Today, when people talk about Islam, that which contradicts the Western outlook on Islam or the widespread ideology of secularism, they will label this as “Salafiyyah”.
The definition of "Salafiyyah" with them includes any school
which believes that the source of legislation is the Book of Allah (the Most
High) - that which is obligatory for us to return to so that we can define what
relationship man has with everything around him.
The source of legislation is the Book, the Sunnah, Ijmaa (scholarly
consensus) and principles and maxims [within them]. Whoever makes this the
criterion for legislation they will label this as “Salafiyyah”.
Methodologies in Islam which are not Salafiyyah are those
that theorise otherwise, such as saying that the Quran can be critically
analysed using thought and theory – the Quran is still sacred, but it can be
critiqued. Likewise the Sunnah is sacred by it can be critiqued, beleiving that they can take aspects and leave aspects [based on their analysis].
There is a constant mentioning of critical thinking in the establishment
of civilisation. Civilization is part of a philosophical thinking which has a role in secularism today. What is civilisation? What do we do once we have establishment civilisation? etc. and all the details surrounding civilisation lends itself to
the methodology that everything can be critically analysed.
Eventually, there is no proof in the sources of legislation anymore. Therefore, the ideologies in the western and the philosophies found within it – whether that comes from universities or political think tanks – if they use the term “Salafiyyah”, they don’t mean by it what we understand by Salafiyyah.
For us, as-Salafiyyah is to go back to the sources of legislation, that which was used by the four schools of thought – including; the Quran, the Sunnah, Ijma, Qiyas, Statements of the Companions, principles and maxims etc.
Without depending on theory for legislation makes you a "Salafiyyah", according to their labelling. Therefore, the only group that challenges the call for reform in civilisation are the Salafis. As for other sects that don’t show the same methodology of preserving the sources of legislation and in honouring them, then they give rise to them and they will label them accordingly.
-Shaykh Saaleh aal ash-Shaykh (Allah preserve him)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=npmEdObLX9Q
