arabic → English transcript

For me, Salafism is a word derived from those who came before.

Correct.

The word salaf means to precede.

Anyone who came before me is among the salaf.

And we will be salaf in relation to those who come after us.

So if they tell me, no, no, that is not what is meant by Salafism,

rather what is meant by Salafism

is the first three generations that the Prophet, peace be upon him, testified were the best

The best of generations is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.

In that case I say to them: then Ibn Taymiyya is not among the salaf.

Because he was not from the first three generations.

So explain to us: are you the salaf?

They immediately backtrack.

They say: Salafism is a methodology, a way of approaching worship, evidence, and proof.

So we all go by worship, evidence, and proof.

No.

Because why did you consider yourself Salafi, and not consider me Salafi?

Correct.

Unless you consider Salafism a sect among the sects of the Muslim community

and consider everyone else misguided.

And that is what is happening.

that Ahl al-Hadith—these are the people of truth

and the Ash'aris and the Maturidis

By the way, I am neither Ash'ari nor Maturidi.

I am of Ahl al-Hadith, I mean in creed

My creed is the creed of Ahl al-Hadith

But I refuse to consider the Ash'aris and the Maturidis as deviants and outsiders

Ibn Taymiyya considers them among Ahl al-Sunna

Brother, the ummah has split

Now these people come

They want to divide Ahl al-Sunna

Okay, today 95% of Ahl al-Sunna are Ash'aris and Maturidis

95%?

95%. Yes, I did a survey

I have a book on the history of Islam

and the state of affairs among Muslims

India, Pakistan, and Indonesia: all of them are Ash'aris and Maturidis

Ahl al-Hadith are a small group within Ahl al-Sunna

And now you want to split Ahl al-Sunna as well?

and say these are right and the rest are wrong

No. For me, all of Ahl al-Sunna are upon the truth

Okay, and differences of opinion do not spoil friendship

We disagree. I say he erred; I say this or that

But I do not say this is forbidden

Okay, so for me, this is what bothers me

So today, Salafism is not a methodology

Today, Salafism is a way to put restrictions on others

Salafism today is a sect that wants to divide the Sunnis

And I reject dividing the Sunnis