What is Ad-Da’watus-Salafiyyah?

[abu marthad al ghanawiyy]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
البينة Al BAIYYINAH البينة

What is Ad-Da’watus-Salafiyyah?
The Muftee of Jaazaan, Shaykh Ahmad an-Najmee1 states: “It is called
ad-da’watus-Salafiyyah2 because it aids the methodology of the
Salaf3. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه و سلم) said,
“Indeed, the people of the Book before you split-up into seventy-two
sects. And this nation will split-up into seventy-three sects, seventy
two are in the Fire and one is in Paradise."
And in another narration, “All of them are in the Fire except one.”
It was asked, ‘Who is that one?’ He replied, “That which I and my
Companions are upon.”
Based upon this, Salafiyyah is taken from the Salaf; they are those who
preceded us in goodness and those who follow them in goodness until the
Day of Judgment.”
So those are the Salaf, and this ascription of salafiyyah is ascribing
oneself to them (the Companions). The Methodology of the Salaf is
obligatory upon every Muslim, their methodology should be Salafee, and
the meaning of this is accepting and implementing the Book of Allaah,
submitting to the command of Allaah in his Book:
“And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord
(i.e. this Qur'aan, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what
it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you
perceive not!” [Sooratuz-Zumar, 39:55]
Also,
“And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allaah (i.e. this
Qur'aan), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allaah'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
Islaamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He
saved you from it. Thus Allaah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may
be guided.” [Soorah Aali-Imraan, 3:103]
And,
“Answer the call of your Lord (i.e. accept the Islaamic Monotheism, O
mankind, and jinns) before there comes from Allaah a Day which cannot
be averted. You will have no refuge on that Day nor there will be for
you any denying (of your crimes as they are all recorded in the Book of
your deeds).” [Sooratush-Shoorah, 42:47]
In addition,
“O you who believe! obey Allaah and obey the Messenger…”
[Sooratun-Nisaa’, 4:59]
Following the commands of Allaah and the commands of the Messenger is
obligatory amongst us O children of Adam. And if we find two commands
opposing one another, a command from Allaah and command from the
creation, whether it is a group, party, gang or deviated belief. Like
the ‘aqeedah of:
 The Soofiyyah (The Soofees who believe Allaah is everywhere and
call upon the Messenger (صلي الله عليه و سلم) and other
than him as a form of intercessor)
 The Jahmiyyah (Those who deny the names and attributes of Allaah)
 The Mu’tazilah (Those who said that the Qur’aan is created,
that the slave created his own action and that Allaah is not seen in
the hereafter)
 The Rawaafidh (A group from the extremist Shee’ah who curse Aboo
Bakr and ‘Umar and they curse the rest of the Companions and declare
them to be Kuffar.)
 The Ikhwaaniyyah (the Muslim Brotherhood) or the belief of the
Tablighiyyah (Jama’aatut-Tableegh) and other than them from the
various calls who have mixed in their calls falsehood and truth.
And as for the truth we accept it from other than these groups, for
these groups have mixed falsehood with truth, they remain silent
concerning shirk (associating partners with Allaah) and they remain
silent concerning bid’ah (innovation in the deen). It is obligatory
that we distance ourselves from all these groups, and that we follow
the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of Muhammad (صلي الله عليه
و سلم).
Some may ask, ‘How do we follow the Qur’aan and everyone has
claimed that they explain the Qur’aan correctly’?
The answer: the tafseer (explanation) of the Qur’aan has to be taken
from the Sunnah, and likewise the Companions and the Tabi’oon (those
who came after).
It is not allowed to practice any type of innovation. The Prophet
(صلي الله عليه و سلم) admonished his Companions one day
after salaatul-fajr: From Abee Najeeh al-Irbaadh Ibn Saariyah who said:
The Messenger of Allaah (صلي الله عليه و سلم) addressed
us with a serious admonition, and the hearts were softened from it, and
the eyes shed tears from it, so we said: O Messenger of Allaah! This
seems to be a farewell admonishment, so advise us. He said: I advise
you to fear of Allaah, and listening and obeying even if you are
commanded by a slave. For verily whoever lives from amongst you shall
see many differences, so cling to my Sunnah, and the Sunnah of the
rightly guided caliphs from after me, bite into it with your molar
teeth. And beware of newly invented matters, for verily every newly
invented matter is a misguided innovation.’
O Slaves of Allaah, Allaah has addressed you; Allaah has commanded you
to follow him Book and the Sunnah of the Messenger (صلي الله
عليه و سلم). If one of the students of knowledge finds himself
being called to hizbiyyah (partisanship), soofiyyah or any other
misguided innovation, then you should ask, ‘what is your proof?’
asking for daleel, rather they won’t have any, they blind-follow men.
This should be they way of the student of knowledge, always asking for
proof. ■
Footnotes
1He is our noble Shaykh, the 'Allaamah, the Muhaddith, the Faqeeh, the
present Muftee of the district of Jaazaan and the carrier of the Flag
of the Sunnah and hadeeth in it - Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Yahyaa Ibn Muhammad
Ibn Shabeer an-Najmee Aali Shabeer from Banee Hummad, one of the well
known tribes of the district of Jaazaan.
His teachers, in order, include:
1. Shaykh Ibraaheem Ibn Muhammad al-'Amoodee - the judge of Saamitah in
his time
2. Shaykh Haafidh Ibn Ahmad al-Hakamee - (rahima-hullaah)
3. The Shaykh, the 'Allaamah, the Caller, the Reformer (mujaddid) of
the southern part of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 'Abdullaah
al-Qar'aawee - (rahima-hullaah)
4. Shaykh 'Abdu Ibn Muhammad 'Aqeel an-Najmee
5. Shaykh 'Uthmaan Ibn 'Uthmaan al-Hamlee
6. Shaykh 'Alee Ibn Ash-Shaykh 'Uthmaan Ziyaad As-Somalee
7. The Imaam, the 'Allaamah, the former Muftee of the lands of Saudi
Arabia, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Ibraaheem Aal ash-Shaykh - (rahima-hullaah)

8. Shaykh Yahyaa Faqeeh 'Abasee al-Yemenee
>From among his students are:
1. Shaykh, the 'Allaamah, the Muhaddith, Rabee' Ibn Haadee al-Madkhalee

2. Shaykh, the 'Allaamah, the Faqeeh, Zayd Ibn Muhammad Haadee
al-Madkhalee
3. Shaykh, the Noble Scholar, 'Alee Ibn Naasir al-Faqeehee
2 The word "Salafiyyah" was not applied during the time of the Prophet
(صلي الله عليه و سلم) and his companions – this being
due to the fact that the Muslims were upon the correct Islaam and there
was no need for a word such as "Salafiyyah" at that time. However, when
the tribulations occurred and the sects increased and the Ummah split
the Ulamaa of the Ummaah stood to distinguish those upon the truth from
those upon falsehood and hence they stated "Ahl ul-Hadeeth" and
"as-Salaf".
Abu Haneefah (d. 150H) (rahimahullaah) said: "Adhere to the athar
(narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors)
and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation."
(Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam p.32)
Based upon this "as-Salafiyyah" is distinguished from all the various
Islamic factions due to their ascription to what guarantees for them
the correct and true Islaam, which is adherence to what the Messenger
(صلي الله عليه و سلم) and his companions were upon, as
occurs in the authentic ahaadeeth.
3In addition to that, the word "Salaf" was used by the Prophet (صلي
الله عليه و سلم) himself. He said to Faatimah, "How
excellent a Salaf I am for you." (Muslim, no. 2450).
Imaam Muslim brings in his Muqaddimah to his Saheeh (p.16) the saying
of Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak – which he would say in front of all the
people, "Abandon the hadeeths of Amr bin Thaabit, for he used to abuse
the Salaf".