[Lebybynctisee]

In my opinion, modernists are a branch of Salafism. Both have elements of rejecting classical scholarship and challenging long-established laws.

Agreed. Both are revisionist movements at heart.

In fact, I'd wager that Salafism is actually more dangerous for the Ummah at large. From what I know Sh. Nuh's students tend to be more affluent people, which is probably why he saw modernism as a greater danger for them, as Salafism tends to be less popular amongst more wealthy and educated Muslims. For the majority of Muslims however, who tend to be poor, I think Salafism is far more attractive than modernism.