THE KNOWLEDGE-ROOTED FUNDAMENTALS 
OF THE SALAFI DA'WAH

The "Salaf" are the initial era of the Muslim community: the Prophet's Companions, their Followers, and the scholars of guidance among the initial three chosen generations of this community. The appellation "Salafi"-in reference to them-is designated upon all who follow them and traverse their path from the succeeding eras of this community.

The Salafi da'wah stands upon three knowledge-rooted fundamentals:

* Tawhid ("Islamic Monotheism")
* Ittiba' ("Adherence to the Way of the Prophet Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam")
* Tazkiyah ("Purification of One's Soul")

Tawhid ("Islamic Monotheism"):
"So worship Allah (alone) (i.e., by doing one's religious deeds sincerely for Allah's sake alone and by not showing off one's deeds to others and by not setting up rivals with Allah in worship.) - The Qur'an 39:2.

Tawhid does not only imply the belief that Allah exists and is the Creator of all beings. Rather this fundamental encompasses much more. It means:

Belief in all of Allah's Attributes mentioned in the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah, in accordance to their literal Arabic meanings, without denial of these Attributes or likening these Attributes with the attributes of His creation. (This principle is known as Tawhidus -Sifat.) Allah says: "Say O Muhammad: 'He is Allah (the One), Allah, the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none like unto Him." - The Qur'an 112:1-4. "There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." - The Qur'an 42:11.

To single out Allah in all acts of worship. (This principle is known as Tawhidul-'Ibadah.) Allah says: "And the Mosques are for Allah (alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allah." - The Qur'an 72:18.

To single out Allah in judgment. (This principle is known as Tawhidul-Hakimiyah.) Allah says: "The Decision is for none but Allah (alone)." - The Qur'an 12:40. "But no by your Lord (O Muhammad), they can have no faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them, and they find in their souls no resistance against your decisions, but accept (them) fully with submission." - The Qur'an 4:65.

The Salafi manhaj maintains that these three aforementioned principles of tawhid are inseparable from one another because they are pillars of the meaning of the testimony: "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah." Under these principles lie many issues, which the scholars among the Salaf have expounded upon in their books throughout the centuries. The Salafi constantly directs his attention to learn and apply these issues, that he may actualize and perfect his "tawhid".

Ittiba' "Adherence to the Way of the Prophet Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam":  "Say (O Muhammad to mankind): 'If you (men really) love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.'" - The Qur'an 3:31.

After the Salafi has learnt "tawhid" in accordance to its aforementioned principles, it is incumbent upon him to adhere to the way of the Prophet Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. This being the actualization of his statement: "I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." This fundamental does not only mean that Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah is the last Prophet and Messenger. Rather this fundamental is incomplete except with the following:

Belief that the Prophet-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.-came with two revelations: the Qur'an and the Sunnah. The Prophet-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.-has said: "I have indeed been given the Qur'an and something like it along with it." - Abu Dawud and others. "As long as you hold fast to two things which I have left among you, you will never go astray: Allah's Book and His Messenger's Sunnah." - Al-Muwatta'.

Belief that obedience to the Messenger is absolute and that his position is unapproachable by anyone else among mankind. Therefore the Prophet alone is to be followed. All beliefs, statements, deeds and morals which are against his are to be rejected and annihilated.

Adherence to the way of the Prophet Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam-is never complete except with the perfection of love towards him. What assists in developing this love is constant adherence to his commands, haste in obeying him, placing forward his statements above all others, and by the constant study of his Sunnah and Sirah. The Prophet has said: "None of you believes till I am more beloved to him than his father, child, and all mankind." - Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

It is unfortunate that true adherence to the way of the Prophet has weakened in the ummah and true love for him has all but disappeared. This is due to many reasons, among which:  

    The spread of numerous unsubstantiated and false narrations ("hadeeth") throughout    the ummah.

    The spread of many innovated practices among the ummah. The requiring of each         Muslim to blindly adhere to a particular madhhab ("taqleed").

    The deliverance of religious verdicts without knowledge or evidence.

    The cessation of the implementation of the shari'ah throughout the lands of Islam 
    and  its replacement by the ways and laws of the infidels.

Tazkiyah (Purification of One's Soul):

"Allah conferred indeed a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger (i.e., Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) from among themselves reciting unto them His  Verses (i.e., the Qur'an ) and purifying them (from sins by their following him) and instructing them in the Book (i.e., the Qur'an ) and Wisdom (i.e., the Sunnah), while before that they had been in manifest error." - The Qur'an 3:164.

The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only sources for tazkiyah. The Prophet Muhammad- sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam-is the purest of mankind in soul and his character was that of Qur'an. There is none who approaches him in this. For this reason he is the model for tazkiyah. Allah says: "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow..." - The Qur'an 33:21.

The Prophet's Companions and the rest of Salaf are also, as a whole, a fine model to follow in tazkiyah. There is no way of drawing closer to Allah except by adhering to what the Prophet Muhammad-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam-came with.

The Prophet-sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam-has said: "If anyone introduces into this affair of ours anything which does not belong to it, it is rejected." - Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

There does not exist any specific set of acts which lead to tazkiyah rather the whole of Islam leads to tazkiyah. Allah says: "O you who believe! Enter perfectly into Islam (i.e., obey all the regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Satan, Verily! He is to you a plain enemy." - The Qur'an 2:208

The farce referred to as "Sufism" has corrupted the beliefs, deeds, and morals of the Muslims.

The Salafi manhaj stands between the two extremes of mysticism (i.e., Sufism) and scholastic formalism.

The Salafi manhaj represents a true exemplification of piety. It is faith and not hypocrisy, purity and not filth