Despite these theological and historical facts well known to Salafi scholars for 1300 years, the fabricated and academically dishonest label of “Salafi-Jihadist” has been used to describe these terrorists. It is alleged that “Salafists” are of three groups: The Quietists who adhere to peaceful preaching, the Activists who engage in politics to assert influence and the Jihadists who use violence and terrorism. This is a fallacious categorisation which has found its way into academia, government bodies and intelligence agencies all of whom are victims of Kharijite propaganda which they have taken at face value. A working knowledge of elementary Islamic theology would inform the scrupulous academic that it is impossible for the second two groups to be “Salafist” due to their violation of one of the greatest principles of Islam as enunciated so clearly in the Qur’an, the Prophetic traditions, the statements of the Prophet’s companions and the statements and writing of all the famous scholars of the Muslims. These scholars include ‘Abdullah bin al-Mubarak (d. 797), Ahmad bin Hanbal (d. 855), Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1328), and Muhammad Ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab (d. 1792) who have well known , oft-quoted statements in this regard. This principle is: Anyone who contends with the ruler of the Muslims for power whether physically or by encouraging it verbally – even if he himself does not engage in violence and revolt – upon the ideological conviction that the sinful, tyrannical ruler has left Islam and does not deserve obedience is from the heretical Kharijites. Claiming to be “Salafist” does not avail such as person in anything. This was the first deviation in Islam and is totally antithetical to Salafism. This principle is mentioned as the consensus of the Muslims in the books of early Salafi scholars such as “The Foundations of the Sunnah” by Imam Ahamad bin Hanbal (d. 855) and is found repeated throughout the centuries till we reach the era of the contemporary Salafi scholars.
The Kharijites can never be Salafist by definition, it is a theological and historical impossibility. They may be accurately referred to as Takfiri-Jihadist Kharijites as we have established in this work. Their roots lie in challenging the integrity and authority of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and killing the Prophet’s closest companions. They assassinated two righteous caliphs of Islam. ‘Uthman and ‘Ali, and attempted to assassinate the deputy rulers of Egypt and Syria, both of whom were companions of the Prophet.
Qualifying them as “Salafi-Jihadists” or “Quietist-Jihadists” is an enormous error and when done with knowledge and intent is a sign of ignorance, historical revisionism, or academic dishonesty.
Source: A Brief Guide to Islam And Its Position Towards Al-Qaeda & ISIS, Abu ‘Iyaad Amjad bin Muhammad Rafiq, version 4.50, 2nd Edition, Rajab 1438 AH/April 2017 CE, pp.89-90. Distributed by Salafi Publications and Germantown Masjid.
Visit (or revisit) this website for further clarifications and rebuttals:
