[Seisyvose]

Salam.

As a fairly new Muslim, I am a little confused about Salafism. I always heard about how it is the most correct to follow the way of the "salaf" (which I understand to be the behavior and actions of the Propher (PBUH) and the next couple of generations), but then I read the forums here and Salafis are referred to as "deviants". What makes the difference between the followers of the salaf and the Salafis?

Do Salafis not follow any madhabs? How do they know what is correct and what is not then?

And a second question: How does Wahhabism differ from Salafism?

Thank you all my more knowledgeable brothers and sisters.

[GinaGomesz]

Wa alaikum assalaam bro.

Welcome to the forums.

Well 'Salafism' and 'wahhabism' are kinda the same thing. They are a group of people, mostly 'anti-madhab' thinking suddenly they are the ones more close to the 'salaf' (the pious predecessors) . It is a flawed concept due to lack of knowledge because if we start to examine the Madhabs we will understand the scholars of the Madhabs actually consist of the salaf.

So the modern day 'salafism' is actually a misnomer.

[QuidQuoPro]

Wa alaikum assalaam bro.

Welcome to the forums.

Well 'Salafism' and 'wahhabism' are kinda the same thing. They are a group of people, mostly 'anti-madhab' thinking suddenly they are the ones more close to the 'salaf' (the pious predecessors) . It is a flawed concept due to lack of knowledge because if we start to examine the Madhabs we will understand the scholars of the Madhabs actually consist of the salaf.

So the modern day 'salafism' is actually a misnomer.

:thumbs up:

[BarBoss]

Salam.

As a fairly new Muslim, I am a little confused about Salafism. I always heard about how it is the most correct to follow the way of the "salaf" (which I understand to be the behavior and actions of the Propher (PBUH) and the next couple of generations), but then I read the forums here and Salafis are referred to as "deviants". What makes the difference between the followers of the salaf and the Salafis?

Do Salafis not follow any madhabs? How do they know what is correct and what is not then?

And a second question: How does Wahhabism differ from Salafism?

Thank you all my more knowledgeable brothers and sisters.

Salafi is the name of a group that claims to be bringing back the original islam of the early muslims, but they are modernists. A bit like protestants who wanted to go back to the original christian teachings but are the most modernist, liberal and heretical of christians. Don't be fooled by beards, thawbs and arabic quoting.

Masud's website is good for this question.

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/salafi.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/alobs.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/littlk.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/pislam.htm
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/masudq2.htm

[furillo]

When a man wishes to unfetter himself from the restrictions of the Shariah and the Sunnah in the present day, the solution for him is to become a so-called Salafi. Once he joins the Salafi deviant sect, he is free to find expression for his nafsaani opinions. In order to draw unwary and ignorant Muslims into its fold of dhalaal and baatil, the modernists salafis employ deception on a large scale.

A salient feature of this sect of baatil is their rejection of the Math-habs of the Salf-e-Saalihoon. Inspite of their rejection of the Mathaahib of Haqq espoused by the Salf-e-Saalihoon, these mudhilleen (deviates who lead others astray) seek to bamboozle the unwary and the ignorant by making ostentatious claims of their 'Love' and 'respect' for the Ulama and Fuqaha. The masses are ignorant. They lack the knowledge to distinguish between right and left; they do not possess the ability to verify and understand the statements of the Fuqaha which these salafi deviates selectively quote to bolster their corruptive arguments. Let us examine one example of the deception they employ to hoodwink the unwary and the ignorant.


TAQLEED

While they decry Taqleed; jeer at it; speak mockingly of it and villify the Muqallideen who follow the Ulama and Fuqaha of the Salf with epithets such as 'cows' and 'dogs' 'blindly following' rulings of others, these salafis cite the very great Fuqaha of the Salf to support their baatil contentions of admut taqleed or the renunciation of Taqleed or their blind following of their opinions of desire. In substantiation of their claim they present the well-known statements of the Fuqaha and Aimmah Mujtahideen of the Salf-e-Saalihoon such as:

"When you find in my kitaab anything contradicting the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) then say (i.e. command) the Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and leave aside my statement."
(Imaam Shaafi)


"When the Hadith is established as authentic in opposition to my statement, then act according to the Hadith and abandon my statement."
(Imaam Shaafi)


"When the authenticity of the Hadith is established, then that is my Math-hab."
(Imaam Shaafi)


Similar statements have been attributed to Imaam Abu Hanifah by Ibn Abdul Barr. Imaam Sha'raani too attributes similar statements to Imaam Abu Hanifah. In Raddul Mukhtaar, Allaamah Beeri narrating from Sharah Hidaayah of Ibn Shuhnah says:

"When the Hadith is authentic then that is my Math-hab."
(Imaam Abu Hanifah)


The authenticity of these statements is not contested. However, neither do these salafis understand the meaning of these statements nor do their audiences. The audience being unschooled in the higher knowledge of the Shariah simply take in what is gorged out by the devious speakers of this sect. The salafis claim to be the followers of the Salf. In their definition of the Salf they quite rightly include the Fuqaha and Ulama of Quroon-e-Thalaathah (the first three glorious epochs of Islam)-the age of the Sahaabah, Taabieen and Tab-e-Taabieen. The Aimmah Mujtahideen which include the four illustrious Imaams of the Four Math-habs of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah are all part of the Salf.

While these salafis seek to eke out unbridled rejection of Taqleed for every man in the street on the basis of the aforementioned statements attributed to the great Imaams, the great Ulama who follow these Aimmah Mujtahideen aver otherwise. Commenting on these statements, Imaam Nawawi (rahmatullah alayh) says:

"This which Imaam Shaafi has said does not mean that everyone who sees a Saheeh Hadith should say: 'This is the Math-hab of Shaafi, thus practising on the zaahir (text/external or apparent meaning) of the Hadith.

This most certainly applies to only such a person who has the rank of Ijtihaad in the Math-hab. It is a condition that he overwhelmingly believes that Imaam Shaafi was unaware of this Hadith or he was unaware of its authenticity. And this is possible only after having made a research of all the books of Shaafi and similar other books of the Ashaab of Shaafi, those who take (knowledge) from him, and others similar to these (books). This is indeed a difficult condition (to fulfil). Few are there who measure up to this (standard).

What we have explained has been made conditional because Imaam Shaafi had abandoned acting on the zaahir (text) of many Ahadith which he saw and knew. However by him was established proof for criticism in the Hadith or its abrogation or its specific circumstance or its interpretation, etc. (hence he was constrained to leave aside the hadith)."
(I'laaus Sunan, Vol. 2, page 225)

Shaikh Abu Amr (rahmatullah alayh) said:

"It is not easy to act according to the apparent (zaahir) text of what Imaam Shaafi said. It is not lawful for (even) every Faqeeh (qualified Aalim who has deep insight) to act independently with that which he opines to be proof from the Hadith."
(I'laaus Sunan, Vol. 2, page 225)


It also appears in I'laaus Sunan of Muhaddith Zafar Ahmad Uthmaani (rahmatullah alayh):

"Imaam Sha'raani has also narrated it (i.e. the statement 'When the authenticity of a Hadith is established it is my Math-hab.'), attributing it to the four Imaams. It is not hidden (from understanding) that this is for the one who has the ability (insight and qualification) in the Nusoos and the knowledge of its clear laws and its abrogations."
(Volume 2, page 226)


Discussing this statement in his treatise, Shaikh Yusuf Bin Ismaail Nibhaani says:

"Verily, the statement: 'When the Hadith has been authenticated, then it is my Math-hab' has been narrated from each one of these four Imaams who were free from personal opinion. The audience to whom this statement ('When the Hadith is Saheeh it is my Math-hab.') was directed, is only his (the Imaam's) Ashaab (the Fuqaha of his Math-hab) who were great and illustrious Aimmah fully qualified in the rational and narrational sciences (of the Deen). (And the statement is directed to) those who came after these illustrious Aimmah among the great Ulama of his Math-hab, those who were the Ahlut Tarjeeh (a high category of Ulama). All of them who were the Haafizeen of the Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) were fully aware of the daleels (proofs) of all the Math-habs.........These are the ones whom the Imaam (of the Math-hab) had directed his statement: 'When the Hadith is Saheeh, it is my Math-hab.'....Verily, they (these great Fuqaha) are able to reconcile between the Hadith from which the Imaam had derived proof, and the (latest) Hadith which was established as authentic after the Imaam. They (these illustrious Fuqaha) can see which of the two Hadiths is more authentic, stronger and which of the two Hadiths is the later one so that the later one can be the Naasikh (abrogator) for the earlier one."
(Hujjatullah alal Aalameen)

It should now be crystal clear to every unbiased person possessing the least degree of Aql (intelligence) that the statement: "When the Hadith is Saheeh it is my Math-hab.", is directed to an audience of illustrious Fuqaha who were masters and experts in Ijtihaad; who had embraced all sciences of the Shar'i Uloom; who were Muqallideen of their Imaams, who were Huffaz of Hadith; who were experts of both narrational and rational (Manqool and Uqool) branches of knowledge; -in short, who were Ulama and Fuqaha of the highest category, whose likes did not again appear on earth after them nor will appear again on earth until the Day of Qiyaamah because those illustrious Fuqaha were a Band of Muhaqqiqeen whom Allah Ta'ala had specially created to formulate and systematise the Shariah for posterity in such a manner that no mudhil (deviate who leads astray) can ever hope to escape with his baatil interpolations and nafsaaniyat.

While the illustrious Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen directed their command to their Students (Fuqaha and Ulama of the highest category), these half-baked and raw salafi deviates direct the Aimma's statements to an audience of juhala-people who have yet to become adept in the basics of Tahaarat, Salaat, Saum, etc.

Even the greatest Aalim alive today cannot avail himself of the statement of the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen, leave alone the myriads of half-baked Ulama. The masses cannot even be considered in this regard. Here in this context when we say 'half-baked' we are referring to even the present day Ulama-e-Haqq whose duty it is to safeguard the Shariah. Even these highly qualified Ulama of the present age are 'half-baked' and grossly under baked in relation to the giants and stars of the Shar'i Uloom who strode the Firmament of Islamic Knowledge and Piety during the Quroon-e-Thalathah.

The age for weighing the verdicts of the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen against the Ahadith has long passed. It is downright silly and stupid for anyone in this age to run away with the puerile notion of having the ability to rectify, amend or refute any of the rulings of the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen. Any such amendment to any of the rulings of the Aimmah-e-Arba-ah was affected many centuries ago-a thousand years ago-by their great Students and Ashaab. Indeed these deviate salafis are suffering from the disease of self-conceit and pride in their belief that 'erroneous' fataawa of the Aimmah had remained undetected for the past thousand years and that it was only now in this age that a deviate like Al-Baani acquired the 'honour' to correct the 'mistakes' of the great Imaams of the Mathaahib.

THE DIRECTIVE OF THE AIMMAH

It needs no deep wisdom to understand the reason for the Aimmah's directive to their Ashaab/Students to review their rulings on the Standard of the Saheeh Hadith. The Shariah of Islam is the product of Wahi. It is not the product of anyone's opinion, be he the greatest Faqeeh. In that early age of Islam the Shariah had not yet been fully codified in chapter form and systematically reduced to writing and all the Ahadith had not been compiled. The age of Hadith compilation came much later. It was therefore likely that an Imaam was not aware of all the Ahadith on a specific subject. He would issue his fatwa on the basis of all available Nusoos (Qur'aanic aayat and Ahadith). However, when later he was apprized of a Saheeh Hadith which contradicted his fatwa, he would immediately review his ruling and if the authenticity and other relevant aspects of the Hadith were established, he would revoke his fatwa and issue a new fatwa. Similarly, if the Saheeh Hadith came to the attention of the Imaam's Ashaab after the death of the Imaam or in his absence, they would adopt the same process of review and amend their Imaam's ruling in obedience to his command to do so. Thus, the statement: "When the Hadith is Saheeh, it is my Math-hab", and similar other statements attributed to the Aimmah-e-Arba-ah, had their application during the age of Ijtihaad when the process of the formulation, codification and systematization of the Shariah was in progress. The authorities of the Shariah, viz., the Fuqaha-e-Mujtahideen, to whom the directive was issued by the Aimmah of the Mathaahib, had already given expression to this command. Thus these statements have outlived their utility and are no longer applicable for the simple reason that all the Saheeh Ahadith have already been compiled 1250 years ago. Any reviewing which had to be done, was completed 1250 years ago. The statements of the Aimmah in this regard have only historical importance, and cannot be considered any longer for practical expression.

It is indeed ludicrous to run away with the assumption that for 1200 years any errors of the Aimmah Arbah remained undetected and a man like Al-Baani of this age came to rectify such 'errors'.

INTELLIGENCE

While the masses lack higher Islamic Knowledge, they do possess a degree of natural intelligence by means of which they may discern truth. The discernment for distinguishing between truth and falsehood is inborn in the Muslim. He only has to be sincere and unbiased when hearing naseehat. He will then with the aid of Allah Ta'ala arrive at the avenue of guidance.

It should not be difficult for an unbiased Muslim to understand that it is not possible for thousands and thousands of Ulama and Fuqaha to submit to the Aimmah of the four Math-habs for the past 1250 years if they were in error. If Taqleed was in conflict with the Qur'aan and Sunnah, how could it have been possible for such a vast multitude of Ulama and Fuqaha to uphold this concept for all these centuries? Can it be possible that the entire Ummah was in darkness from the three early ages of Goodness (Quroon-e-Thalaathah) and a man like Al-Baani of this present age be on the path of rectitude in his denunciation of the Taqleed of the Four Imaams? Are the multitude of Fuqaha who lived in every age of Islam right or is the modernist salafi sect of this age right? Consult your intelligence with sincerity and you will not fail to see the light of hidaayah.

THE FOUR IMAAMS

The salafi sect make a great play of their supposed following of the Salf-e-Saalihoon. On close examination it will be discovered that while they call themselves salafis, they are not the followers of the Salf-e-Saalihoon. In their own definition of the Salf, they include the Fuqaha and Ulama of Khairul Quroon (the Noblest Ages) which according to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) were the ages of the Sahaabah, Taabi-oon and Tab-e-Taabi-oon. On this score there is consensus. If these salafis do have love and respect for the Salf-e-Saalihoon as they vociferously claim in their talks to unwary audiences, why do they condemn the Taqleed of the Salf-e-Saalihoon? If they honour and love the Salf-e-Saalihoon, why do they hurl vile epithets at those Muslims who follow the Salf-e-Saalihoon? It should be noted that all the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen (the Four Imaams and other Mujtahideen) belonged to the Quroon-e-Thalaathah. They are the Salf-e-Saalihoon. Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn Qayyim who are in actual fact the Imaams of the salafi sect (but they do not overtly proclaim this) are not among the Salf-e-Saalihoon. The following dates of birth of these personalities will indicate who the Salf actually are:

Imaam Abu Hanifah 80 Hijri
Imaam Maalik 94 Hijri
Imaam Shaafi 150 Hijri
Imaam Hambal 164 Hijri.

All four illustrious Imaams of the Mathaahib belonged to the initial noble epoch of Islam, hence all are among the Salf-e-Salihoon whose obedience is commanded by the Qur'aan and Hadith.

But Ibn Taimiyyah was born in 661 Hijri, almost six centuries after Imaam Abu Hanifah. Ibn Qayyim was born in 691 Hijri, more than 600 years after Imaam Abu Hanifah. Thus, these two Imaams of the salafi sect are separated from the age of the Salf-e-Saalihoon by six centuries. Inspite of this great gap between the Salf-e-Saalihoon and the Imaams of the salafi sect, the latter heeds the propagations of these two individuals who appear on the scene in a belated age, distanced far and wide from the Salf-e-Saalihoon.

While licking up every opinion of their miscreant Imaams, these salafis have volumes of criticism for the followers of the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen who were truly the Salf-e-Saalihoon for whom submission by the Ummah is a divine decree. The Qur'aan commands:

"O People of Imaan! Obey Allah, obey the Rasool and the Ulool Amr among you."


The Ulool Amr (the Leaders) mentioned in this Qur'aanic verse apply in the first instance to the Sahaabah, next to the Taabioon and then to the Tab-e-Taabioon. These are the three illustrious groups of the Sunnah singled out for obedience by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). He, therefore said:

"The best of ages is my age, then the next age and then the age following."


These are the ages of the Sahaabah, Taabi-oon and Tab-e-Taabioon. These are the ages of the Salf accepted by even the modernist salafi sect.

Speaking glowingly of the Salf-e-Saalihoon, the Qur'aan Majeed says:
.
"Those who went ahead first (the Sahaabah) among the Muhaajireen and Ansaar, and those who followed them with goodness, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him...."
(Aayat 100, Surah Taubah)


Allah Ta'ala expresses His pleasure with these Salf-e-Saalihoon, yet the salafis of this age deem it appropriate to condemn the Ummah and brand them as 'cows' and 'dogs' for making Taqleed of the Salf-e-Saalihoon.


WHO ARE THE FOLLOWERS OF THE SALF?

In the exercise to denigrate Taqleed of the Salf, the salafi sect takes its cue from Ibn Taimiyyah and mainly from Ibn Qayyim, the student of Ibn Taimiyyah, both of whom were not part of the Salf-e-Saalihoon. While these salafis adopted the uninhibited blind following of Ibn Qayyim, they have the rude audacity of vilifying those who follow the Salf-e-Saalihoon-the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen. Every unbiased Muslim can judge for himself and ascertain who the followers of the Salf are. The Muqallidoon who follow the Aimmah-e-Mujtahideen or those who follow Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn Qayyim? While the Shariah commands the following of the Salf-e-Saalihoon, there is no such command to obey Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn Qayyim. Thus, those who are making Taqleed of the Aimmah Arba-ah are the true followers of the Salf.

It is indeed very surprising to note that the salafis do not have any vile epithets for those who follow Ibn Taimiyyah and Ibn Qayyim, but for the Ummah following the Salf-e-Saalihoon whose obedience has been commanded by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) they have a large armoury of scornful epithets.

In this article we have dealt with only one aspect of the claims made by this deviant sect calling themselves, salafis. That aspect is their misinterpretation of the Aimmah's statement:

"When the Hadith is Saheeh, it is my Math-hab."

Insha'Allah, in future articles all the other baatil aspects of modern-day salafi'ism will be dealt with and exposed for their falsity.

[furillo]

As a former salafi, like many on this forum, we can say that the salafis today have damaged and ruined the Ummah from within. I never saw how bad it was when I was a salafi until I became a Hanafi/Deobandi. They claim they do not perform taqleed and it is haraam but they themselves do it. The are anthropomorphous in their interpretations which they do not have ijaazah to do so. The Aimmah Mujtahideen(4 Madhahibs) were during the time of the Khairul Quroon(first 3 generations) yet the salafis blindly follow Ibn Taymiyyah and Muhammadh Ibn Abdul Wahab. There are different types of salafis: saudi salafis who follow people like albani,ibn baz,bin baz,muqbil,etc.. then you have ahle hadeeth which they have their own scholars and finally you have jihadis which have their own scholars as well. They say that following a madhab is haraam and we should follow the salaf yet we do follow the salaf and the "salafis" have absolutely no chain back to Rasulullah(salallahu alayhi wasalaam) but we do...so who is really following the salaf?

[furillo]

I started Hanafi Militia on youtube in order to crush and stomp deviants like salafis,barelvis,ahle hadeeth,qadianis,etc.. Check out my videos and those of Hanafi Militia's members. If you wish to join the fight with us, let us know...OPEN INVITATION TO ANYONE UPON THE HAQQ

[Hoglaunccoolf]

There are many books written on the subject
One of the good one is Differences of Imam, White thread Publication (relation between hadith and derivation of shariah from the sources i.e quran, Sunnah etc).
&
The legal status of madhab by Mufti Taqi, available on the net
http://www.central-mosque.com/index....-a-madhab.html

Please see the following link as it is formulated to assists reverts
http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...s-Please-Reply

To be honest following a school in essense is a must out of necessties as none of us are qualified in any relegious sciences. Hence vast majority of the scholars if not all regardless of their speciality opted to follow.
The only exception is current times where shallow superfical slogan used to fool people.
This is one of the way the orientalist attampts to breakdown the wall of Shariah.
Allahualam

[Seisyvose]

Thank you all for your knowlegeable answers, I highly appreciate it.

[gymnAnemoe]

Perhaps this thread will help: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...492#post759492

[Seisyvose]

Thank you, the Deobandi movement is also a little confusing to me, but I suppose that would be a for a whole different discussion.

[gymnAnemoe]

Thank you, the Deobandi movement is also a little confusing to me, but I suppose that would be a for a whole different discussion.

http://www.as-suffa.org/item/who-are-deobandis.html

[gymnAnemoe]

Thank you, the Deobandi movement is also a little confusing to me, but I suppose that would be a for a whole different discussion.

Directly from the horse's mouth here: http://www.darululoom-deoband.com/english/index.htm

[WrigleyMike]

Q&A: Follow Qur'an and Sunnah

Question:
A friend at university has joined a new group that has recently been hosting programs on various issues. Hence he no more strictly follows any of the four Imaams (Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imaam Shaafi, Imaam Maalik and Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal Rahmatullahi Alaihim). He claims that in many aspects he directly follows the Qur’an and Hadith. He has also recently been performing his salaah somewhat differently. Please comment.
Answer: Many books have been written on this subject. You may enquire from the Ulama in your locality and read up these books for the details. A brief answer is presented here to help you understand the reality of your friend’s claim. Your friend has abandoned strictly following any of the Imaams since he wants to follow the Qur’aan and Sunnah. This is due to the misconception, or due to misinformation, that if you strictly follow any of the Imaams, you are NOT following the Qur’aan and Sunnah. This is extremely far from the reality. The Imaams of fiqh have explained and codified the laws of the Qur’an and Sunnah in a manner that makes it easy for any person to understand them. They did not invent any Deen of their own.

Parents
When your friend was a little child, his parents taught him many things. They taught him about the Oneness of Allah Ta’aala, about His attributes, etc. They taught him about Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and his way of life. He was taught how to make istinja, what to recite before and after eating and many other etiquettes. Later he went to maktab where his Ustaad taught him how to perform wudhu, salaah and many acts of Deen. Until this day he has been learning from people. In all these years was he following his mother, father, Ustaad or the Qur’an and Sunnah? Likewise, your friend attends the lectures and seminars of the new group that he has joined and follows what he is told by the lecturers. Can it then be said that he follows the lecture rs, not the Qur’aan and Sunnah? Unfortunately your friend has abandoned strictly following any of the great Imaams who were brilliant experts in all the sciences of Deen. Instead he has opted to follow some present-day scholar whose knowledge cannot compare at all to the knowledge of the Imaams. He has abandoned the expert jurists who lived in the golden era of Islam (Imaam Abu Hanifa (R.A.) — born in 80 AH, Imaam Maalik (R.A.) — born in 95 AH, Imaam Shafi (R.A.) — born in 150 AH and Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal (R.A.) — born in 164 AH) and who acquired knowledge from the students of the Sahaaba (R.A.) and other luminaries of that era. He has instead followed someone born in the 1400’s. If your friend’s claim of directly following only the Qur’an and Sunnah is genuine (due to which he has forsaken strictly following any Imaam), tell him to explain to you how he performs wudhu and fulfils two rakaats of salaah. He should then substant iate every act by means of an aayat of the Qur’an or a Hadith. If he quotes a hadith, he must give full references. He should also state the category of each Hadith and why it belongs to that category. He should also explain why he regards the narrators of the Hadith as reliable. If there is any apparent contradiction with any other hadith, he must explain why he has acted on one Hadith and not the other. If he cannot explain this detail only for wudhu and two rakaats of salaah, how will he explain the details about the rest of Deen? This however exposes the reality of the claim that in many aspects he is directly following the Qur’an and Hadith. He is merely following what somebody, who is very much lesser in knowledge and expertise than the great Imams, has told him. Such people often really follow the “Deen” of convenience and pick and choose what suits them. They do not really follow the Qur’an and Hadith.

Two Categories
There are two categories of people: those who have a profound mastery of the Qur’an and Sunnah and all the related sciences (such as the Imaams of fiqh) and those who do not possess such knowledge. Allah Ta’ala declares in the Qur’an: “Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know.” To date the Ummah has “asked” the Imaams of fiqh for guidance, by referring to the Ulama, and followed their expert explanations. By the grace of Allah Ta’ala they fulfilled their obligations of Deen correctly without any confusion. Your friend should not be misled by the exciting slogans and outward glitter and glamour. May Allah Ta’aala save us from every deviation. Aameen. http://alhaadi.org.za/articles-publi...nd-sunnah.html

[Seisyvose]

http://www.as-suffa.org/item/who-are-deobandis.html

Thanks, but right there is says that the Deobandi are Ahl as-Sunnah.

This is what Wikipedia tells me:

"Just who, or what groups and movements, qualify as Salafi remains in dispute. In the Arab World, and possibly even more so now by Muslims in the West, it is usually secondary to the more common term Ahl-as-Sunnah (i.e., "People of the Sunnah") while Ahl al-Hadith (The People of the Tradition) is more often used in the Indian subcontinent to identify adherents of Salafi orthodoxy, a term used more in Arabic academia to indicate scholars and students of Hadith

(Wikipedia is not the best source, I know...)

[QuidQuoPro]

^ Wikipedia article is not written by a Shaykhul Islam, anyone can edit it.

[Seisyvose]

^ Wikipedia article is not written by a Shaykhul Islam, anyone can edit it.

Of course, you are right. I am just surprised that this is what comes up when you google Salafi on Wikipedia.

[QuidQuoPro]

Of course, you are right. I am just surprised that this is what comes up when you google Salafi on Wikipedia.

A week down the line type in Salafi in Wikipedia, there might be major changes - not that i am planning to change it.

[Hoglaunccoolf]

Deoband and Azhar are all names of islamic seminary. Someone is called deobandi if they are affiated to Deoband just as some one would be called Azhari if they graduated from Azhar in Ezypt. It is as simple as that and as one would expact they may have certain focus or speciaility.
http://www.deoband.org/2011/06/gener...band-seminary/

Many of the graduates also study at Azhar from deoband affiate institute but still classed as Deobandi. One unique thing that I have come to know that deo do differ amoung themselves in some fiqhi issue and prefer not to be in media and generally adopt humble unassuming approach to relegion.
There is always a wisdom as it makes one self sufficient and is unlikly to be influenced by money.
I am not deobandi but have imense respect for what they have achived with little or no financial support.

[Loopyjr]

Directly from the horse's mouth ...

Brother, who you calling "Horse mouth"?