What is Salifism?

[Remember_Salat]

What is Salafism?

I got a general idea of salafism. And I like what they're about. When you got to a Hanafi and ask him "Why are You praying Like That?" He would say "That's the way Imam Hanafi taught us" Same with others school of thoughts. However when you ask Salafi he would say "This how the our Beloved Prophet Muhammad prayed" And of course I, as a new muslim, want to pray how the Prophet and his companions prayed.

However I also noticed that most Salafi scholars say Niqab is obligatory. And of course it is nice to wear the Niqab but it's not obligatory. You do't have to cover what normally appears as it says in Surah 24 verse 31. i.e. the Face and the Hands

Surah 24 Verse 31
...they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what normally appears...

So is Salafism a school of thought and part of Sunnism or is it a whole different sect?

Can someone give me an answer on this?



(P.S. If I offended any body I'm sorry)

P.P.S. I spelled salafism wrong in the title I know

[abdulwahhab]

Salafism is a recent movement that appeared in the past few centuries. Some of them reject the following of the madhahib, some of them are excessively critical of everyone, some of them have strange beliefs. So, it is not a monolithic belief.

As for Hanafis, you're speaking to those who are not learned, whereas many people who claim to be Salafis at least know more about what they're following than the lay Hanafi. The Hanafis pray the way we do because we believe that is how Rasoolullah prayed. The Shafi'is approach is different so they also say that they pray the same way as Rasoolullah . Even amongst the Salafis, the way they pray can and does differ. The laws are derived based on the foundation, the usool of the madhhab. Islam is easy for us laymen because of the madhahib.

You've stated that the niqab is not obligatory. Where are you getting this idea from? Do you believe that the Salafis or those from the madhahib who hold it to be obligatory have not read the ayah? There is proof from the ahadeeth about the verses of hijab that indicate that the face has to be covered since the wives of Rasoolullah did so. Some scholars were of the opinion that this shows obligation at all times, others said that the niqab is obligatory in times of fitnah and discord. Some latter day scholars have said that it is not necessary at all. Even the verse you have stated has been taken to refer to the general figure of a woman, which cannot be concealed, so it is "except what normally appears".

But the classical ulama have never shunned the niqab and many hold it to be obligatory. Many Salafis hold it to be obligatory, the classical Hanafis and many Hanafis today hold it to be obligatory, the Shafi'is have held it to be obligatory and many still do, the Hanbalis have held it to be obligatory and many still do, some Maalikis have held it to be obligatory and some still do.

So, as you can see, it is not a Salafi issue.

In the end, we are to stick with the majority of scholars (those who belong to one of the four madhahib and hold the Ash'ari, Maaturidi, and Athari beliefs) because of narrations from the sahaba commanding us to do so. The Salafis are an extreme minority in the grand scheme of things. There are many divisions amongst them but what is common between them is that they are not strict in sticking to a madhhab and they have creed that is not of the Ash'ari and Maaturidi schools, and many don't even have true Athari creed, despite their claims.

[Remember_Salat]

Even the verse you have stated has been taken to refer to the general figure of a woman, which cannot be concealed, so it is "except what normally appears".

But didn't Ibn Abbas say that what normally appears is the face and hands?

[abdulwahhab]

But didn't Ibn Abbas say that what normally appears is the face and hands?

Brother, please refrain from making statements without referring to ulama, especially as you're a convert. As for ibn Abbas رحمهما الله, his opinion was "that the Muslim women are ordered to cover their head and faces with outer garments except for one eye." This opinion has a saheeh (authentic) chain of transmitters from him and this was also his opinion after the complete revelation of the Qur'an, especially after the verses about jilbaab were revealed in Surah al-Ahzaab. Initially, he held the view that you attributed to him when an earlier verse that you've quoted was revealed. Later, when Surah Ahzaab, verse 59 was revealed, the rulings on hijaab were made more strict. There is a very famous hadeeth about the application of that verse as well from 'Aisha herself saying that she covered her face.

If you're truly interested, read through this page: http://ibnfarooq.tripod.com/niqaab.htm

[Remember_Salat]

Brother, please refrain from making statements without referring to ulama,

But that was a question not a statement
Thanks for the link. So the Niqab is obligatory among women?

['Abdullaah]

How many threads do we need on the same topic?
Please use the search function brother.

[abdulwahhab]

But that was a question not a statement
Thanks for the link. So the Niqab is obligatory among women?

Brother, when you say that Ibn Abbas said this or that, it may be misconstrued as a statement. I apologize for the preconception.

As I've stated, there is a difference of opinion as far as whether the niqab is obligatory. The classical scholars have wavered between recommended sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) and obligatory (waajib). When we say it is obligatory, we refer to the majority opinion of our madhhab. The people of the other madhahib would do the same. For example, the Hanafis scholars, especially in South East Asia, say that it is wajib. The Shafi'i scholars in Yemen are also of the same opinion. There are some Salafis that are also of the same opinion and other Salafis who are not. The Hanbalis of Saudi Arabia are of the same opinion (that it is obligatory). The Malikis have a wider difference of opinion in their madhhab regarding it.

My recommendation to you would be to adopt a madhhab of what the majority of Muslims in your area follow and then follow that opinion and seek the proofs within that madhhab. The problem with Salafism is that it leaves people confused since there is no specified methodology of approaching an issue, which leads to widely diverging opinions amongst the Salafis to such an extent that there are Salafis excommunicating other Salafis on a regular basis, saying that this or that group of Salafis has left Islam.

[TheSequalizer]

Its like a sport - like the decathalon..

You have to do certain disciplines, the rules are a bit vague, and you can pick and choose what events to partake in.

For example there is the graves hurdles, if you cant make the jump, then you have destroy the headstone. Of course this means the next competitor coming after you can then make the jump easier, afterall its all about the competition, so you have a balancing act to think about.

The next event is the heart reading sprints, where you have to guess whos going to paradise as quickly as possible. Its a dangerous sport because guessing wrong means disqualification from the eternal games, so some competitors decide to pass on this event.

The next event is the agitation javelin. You score more points the further you can throw the spear through the news networks. Obviously innocent bystanders may get harpooned during the throwing, but you can nullify this by shouting as loud as possible bidah during the launch.

Then theirs the superficial shot putt. This is where you have to find as many legitimate things in the world that you can throw the 10Kg putt through. You get more points for emphasising the superficial things and avoiding the deep meaningful things.

After a few more events, the long distance cursing event rounds it off. More points are scored focusing on those who live furthest away from you, and have the least commonalities in language, culture, context and historical significance.

Its a grueling event to end a gruelling series of disciplines but at the end of the day, the greatest satisafaction is in the smugness of the victory, and not really about taking part.

Forgive me if i misunderstood your question.

[a.s.]

Salafi's are sunni. What makes them different is that they reject following a madhab. And this may seem good, but ultimately it leads to confusion and misguidance. Although its not obligatory to follow a madhab, its best to do so. The four imams are closer to the sunnah than the salafi's.

['Abdullaah]

Salafi's are sunni. What makes them different is that they reject following a madhab. And this may seem good, but ultimately it leads to confusion and misguidance. Although its not obligatory to follow a madhab, its best to do so. The four imams are closer to the sunnah than the salafi's.

That's the difference in fiqh aspect; then there is the difference in aqeedah aspect.