Ahl as-Sunnah (The People of Sunnah) Are The Salaf — Shaykh Ibn Bāz

Question:

His Eminence Shaykh! This is a questioner via the program asking: ‘Is there a difference between our saying: “This is the saying of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) or this is the saying of Ahl as-Sunnah (The People of Sunnah)”’?

Answer By Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz - رحمه الله -:

The meaning is the same. The Salaf are the people of the Sunnah and they are The Ṣaḥābah (the Companions of the Prophet -ﷺ-) — may Allāh be pleased with them —, and those who followed them upon goodness.

It is attributed to them the term: As-Salaf As-Ṣāliḥ (The Pious Predecessors) and it is said to them: Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah (The People of Sunnah and The United Body Upon The Truth). If he intends that, there’s nothing wrong.

The term points to the same thing; Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah, as-Salaf as-Ṣāliḥ. And its intended meaning to Ahl as-Sunnah points to The Companions of the Prophet - ﷺ - and those who followed them upon goodness in ʿAqīdah (creed - i.e. firm belief), sayings and actions.

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Translation: MiU Editorial

Source: Official Website of The Shaykh