O servants of Allah, O Muslims! Returning to the path of the predecessors (as-salaf) is our happiness, our strength, our salvation, and our victory. But know this: the enemies of our religion understood before many Muslims did that our salvation lies in returning to the way of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. They realized this long ago. That is why they have been striving, from ancient times until today, to distance Muslims from their predecessors (salaf), to sow hatred for the Companions in people’s hearts, to distort descriptions of their lives, their history, and the understanding of the path of the Companions and the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-salih).
SubhanAllah, every community and group suffers due to its ignorant members, due to the ignorance of its representatives. Muslims, do not be ignorant! Due to their ignorance, some Muslims have unwittingly aided the enemies in their efforts to tarnish the path of the righteous predecessors. These ignorant Muslims, unknowingly manipulated and guided by various hostile agents, called themselves followers of the righteous predecessors (Salafis), created various groups and organizations under this noble name, and then began committing crimes incompatible with the principles of the predecessors (salaf). Through their actions, they cast a shadow on the true path of the Companions and the predecessors, tainting the moderation of the predecessors with their extremism.
As a result, the enemy has achieved its goal, gaining the ability to fight against true Islam by labeling it a fight against “Salafi radicalism.” In the media, all kinds of terrorists and radicals are referred to as “Salafis,” confusing people and equating various extreme radical groups with the followers of the pure path of the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-salih), who, of course, have nothing to do with these groups’ extremism, brutality, and savagery. This has no connection to the path of the righteous predecessors. However, because of these ignorant groups, the enemy succeeded in making the term “Salafism” and association with the path of the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-salih) synonymous with extremism or terrorism.
This is how adversaries implement their plan to divert Muslims from the path of the righteous predecessors, leading them astray. They create radical groups under the name “Salafism,” incite followers of the righteous predecessors to commit heinous crimes out of ignorance, and then label these crimes as “Salafism.” Using this as a pretext, they fight against the true followers of the righteous predecessors, hindering and obstructing Muslims’ return to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.
Unfortunately, many Muslims, who know nothing about the true path of the predecessors and the correct Islam, fall into this trap. Why is it so important to follow the path of the predecessors? Reflect on this! Revelations were sent down, Quranic verses exist, but the role and significance of the Companions lie in the fact that they embodied these teachings in practice. This was the first practical implementation of Islam, under the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then came the generation of followers (Tabi’un), who continued this path, practicing Islam under the guidance and mentorship of the Companions. Following them came another generation, learning from the Tabi’un under their guidance.
Who can add anything to this path? Who dares claim there is a better way than this and that the truth can lie elsewhere? Did your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), his Companions, or the first generations of this Ummah do what many who call themselves Muslims do today? Did they invoke the dead or ask for favors from them? Did they visit graves and worship the righteous? Did they seek blessings (barakah) at these graves? Did they kill Muslims? Did they kill innocent people? Did they harm non-Muslims who had been given a guarantee of safety, pretending they would cause them no harm? Did they break their agreements?
This list could go on and on. Think of all the ways Muslims today have diverged from the righteous predecessors’ path.
O Muslims, we grow weaker as our adherence to the path of the righteous predecessors weakens, and as various religious innovations infiltrate our midst—whether in beliefs (‘aqidah), acts of worship, or methods of dawah. The further we deviate from the path of the righteous predecessors, the more distant we become from the Quran and Sunnah, and the weaker and more humiliated we will be. If you Muslims seek a way out of this humiliation and weakness and desire revival, there is only one way—the way of the righteous predecessors (as-salaf as-salih). You must return to the correct Islam, which is the original Islam of Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, ‘Ali, and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Return to this pure source! Do not seek other paths or muddy waters! Live with this path to the end and bequeath to your children to live and die upon it. Do not let desires mislead you, do not fear the abundance of adversaries, and do not be afraid of the pressures of the misguided.
We ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and enable us to avoid it.
