Bismillaah
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Allaah?
- What does Islaam mean?
- Who is the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?
- What is a Quran?
- Who are Muslims?
- What is ahadith or hadith?
- What are the teachings of Islaam?
- What is a Soorah or Sura?
- What does Insha Allah mean?
- Does Islaam degrade women?
- What do Muslims think of Jesus?
- Do Muslims believe in the hereafter?
- What is the purpose of worship in Islam?
- What is the dress code for Muslims?
- What are the dietary prohibitions in Islam?
- What is Jihad?
- Does Islaam have any celebrations?
- What is Sharia?
- Was Islaam spread by the sword?
- Does Islam promote violence and terrorism?
- Is Islam intolerant of other religious minorities?
- What is the Islamic view on:
- How should Muslims treat Jews and Christians?
- What should we as Muslims do regarding the political and social strife in other Muslim lands? In example: Philistine (Palestine), chechnia, Iraq and ect..?
- Why is there turmoil amongst the Muslims regarding their Madhabs?
- Is it appropriate for Muslims to call themself other then Muslims?
1. Who is Allaah?
Very often one will here the Arabic name “Allaah” being used in regards to Islaam.
Allah is the Arabic word for “one God”. Allah is not God of Muslims only. He is God of all creations, because He is their Creator and Sustainer.
Allaah is actually God’s name, and is also the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. Therefore, “Allah” is God’s personal name in Islam.
If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allaah” being used where the word “God” is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allaah”, is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages – for example, the Hebrew word for God is “Elah”.
For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islaam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets. However, even though Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God -since there is only one God – their concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.
2. What does Islaam mean?
The word “Islaam” means peace and submission. Peace means to be at peace with yourself and your surroundings and submission means submission to the will of God. A broader meaning of the word “Islaam” is to achieve peace by submitting to the will of God.
This is a unique religion with a name, which signifies a moral attitude and a way of life. Judaism takes its name from the tribe of Juda, Christianity from Jesus Christ, Buddhism from Goutam Buddha and Hinduism from Indus River. However, Muslims derive their identity from the message of Islaam, rather than the person of Muhammad (P), thus should not be called “Mohammedans”. Unlike the names used for other religions such as Christianity and Judaism which was not mentioned in their books, the name Islam was revealed by God in the Quran. The main message of Islaam is to worship and seek help from God alone, with no partner and no intermediary and to live your life according to the final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The essence of Islaam is to whole-heartedly achieve true peace and tranquility in this world and the Here-after”. Islaam is a way of life, faith of justice, and it is the way all the prophets followed, including Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), Muhammad (Mohammed), and etc. (peace be upon them all).
3. Who is the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?
In brief, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born in a noble tribe of Mecca in Arabia in the year 570 AD. His ancestry goes back to Prophet Ishmael (P), son of Prophet Abraham (P). His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six. He did not attend a formal school since he was raised first by a nurse as it was the custom those days, and then by his grandfather and then uncle. As a young man, he was known as a righteous person who used to meditate in a cave. At age 40, he was given the prophet hood when the angel, Gabriel, appeared in the cave. Subsequently, the revelations came over 23 years and were compiled in the form of a book called the Qur’an which Muslims consider as the final and the last word of God. The Qur’an has been preserved, unchanged, in its original form and confirms the truth in the Torah, the psalms and the Gospel. Muhammad peace on him, is therefore the last Messenger and the seal of prophets that God sent as a mercy to humanity. Muhammad peace on him, was the living example of the Quran.
4. What is a Quran?
The Quran (arabic) is the word of Allaah (God) collected in a book for Mankind as a guidance. It is the greatest miracle from God. The Quran was revealed to His last messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) through angel Gabriel. Unlike other holy books, the Quran has never been changed since it was revealed, not even a single letter till this day because Allaah has protected his word, unlike the books of Christianity and Judaism which were not protected. The Quran has three different spellings: Qur’an, Quran, or Koran. Books that have english translation mostly referred to as Qurans are actually just the meaning of the Quran and not actually a Quran.
5. Who are Muslims?
The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who submits to the will of God”.
Declaring that “there is no god except one God and Muhammad is the messenger of God” does this. In a broader sense, anyone who willingly submits to the will of God is a Muslim. Thus, all the prophets preceding the prophet Muhammad are considered Muslims. The Qur’an specifically mentions Abraham who lived long before Moses and Christ that, “he was not a Jew or a Christian but a Muslim,” because, he had submitted to the will of God. Thus there are Muslims who are not submitting at all to the will of God and there are Muslims who are doing their best to live an Islamic life. One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name but in their actions, they are not living or behaving as Muslims. The extent of being a Muslim can be according to the degree to which one is submitting to the will of God, in his beliefs and his actions.
The message of Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim.
6. What is ahadith or hadith?
The ahadith are traditions or sayings from the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, that were passed on by his noble companions and his wives. There is an authentic chain of narrators tracing all of the way to the Messenger, peace be upon him. The authentic or (Sahih) hadith have been recorded and compiled by the following people: Shahih Bukhari, Shahih Muslim, Maliks Muwatta, Abu Dawuud and Shamaa-il Tirmidhi and more. These people were known to be very honest, righteous, trustworthy, islamically correct and intelligent Muslims. The chain of narrating started shortly after the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, began to give the final Message of Allah through the Quran. Anyone that was found to be dishonest in any manner was automatically eliminated from being a narrator in any and all hadith.
7. What are the teachings of Islaam?
The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in the Unity of God.
This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him.
Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing that there is “One God” – as opposed to two, three or four.
Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.
Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation (was a human), and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.
Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and beyond comprehension – He has no “Son”, partners or associates. According to Muslim belief, Almighty God “does not beget nor was He begotten” – neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically – He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God.
As Muslims we believe in the five pillars which are 1) the belief (Iman) in one God and that Muhammad (P) is His messenger, 2) prayer (Salat) which are prescribed five times a day, 3) fasting (Siyam) which is required in the month of Ramadan, 4) charity (Zakat) which is the poor-due on the wealth of the rich and 5) hajj which is the pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if one can afford it physically and financially.
As Muslims we must also believe in the pillars of faith which are: 1.)Knowing Allaah monotheistically (tauheed). 2.) Belief in the Angels and their having no freewill. 3.)Believing in Allaah’s books of the past (Tora and Bible) however these have been changed by man and are no longer pure and belief that the Qur’aan is Allaah’s word sent to us for the guidance of mankind. 4.)Belief in Allaah’s Prophets and Messengers. 5.) Belief in the Last Day (Day of Judgement). 6.)Believing in Allaah’s decree i.e. No one can be guided to the truth but by Allaah and no one can be misguided but by Allaah.
8. What is a Soorah or Sura?
A “surah” is an arabic word for chapter of the Quran. There are 114 Chapters in the Quran. Some chapters are very long and has as many as 286 verses. Some chapters are very short and has as little as 3 verses.
9. What does Insha Allah mean?
Insha Allah means: by the wills of Allah. Masha Allah means: Allah willed it (to happen).
10. Does Islaam degrade women?
Even though many aspects of Islaam are misunderstood by non-Muslims, the ignorance, misinformation and incorrect assumptions that are made in regards to Islaam’s treatment of women are probably the most severe.
Islam elevated the status of women 1,400 years ago by giving them the right to divorce, the right to have financial independence and support and the right to be identified as dignified women (Hijab) when in the rest of the world, including Europe, women had no such rights. Women are equal to men in all acts of piety (Qur’an 33:32). Islam allows women to keep their maiden name after marriage, their earned money and spend it as they wish, and ask men to be their protector as women on the street can be molested. Prophet Muhammad (P) told Muslim men, “The best among you is the one who is best to his family.” Not Islam, but some Muslim men, do oppress women today. This is because of their cultural habits or their ignorance about their religion. Female Genital Mutilations has nothing to do with Islam. It is a pre Islamic African Custom, practiced by non-Muslims including Coptic Christians as well.
Also, Islam does not consider a woman an “evil temptress”, and thus does not blame women for the “original sin”. Women in Islaam participate in all forms of worship that men participate in. Actually, the rights that Islaam gave to women over 1400 years ago were almost unheard of in the West until the 1900’s. Less than fifty years ago in England and America, a woman could not buy a house or car without the co-signature of her father or husband!
11. What do Muslims think of Jesus?
Muslims think highly of Jesus (P) and his worthy mother, Mary. The Qur’an tells us that Jesus was born of a miraculous birth without a father. “Lo! The likeness of Jesus with Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then He said unto him: Be and he is” (Qur’an 3.59). He was given many miracles as a prophet. These include speaking soon after his birth in defense of his mother’s piety. God’s other gifts to him included healing the blind and the sick, reviving the dead, making a bird out of clay and most importantly, the message he was carrying. These miracles were given to him by God to establish him as a prophet. According to the Qur’an, he was not crucified but was raised into Heaven. (Qur’an, Chapter Maryam) (Maryam is Mary Jesus mother)
However, Muslims always emphasise that the miracles of Jesus, and all other prophets, were by “God’s permission”. This having been said, many Christians feel to not believe that Jesus is the “Son of God”, “God Incarnate” or the “Third Person” of the Trinity. This is because the Quran clearly says that Almighty God does not have a “Son” — neither allegorically, physically, metaphorically or metaphysically.
In order to avoid misunderstanding, it should be clarified that when Muslims criticise the Bible or the teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking “God’s Word” or Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. From the Muslim point of view, they are defending Jesus and God’s Word, which they have in the form of the Quran.
Additionally, Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the Atonement are criticised by Muslims precisely because they did not originate from Jesus, peace be upon him. In this way, Muslims are the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, because they defend him from the exaggerations of the Christians and teach the Pure Monotheism that Jesus himself followed.
12. Do Muslims believe in the hereafter?
God is Just and manifest His justice, He established the system of accountability. Those who do good will be rewarded and those who do wrong will be punished accordingly. Thus, He created Heaven and Hell and there are admission criteria for both. Muslims believe that the present life is a temporary one. It is a test and if we pass the test, we will be given a life of permanent pleasure in the company of good people in Heaven.
From Islamweb.net
13. What is the purpose of worship in Islam?
The purpose of worship in Islam is to be God conscious. Thus the worship, whether it is prayer, fasting, or charity, is a means to achieve God consciousness so that when one becomes conscious of God, in thought and in action, he is in a better position to receive His bounties both in this world and the hereafter.
From Islamweb.net
14. What is the dress code for Muslims?
Islam emphasizes modesty. No person should be perceived as a sex object. There are certain guidelines both for men and women that their dress should neither be too thin nor too tight to reveal body forms. For men, they must at least cover the area from the knee to navel and for women; their dress should cover all areas except the hands and face. This is purer for us as Muslims to help protect us against commiting fornication and adultery, to be modest, lower our gaze and fear Allaah.
15. What are the dietary prohibitions in Islam?
For an idea Muslims are not to eat pork or other food that contains any types of pork product, meat of the animals that died before being slaughtered or the carnivorous animals (as they eat dead animals), raw fish, nor consume blood or intoxicants of alcohol or use any illicit drugs.
16. What is Jihad?
The word “Jihad” means struggle, or to be specific, striving in the cause of God. Any struggle done in day-to-day life to please God can be considered Jihad. One of the highest levels of Jihad is to stand up to a tyrant and speak a word of truth. Control of the self from wrong doings is also a great Jihad. One of the forms of Jihad is to take up arms in defense of Islam or a Muslim country when Islam is attacked. This kind of Jihad has to be declared by the religious leadership or by a Muslim head of state that is following the Qur’an and Sunnah.
17. Does Islaam have any celebrations?
Idul Fitr, marks the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan and is celebrated with public prayers, feasts and exchange of gifts.
Idul Adha marks the end of the Hajj or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. After the public prayers, those who can afford, sacrifice a lamb or a goat to signify Prophet Abraham’s obedience to God, shown by his readiness to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
18. What is Sharia?
Sharia is comprehensive Muslim law derived form two sources, a) the Qur’an b) the Sunnah or traditions of Prophet Muhammad (P). It covers every aspect of daily individual and collective living. The purpose of Islamic laws are protection of individuals’ basic human rights to include right to life, property, political and religious freedom and safeguarding the rights of women and minorities. The low crime rate in Muslim societies is due to the application of the Islamic laws in certain circumstances. However there are many Muslims whom incorrectly follow Islaam and often kill other Muslims which is a heinous crime indeed in Islaam. The recent kidnappings and other hostage situation by Muslims to non-Muslims is another form of heinous crime that has become popular to the illiterate of Islaam and sometimes words in general.
19. Was Islaam spread by the sword?
According to the Qur’an, “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256), thus, no one can be forced to become a Muslim. While it is true that in many places where Muslim armies went to liberate people or the land, they did carry the sword as that was the weapon used at that time. In that time frame the early Muslims went to battle against the disbelievers for their own right too live and worship no other god but Allaah. The Muslims were persecuted for saying that: there is no God but Allaah. They were tortured, starved, oppressed, and killed for believing that there is no god but Allaah and for faithfully practising Islaam.
Also, Islam spreading by the sword is incorrect due to the fact that in many places where there are Muslims now, such as the Far East like Indonesia, China, and many parts of Africa, there are no records of any Muslim armies going there. To say that Islam was spread by the sword would be to say that Christianity was spread by guns, F-16’s and atomic bombs, etc., which is not true. Christianity spread by the missionary works of Christians. Ten-percent of all Arabs are Christians. The “Sword of Islam” could not convert all the non-Muslim minorities in Muslim countries. In India, where Muslims ruled for 700 years, they are still a minority. In the U.S.A., Islam is the fastest growing religion and has 6 million followers without any sword around.
20. Does Islam promote violence and terrorism?
No. Islam is a religion of peace and submission and stresses on the sanctity of human life. A verse in the Qur’an says, [Chapter 5, verse 32], that “anyone who saves one life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind and anyone who has killed another person (except in lieu of murder or mischief on earth) it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind.” Islam condemns all the violence, which happened in the Crusades, in Spain, in WW II, or by acts of people like the Rev. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Dr. Baruch Goldstein, or the atrocities committed in Bosnia by the Christian Serbs, or later the attacks on New York and Washington whoever did it. Anyone who is doing violence is not practicing his religion at that time. However, sometimes violence is a human response of oppressed people as it happens in Palestine. There is a lot of terrorism and violence in areas where there is no Muslim presence. For example, in Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes the violence is due to a struggle between those who have with those who do not have, or between those who are oppressed with those who are oppressors. We need to find out why people become terrorists. Unfortunately, the Palestinians who are doing violence are called terrorists, but not the armed Israeli settlers when they do the same sometimes even against their own people. As it turned out to be in the Oklahoma City bombing, sometime Muslims are prematurely blamed even if non-Muslims commit the terrorism. Sometimes those who want Peace and those who oppose Peace can be of the same religion.
From Islamweb.net
21. Is Islam intolerant of other religious minorities?
Islam recognizes the rights of the minority. To ensure their welfare and safety, Muslim rulers initiated a tax (Jazia) on them. Prophet Muhammad (P) forbade Muslim armies to destroy churches and synagogues. Caliph Umar did not even allow them to pray inside a church. Jews were welcomed and flourished in Muslim Spain even when they were persecuted in the rest of Europe. They consider that part of their history as the Golden Era. In Muslim countries, Christians live in prosperity, hold government positions and attend their church. Christian missionaries are allowed to establish and operate their schools and hospitals. However, the same religious tolerance is not always available to Muslim minorities as seen in the past during Spanish inquisition and the crusades, or as seen now by the events in Bosnia, Israel and India. Muslims do recognize that sometimes the actions of a ruler do not reflect the teachings of this religion.
From Islamweb.net
22. What is the Islamic view on:
a. Dating and Premarital sex:
Islam does not approve of intimate mixing of the sexes, and forbids premarital or extramarital sex. Islam encourages marriage as a shield to such temptations and as a means of having mutual love, mercy and peace.
b. Abortion:
Islam considers abortion as murder and does not permit it except to save the mother’s life (Qur’an 17:23-31, 6:15 1).
c. Homosexuality and AIDS:
Islam categorically opposes homosexuality and considers it a sin. However, Muslim physicians are advised to care for AIDS patients with compassion just as they would for other patients.
d. Euthanasia and Suicide:
Islam is opposed to both suicide and euthanasia. It is not permissible for a doctor to help a patient for a sin. How would it be permissible to help in a major sin, i.e. to kill oneself? The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever purposely throws himself from a mountain and kills himself, will be in the (Hell) Fire falling down into it and abiding therein perpetually forever, and whoever drinks poison and kills himself with it, he will be carrying his poison in his hand and drinking it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever; and whoever kills himself with an iron weapon, will be carrying that weapon in his hand and stabbing his abdomen with it in the (Hell) Fire wherein he will abide eternally forever” [Reported by Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim ].
It is strictly forbidden for a doctor to remove something from the body of a patient, which can harm him/her or cause him/her death.
From Islamweb.net
23. How should Muslims treat Jews and Christians?
The Qur’an calls them “People of the Book”, i.e., those who received Divine scriptures before Muhammad (P). Muslims are told to treat them with respect and justice and do not fight with them unless they initiate hostilities or ridicule their faith. The Muslims ultimate hope is that they all will join them in worshipping one God and submit to His will.
“Say (O Muhammad): O people of the Book (Jews and Christians) come to an agreement between us and you, that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall take no partners with Him, and none of us shall take others for Lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are those who have surrendered (unto Him).” (Qur’an 3:64)
Concerning Hindus, Bahai, Buddhists and members of other religions, they should also be treated with respect, and understanding to make them recipients of invitations to Islam.
24. What should we as Muslims do regarding the political and social strife in other Muslim lands? In example: Philistine (Palestine), chechnia, Iraq and ect..?
This is an issue that must be addressed when we enter into a phase of political activity however, to engage into such an activity at this time would be a distraction. As for exerting ourselves towards these goals, even if we totally understood them, we would be unable to actualize them because we do not control the stability of the Ummah. This fact alone makes efforts of this kind futile and useless. We do not have the control of this kind of jihad that must be overseen by a responsible Imaam who has been given Bay’yah (pledge) by the Muslims. The administration of the affairs belongs to the Walee al-‘Amr who has been given Bay’yah. He is the one who has been given charge to know the politics and how to administer it. However if the Muslims are un-united as we are today, then every Wali will just take charge of what is in his control.
Such efforts and actions are obligatory however they are premature at this time.
To familiarize individuals with Fiqhul-Waaqi (political activism)who have no influence or authority at their disposal and occupy the general masses with such issues, as though they are the utmost priority would be to distract the people from the correct understanding.
You may then ask well what should we be doing to rid ourselves of this epidemic of oppression Muslims are facing all over the globe?
We should be properly educating our youth, ourselves, our families and others to rectifying and correcting Aqeedah, the issues of Aqeedah, the issues of Ibaadah, and the issues of character. These issues are from those that are legally binding upon every individual, and no is excused from them for having deficiencies in them due to neglect.
These issues are of the utmost priority and unfortunately many are distracted from the priority with something which has no priority .
The above Answer was taken from Tawheed First O’Callers To Islaam By: Sheikh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee
The methodology of all all the Prophets was to first call the people upon tawheed before ever taking such actions as waging war on them.
25. Why is there turmoil amongst the Muslims regarding their Madhabs?
There is no doubt to the Muslims that that Rulership is only for Allaah without any partner however, some of these same people blindly follow a school of Fiqh from the four schools that are prominant today; if you should approach one of them with a Sunnah that is authentic and its text clear, they will say ‘this opposes my school of fiqh.’! Where then is the rulership, the process of judging by what Allaah has revealed regarding the Sunnah?!
(This first part was taken from Tawheed First O’Callers To Islaam By: Sheikh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee
Following a particular school of thought (Fiqh) is not compulsory. The Muslim who can look into the evidences and who have the knowledge necessary to prefer a given opinion to the others is obliged to follow the preponderant opinion which is supported by the Qur’an and Hadith, as understood by the good ancestors, regardless of it being in line with his Madhab or not. Whether it agrees with his particular Madhab or not. He should not leave the preponderant opinion supported by sound evidence, to follow the saying of any person no matter who that person is. This practice requires that one may follow a Madhab on an issue but another Madhab on a different issue due to the soundness of the evidence presented and nothing else. Here, we are obliged to give warning against searching for areas of disagreement among scholars, weak opinions, and weak evidences on which to base our beliefs and actions. This practice is very dangerous because the Muslim Scholars have declared it sometimes leads to disobedience of Allah. All the sayings of the Scholars are not acceptable according to Qur’an and Sunnah. Some of them have deviated from truth and some of their views are irregular and inconsistent, hence they lack evidence to support their viewpoints. So it is forbidden to take a viewpoint not based on sound evidence. The person who bases his actions on this viewpoint, knowing its weakness, would not be freed from the required obligation.
(This is from Islamweb.net)
You may now be asking yourself what do I do to be correctly following the Rusool (saw) insha Allaah?
As all Muslims are obliged to follow the way of the Prophet and his companions; they should call others to that way with good manners without forming a party or being partial to any specific group, also they should not bind the truth to a given group. These are the ones who have stuck firmly to the Qur’an and the Sunnah. They have followed the path of the Salaf (the good predecessors) in understanding the Sunnah. They have adhered to the consensus of the Ummah. They have complied with the unity and rejected the disunification and difference. They are the group which the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) promised safety among all the other groups. This description is so, because they follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) accept the belief, the teaching and manners which he had conveyed complying at the same time with the Muslim Jama‘a (Community). In fact, this is the truth which everyone should follow. And Allah knows best.
This part was also taken from Islamweb.net
26. Is it appropriate for Muslims to call themself other then Muslims?
There is no doubt that it is Allaah Who called us Muslims, and this is the religious name to which every person who believes in Allaah and His Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, should be affiliated with. Allaah says (which means): {…it is the religion of your father Ibraaheem (Abraham) (Islamic Monotheism). It is He (Allaah) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’an).}[22:78]. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: “A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands his fellow Muslims are secure.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] So, this is the principle, a Muslim should affiliate himself to Islam and say ‘I am a Muslim’. However, if he affiliates himself to As-Salaf (the righteous predecessors) and says ‘I am a Salafi’, then there is no harm on him.
Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: ‘There is no blame on whomever shows the methodology of As-Salaf and is affiliated to it and proud of it; rather we must accept that from him and there is no difference of opinion amongst the scholars on this. The methodology of As-Salaf cannot be anything but the truth.’ Nevertheless, we cannot say that it is better to say “I am a Salafi” with these exact words instead of “I am a Muslim’. If a person is asked about his religion, it is not correct for him to say “I am a Salafi” or “My religion is Salafism”, but he should say “I am a Muslim.” Allaah says (which means): {Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islam.}[3:19]. But if one is asked about his methodology, then he may say that he is a Sunni. Allaah knows best.
This is from Islamweb.net
