Response to Questions About Salafiyyah
The Context
A sister posted to our sub about some questions and misconceptions she had about Salafiyyah, and what it means to be upon the methodology of the Salaf. She was interested in learning more and getting an "insider’s perspective," if you will, on some of her questions.
This post is heavily edited from when it was first posted a year ago, as my understanding of certain concepts grows and updates. May Allah forgive me for anything I’ve said in error and continues to recitfy my affairs. Ameen.
The Response
Learning Your Religion
The best way to learn your religion is through authentic sources: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of RasoolAllah (ﷺ). If this seems like a daunting task, take heart—we’ve put together an easy to understand, not-overly-technical guide to getting started with the basics.
Real, proper learning can’t really happen with just a few YouTube videos or Instagram posts.
Salafiyyah
The term "Salafi" or "Salafiyyah" has been frequently abused and misused by nefarious characters both within and without the religion. So let’s clarify the definition first and foremost:
A Salafi is one who strives to follow the religion as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and as it was understood by the Salaf.
Who Are the Salaf?
The Salaf (literally, "the Predecessors") are the first three generations of Muslims in this Ummah. They are also referred to as the Salaf as-Salih / Salaf as-Saliheen (Pious Predecessors).
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. Then, there will come people after them whose testimony precedes their oaths and their oaths precede their testimony."
—Sahih al-Bukhari 6065, Sahih Muslim 2533
Thus a Salafi is one who follows the methodology and way of the Pious Predecessors in understanding and contextualizing the religion of al-Islam which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
The Dress of the Muslim Woman
Is Niqab Wajib?
Whether or not the niqab is wajib (obligatory) is a matter of legitimate ikhtilaf (difference of scholarly opinion) among the ulema. Some of said that it is, and others have said what is wajib is to cover everything except the face and the hands. However, despite this differing, all the scholars are agreed that niqab is better as it’s further away from the gray area of uncertainty, further away from fitnah, and objectively more modest.
So some of the Salafi women who wear niqab may do so not because they believe it to be mandatory, but because they know it to be more pleasing to Allah. I fall into this category myself, although more and more I’m leaning towards the opinion that it is wajib. After my research, I have concluded that the niqab is a must for the Muslim woman, due in large part to the weakness of the ahadith relied upon to say the face and hands can be revealed. And Allah knows best.
Here is the best breakdown on the issue I know of in English.
Wearing Colors
The point of hijab is essentially to anonymize the Muslim woman when outside of her house. As such, what the scholars have said is that part of the conditions of hijab include that the woman not stand out so as to catch unnecessary attention. Thus whether colors are permissible or not is a matter that often boils down to the customs and norms of the land (‘urf).
Black is just the easiest, most anonymous color so I suspect that is why it’s the most widely used. If you look at some countries (like Afghanistan, for example), the bright blue burqa might be what is normal for women to wear, so you’ll see most of them wearing that.
The Schools of Thought (for Fiqh)
This is a topic that bears a much larger discussion. I’ll give a brief, high-level overview here and in sha’ Allah, if Allah makes it easy for me, do a deeper dive in the future.
It’s important to understand that every individual on the Earth has mistakes with them, including the great ulema/scholars. Likewise, every madhab has mistakes with it, due to being based on the understanding of human beings who did not receive revelation (the scholars).
Once a mistake has been identified or can be proven by the existence of evidences which counter it, it is not permissible for us to follow any Shaykh on that opinion.
It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allāh and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allāh and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.
—Qur’an (al-Ahzab) 33:36
Blind-following any individual against the clear evidences is hugely problematic. Those who state that following a madhab is a must have entered something new into the religion which did not exist at the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), and which the Sahaba never implemented, though they were the most knowledgeable of the Ummah. Blind following any person, whether a scholar or otherwise, opposes the very foundation of what it means to follow the Sunnah.
This does not mean we disrespect the ulema, as they are scholars of the Sunnah and they have a certain station in this religion.
Amr ibn al-‘As reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If a judge makes a ruling, striving to apply his reasoning and he is correct, he will have two rewards. If a judge makes a ruling, striving to apply his reasoning and he is mistaken, he will have one reward."
—Sahih al-Bukhari 7352, Sahih Muslim 1716
The Focus on Men
That there exists among women trying to follow the Sunnah an over-emphasis on men and their rights appears to be an anecdotal point. Here on this sub, for example, we focus on numerous issues, including those specific to women, those specific to practicing Muslims, and general knowledge/reminders all the time. Here are just a few examples from a quick scan of our frontpage just now:
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Post about 7 types of men that should be avoided for marriage
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Post about how to meet and make practicing friends while living alone
- Question about online education
And so on.
We are a community-lead group, so whatever is on anyone’s mind, they are free to post and share, provided nothing violates our rules and principles.
However, as a general observation, it may be possible that the rights of men are more talked about, but this is in response to the world around us today, which leans largely feminist at all levels. Thus, the reminders serve to course correct. At the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), and indeed, even in his farewell sermon, he preached about treating women, being kind to them, and upholding their rights.
The Relationship Between Husband and Wife
the relationship [my husband and I] have wouldn’t be deemed appropriate in terms of a Salafi mindset.
Respectfully, I don’t feel this is an appropriate statement to make, as you yourself do not know what actualy constitutes "a Salafi mindset."
That said, there is nothing problematic in your relationship from an Islamic perspective, based on what you shared. RasoolAllah (ﷺ) was romantic and playful with his wives. He used to drink from the same place on the cup she drank from. He used to give her his time and attention for casual conversation. He even hugged and kissed her while they were fasting. And of course, we’re all aware of how he (ﷺ) used to help with household chores if he had the time while he was at home. Many Muslims don’t know, however, that he (ﷺ) used to take a ghusl together with his wife and play-act like he was going to use up all the water himself until A’ishah (radhiAllah anha) would low-key panic and say, "Leave some for me!" These are from the beauties and comforts of married life, that spouses can and should have this kind of relationship.
I always ask him if he’s happy with me and if there’s anything I need to improve on and he always states that he is.
Allahumma barik, sis, may Allah increase your marriage in goodness and love. May He make each of you a means for the other entering Paradise. Ameen.
Umm Salamah narrated that The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whichever woman dies while her husband is pleased with her, then she enters Paradise."
What to call your husband is a matter of preference, mutual agreement, and (often) cultural norms and expectations. Many of our parents’ generation were shy to use their husband’s names. We sometimes tease my mom about it. It’s chill.
The wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) used to be more intimidated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (radhiAllah anhu) than they were of their husband, because Umar was stricter. He used to admonish them for speaking casually or argumentatively with the Messenger (ﷺ), and they would say that he (ﷺ) didn’t mind. That said, they were married to the one who was the best of all the Creation, upon whom the wahy descended from Allah. They never called him by his name alone, just like that. This is from the manners of the Muslim towards the Prophet (ﷺ). None of us should be calling him by his name alone.
The Salaam
Some time ago, I wrote about the importance of the Salaam in Islam! It’s a short read, if you’re interested. I’m glad the niqabis are returning your salaams—it can kind of sting to not get it back!
The Saved Sect
Islam is not a religion sent down for a specific time or place, unlike the previous scriptures. Islam is for all places, for all times. The religion of Allah will be established upon the Earth until the Hour.
This life is a test, as we Muslims know, and the ones passing that test are the ones who are upon what the Messenger (ﷺ) and his Companions were upon at that time. This idea and concept sits at the core of the Salafi methodology, and everything essentially goes back to it.
This religion was completed during the lifetime of RasoolAllah (ﷺ). That means there is nothing left to add, subtract, or edit. It is sealed.
In Closing
I know this was a lot of information to get through; if you have any additional questions, please feel free to add a follow up.
Anything I’ve said which is correct or beneficial is from Allah alone, and any mistakes are from myself and the Shaiytaan. May Allah forgive me and correct me, ameen.