Essential Questions and Answers on the Salafee Methodology
Ash-Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan
Translated by Moosaa Richardson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form, or any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter including photocopying and recording, without prior permissions from the publisher.
1st Edition: April 2014 | 
E-book Edition: September 2014
ISBN: 978-1-927012-38-3 | Printed in Hong Kong
Table of Contents
Translator’s Preface
Introduction
Who Are the Salaf?
Questions and Answers
[Q1] What is the Meaning of “Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah Know the Truth and Have Mercy on the Creation?”
[Q2] How Must One Guard against Preachers Who Wish to Further Political Agendas?
[Q3] How Should We React to Writers Who Do Not Approve of Our Leaders’ Affirmation of Salafiyyah?
[Q4] How Should the Youth Dress?
[Q5] Should the Youth Wear Traditional Arab Clothing in Western Lands?
[Q6] Is Absolute Adherence to a Particular Math-hab Considered Part of Salafiyyah?
[Q7] Must One Say, “I am a Salafee” or Is It Sufficient to Just Say “I am a Muslim”?
[Q8] How Does One Enjoin Good Behaviour Towards the Ruler?
[Q9] Is It Permissible to Protest against Disbelieving Leaders?
[Q10] Are Casualties Resulted from Demonstrations and Protests Comparable to Those of War?
[Q11] Is It Ever Permissible to Rebuke the Muslim Ruler in Public?
[Q12] Should Educators Encourage Political Discussions in the Classroom?
[Q13] Is It Important to Constantly Warn against Shirk?
[Q14] When Does a Traveller Combine and Shorten His Prayers?
[Q15] When Can It to Be Said That One Has Left Salafiyyah?
[Q16] Is It Appropriate to Say Contemporary Fiqh Issues Require Contemporary Rulings?
[Q17] Does Seeking Knowledge Necessitate That One Knows the Original Source Books of Ahlus-Sunnah?
[Q18] When Should One Say the Istikhaarah Prayer?
[Q19] Did Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz Discourage People from Naming Themselves Salafees or Atharees?
[Q20] How Should One View the Works of Shaykh Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab?
[Q21] Are the Scholars Concerned with the Plight of the Muslims Worldwide?
[Q22] Does Falling into Minor Sins Affect Seeking and Implementing Knowledge?
[Q23] Is There Any Similarity in Seeking Aid from the Graves and Seeking Aid from a Prophet’s Possessions?
[Q24] How Does One Determine to Which Country He Pledges Allegiance?
[Q25] Is a Foreign Student Still Considered a Traveller for the Duration of His Studies?
[Q26] Are Groups Such as Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen Considered Salafee?
[Q27] Should the Statements of the People Be Taken Back to the Scholars for Verification?
[Q28] Is Participating in Non-Muslims’ Systems of Politics from the Way of the Salaf?
[Q29] What Is the Ruling on Speaking to One’s Fiancée and Sending Her Letters?
[Q30] When Is It Appropriate to Publicize a Preacher’s Mistake?
[Q31] Does a Scholar Have to Travel to a Certain Place to Understand Its Realities?
[Q32] Is the Group al-Ihkwaan al-Muslimeen upon Salafiyyah?
[Q33] Is Refuting the People of Desires and Innovation a Waste of Time?
[Q34] Does Criticizing Ideas Also Entail Criticizing Those Who Have Such Ideas?
[Q35] How Should One Test Another’s Understanding of the Religion?
[Q36] How Must the Muslim View Events Which Encourage the Youth to Get Involved in Political Turmoil?
[Q37] Is It Permissible to Use Impersonation in Order to call to Allaah?
[Q38] What Actions are Considered Apostasy in the Religion?
[Q39] Does the Hadeeth About Obeying the Muslim Leader Pertain Only to a Righteous Leader?
[Q40] Is the Narration Where ‘Umar Accused Aboo Sufyaan of Stealing Authentic?
[Q41] How Can One Determine Who Is an Innovator Without Falling into Error?
[Q42] How Do We Reconcile between the Prophet’s Prohibition of Imitating Women and That He Wore ‘Aa’ishah’s Clothes to Sleep?
[Q43] What Is the Difference between Prophet Moosaa Asking to See Allaah and the Jews Doing the Same?
[Q44] Can One Pray in a Masjid with a Grave in the Back of It?
[Q45] Is It Permissible to Take Knowledge from Preachers Who Publicize the Mistakes of the Muslim Ruler?
[Q46] Are the Soofees All upon One Level of Misguidance?
[Q47] Does the Imaam Need Permission from the Muslim Authorities to Supplicate with Qunoot in Congregational Prayer?
[Q48] Is the Term ‘Salaf’ a Newly-Invented Word?
[Q49] Should the Muslims Attend the Lessons of Preachers Who Do Not Focus on Towheed or ‘Aqeedah?
[Q50] Is the Hadeeth about Allaah Descending to the Lowest Heaven in the Last Part of the Night Authentic?
[Q51] What Are the Guidelines for Making Ta’weel of the Islamic Texts Properly?
[Q52] Is the Hadeeth About the Ummah Splitting into Sects Authentic?
[Q53] What Is Your Stance on the Belief that Allaah Is in Every Place?
[Q54] Is the Term ‘Manhaj’ a Newly-Invented Term That Has No Place in Islam?
[Q55] What is the Meaning of “I’tazaa”?
[Q56] How Do We Reconcile between Allaah’s Prohibition of Addressing the Prophet Informally and Jibreel Addressing Him Casually?
[Q57] Is It Permissible to Have Any Type of Markings On Graves or the Walls of Graveyards?
[Q58] Is It Permissible to Distribute Water at Gravesites?
[Q59] Is It Permissible to Look up to the Sky While Calling upon Allaah?
[Q60] What Is the Ruling on Offering Jumu’ah Prayer in Non-Muslim Countries?
[Q61] Are Qur’an Competitions a Blameworthy Innovation?
[Q62] How Does One Straighten the Rows for the Prayer?
[Q63] Is There a Difference between Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, Ahlul-Hadeeth and the Salafees?
Glossary of Arabic Terms
Translator’s Preface
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful
Praise be to Allaah, and may he raise the rank and grant peace to his Messenger Muhammad.
To proceed:
This is a translation of the book, As-Salafiyyah Haqeeqatuhaa wa Seemaa’uhaa (Salafiyyah: Its Reality and Characteristics), by the virtuous scholar, Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, as well as the Standing Committee for Fatwaa, both in Saudi Arabia (may Allaah preserve him).
It was originally transcribed from a lecture entitled: “As-Salafiyyah, Haqeeqatuhaa wa Simaatuhaa,” almost the exact name as the book. It was delivered in the university campus masjid at Imaam Muhammad ibn Su’ood Islamic University in Riyadh on the 13th of Jumaadaa al-Oolaa, 1433.1 This lecture was transcribed in Arabic, adapted for print, and approved by the shaykh personally. It was printed by Daar Ishbeeliyyah in Riyadh. In a few noted passages, we worked around some minor printing errors by returning to the original lecture, in order to ensure the quality of the translation.
The book was chosen for translation because of the importance of the topic, especially in the West, and because of the widely respected status of the author. Salafiyyah, the methodology of the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace), his Companions, and the early imaams of Islam, is undoubtedly the correct understanding of Islam. Whoever Allaah blesses to learn it, understand it, and stick to it shall enjoy safety in this life and the Next, in shaa’ Allaah. Due to its wide appeal and popularity, Salafiyyah may be inaccurately portrayed by those seeking to lead Muslims astray, which leads to the importance of having a firm understanding of it.
Through this brief introduction of Salafiyyah by the famous scholar, Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan (may Allaah preserve him), and the many important questions and answers that follow it, it is hoped that the Salafee Path is given more distinction from the deviant methodologies that are often confused with it, like the ways of the Qutbiyyah, Ikhwaaniyyah, and Khawaarij sects. The author is well-known for his firmly-grounded understanding of Islam in general, in addition to his insight into the ways of the deviant groups and the angles from which they attack Islam and spread confusion.
This book was made possible—by the Permission of Allaah — through the respected efforts of a number of people other than the translator. Thanks are due to Abu Bilal Naeem of Jeddah who worked with his son to type out the recorded translation of the book, to Umm Zakee for editing, typesetting and proofreading the translation, to ‘Umar Abu Zakee for proofreading and overseeing the printing of the publication, and to Ahmad Abu Sakeenah for his additional review. May Allaah bless all of them for their valuable contributions, and may He reward them well.
A glossary of Arabic terms has been provided as an appendix in the back of the book, including the actual Arabic text of the entries, to assist the English readers in understanding key Arabic phrases that are used in the translation.
We put forth this humble effort, asking Allaah to accept it from us and allow it to reach and benefit some of His servants who wish to understand their religion better. And may He raise the rank of His Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace.
Moosaa Richardson (Translator)
Thursday, the 18th of Jumaadaa al-Oolaa, 1435
1 This corresponds to March 5, 2012 in the Christian calendar.
Introduction
All praises are due to Allaah, the Lord of all that exists, and we ask Allaah to raise the rank and grant peace to our Prophet Muhammad and likewise that of his family and all of his companions.
To proceed:
This country that we are in1 — and to Allaah is the praise — has been and remains upon the methodology of the early predecessors of this Ummah. The founding constitution is the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). The belief system in this land is the ‘aqeedah (belief system) of the Salaf. And this land is upon the (fiqh) math-hab of the great Imaam Ahmad.2