This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Joy (talk | contribs) at 11:55, 31 July 2004 (actually, no. the Salafi article talks about the original meaning, while Wahhabism mainly talks about how it is today.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 11:55, 31 July 2004 by Joy (talk | contribs) (actually, no. the Salafi article talks about the original meaning, while Wahhabism mainly talks about how it is today.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A Salafi (lit. early muslim), from the Arabic world Salaf, is a practictioner of Salafiyyah (Salafism). Modern usage from the Islamic phrase minhaj as-Salaf, or method of the early Muslims. Also known as the Wahhabi branch of Islam.
The Salafi view the first few generations of Muslims, including the Prophet Muhammad, the early Khalifahs, the Companions, and first three generations as a prime authority and as perfect examples. These three generations are classified as the Pious generations.
Islamic jurisprudence holds that, in order of precedence, the sources of Islamic law are : a) the Quran (the Muslim revealed scripture), b) the Hadith (prophetic traditions) and c) Ijma' (consensus). Salafis hold that those should be interepreted as the above three generations would have interpreted them, and not according to innovative ways, thus holding a traditionalist view.
In modern Islam, the term Salafi has come to describe a Saudi-based group of fundamentalist Muslims who seek to purify modern Islam, reinstate ijtihad, abolish classical and most medieval Islamic jurisprudence, and promote the interpretations of Salafi Islamic thinkers such as Ibn Taymiyah. These modern Salafis are sometimes called "neo-Salafis" (often disparagingly) or Salafists in order to distinguish Salafism from the early generations of Muslims (the original salaf).
See also
http://www.spubs.com/sps/sp.cfm?subsecID=SLF02&articleID=SLF020001&articlePages=1