WHO ARE SALAF?

SALAF : Its meaning in the Arabic language is "Those who precede, have gone before". 
Its usage: A word used by the earliest scholars for "The first three generations of Muslims" and those who are upon their way in accordance with the Ahaadeeth of the Messenger Muhammad (sallAllaahu` alayhi wa sallam) which is reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree: The best of generations is my generation, then those that follow them, then those that follow them.

The term SALAFEE is a relational  adjective derived from the noun, SALAF, used in the phrase "as SALAF-as -saalih {The righteous fore fathers} to refer to the Sahâbah and early orthodox scholars. Hence a person who follows the Salafee is one who strictly adheres to Islaam as understood by the early generation of  Islaamic Scholars.

As-Sam'aanee "As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them." 

lbn al-Atheer (rahimahullaah) (d.630H) said in al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab (2/162), commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam'aanee: "And a group were known by this ascription." So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam'aanee, or before him.

Imaam Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah) d. 769 C. E. (150 A. H.) said:  "Adhere to the Athaar (narrations) and the Tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters, for all of it is innovation."  [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al-Mantaq Wal -Kalaam, p. 32.]

Al-Awzaa'ee (rahimahullaah) said Follow the footsteps of the SALAF . . .
"By clinging to their way, holding on to their beliefs and understanding the Deen (religion) as they did, worshipping Allaah in His Oneness, upon the Authentic Sunnah of the Messenger Muhammad (sallallaahu`alaihiwasallam) in the manner of the Companions one is guaranteed success in this  life and security from the Fire in the next life". 

Imaam al-Asbahaanee (d.535H) - (rahimahullaah) - said: "The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen." [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364]

When questioned by his Companions about those who will be saved from the Fire, the Messenger Muhammad (sallAllaahu` alayhi wa sallam) replied: "They are those who are upon what I and my companions are upon." [Reported by at-Tirmidhee from Amr ibn al-Aas - classified as Hasan.] All the great scholars from the earliest to the later times have advised clinging to the way and methodology (Manhaj) of the SALAF and adherence to it as it is the only means of deliverance. 

Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullaah) says: "There is no blame on the one who manifests, proclaims the way of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it. Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq), because the way of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth" (HAQQ) [From Majmoo al-Fataawaa, 4:149.]

Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d.748H) - rahimahullaah - said:  "It is authentically related from ad- Daaraqutnee that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than 'irnul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: No person should ever enter into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather, he should be Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)." [Siyar 16/457]

Additionally, The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu` alayhi wa sallam) said: "Adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, bite onto it with  your molar teeth and beware of newly invented matters, for verily every innovation (Bid'ah) is a going astray." [Reported by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad and by Abu Dawood  in his Sunan, by at-Tirmidhee in his Sunan, and by Ibn Majah in his Sunan. It is an Saheeh (Authentic) Ahaadeeth.]

THE KNOWLEDGE-ROOTED FUNDAMENTALS OF THE SALAFI DA'WAH