The Asharis: In the scale of Ahl us-Sunnah
Shaykh Abu Uthman Faisal Ibn Qazar al-Jasim
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SALAF, SALAFI & SALAFIYYAH ‘Salaf’ relates to the early scholars of Islām; more specifically, the first three pious generations: • Sahābah (companions). The last Sahābi died: 102h. • Tābi’īn (followers of the Sahābah). The last Tābi’ī died: 180h. • Atbā’ At-Tābi’īn (followers of the Tābi’īn). The last one died: 220h. ‘Salafi’ simply means a person who ascribes to the way of the Salaf; understanding and implementing the Qur’ān and Hadīth according to what they agreed upon. It is an ascription – like ‘Hanafi’ is an ascription to the Madhhab of Imām Abu Hanīfah, ‘Yemeni’ is an ascription to Yemen and ‘Badri’ is an ascription for those companions who fought in the battle of Badr.
The Arabic word ‘salaf’ literally means: a precedent i.e. action(s) or person(s) passed before us. This meaning is found in the Qur’ān and Sunnah: “When they angered Us, We took retribution from them and drowned them. And We made them a salaf (a precedent) and an example…” [43: 55] “Allāh has pardoned whatever [sins] have ‘salaf’ (i.e. passed).” [05:95]