a person an illiterate for he doesn't know what he has said and he doesn't know that he doesn't know . It is not questionable among the Sunniy scholars that one of the best annotations of Sohihu Muslim is that of Imaam An-Nawaiy. Beside that, all his other scholarly works are known to Sunniy scholars too. If someone tells you that he is not a salaf, know that I have told you, there is nothing you might be doing today, you will have your own salaf, good or bad. Imam An-Nawawiy may not be his own salaf due to his own secluded thought, but the Salaf for any Muslim. Grouping bid'at into its categories is the consensus of Sunniy scholars. Not even Imam Nawawiy alone, Imam Ash-Shaafi'iy grouped it before him. My position is the position of Sunniy scholars.
It's been observed that there's dearth of da'awah methodology among many Muslim youths of this century. What are the established methods of engaging in da'awah? How did the Prophet win the heart of both Muslim and non-Muslims?
May Allah safe this Ummah from the fitna of internet Muftis and their students. Making da'wah is more or less the mission of all the Messangers of Allah and that is what Allah Has instructed Prophet Muhammad as well that: "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and reason with them with which is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided."
Allah mentioned three fundamentals,
1. Hikmat (wisdom), that is the Sunna of Prophet.
2. Mao'izotun hasanat (good instructions), not harsh or too lenient. This is a core skill and etiquette of da'wah. In fact, this comprises character.
3. Jaadilhum billatī hiya ahsanu (reason with them with which is best) That is Al-Quran.
A caller must be skilled with those three fundamentals under the authority. And this is what the Prophet used with Muslims and non-Muslims. May Allah guide us all.
N.B. : Feel free to ask my guest questions on the issues treated.
