Source: Qur’an o Hadith ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail, Volume 01, Page 632
According to the Qur’an, our only identity should be “Muslim”.
Then why are titles like Ahl-e-Hadith, Salafi, or Athari used?
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Qur’an clearly states:
﴿هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾
“He has named you Muslims.”
[Al-Ḥajj: 78]
Likewise, the Qur’an uses various titles for different groups of believers:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَى وَالصَّابِئِينَ﴾
“Indeed, those who believed, and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians…”
[Al-Baqarah: 62]
And again:
﴿وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers.”
[An-Nūr: 31]
Also:
﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ﴾
“And the forerunners – the first of the Muhajirun and the Ansar…”
[At-Tawbah: 100]
These verses indicate that the Qur’an uses not only the term “Muslim”, but also terms like:
Hence, using different descriptive titles does not contradict the Qur’an, provided they are not used as substitutes or rivals to the name “Muslim”.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا﴾
“And We made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another.”
[Al-Ḥujurāt: 13]
This shows that names and group identities can serve the purpose of recognition and identification —
not division or sectarianism.
So titles such as:
— are used purely for identification. They are not replacements for the Qur’anic titles “Muslim” or “Mu’min”, nor are they set in opposition to them.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
❖ Question
According to the Qur’an, our only identity should be “Muslim”.
Then why are titles like Ahl-e-Hadith, Salafi, or Athari used?
❖ Answer
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
✔ Qur’anic Terminology for the Believers
The Qur’an clearly states:
﴿هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ﴾
“He has named you Muslims.”
[Al-Ḥajj: 78]
Likewise, the Qur’an uses various titles for different groups of believers:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَى وَالصَّابِئِينَ﴾
“Indeed, those who believed, and those who were Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians…”
[Al-Baqarah: 62]
And again:
﴿وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers.”
[An-Nūr: 31]
Also:
﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ﴾
“And the forerunners – the first of the Muhajirun and the Ansar…”
[At-Tawbah: 100]
Conclusion from These Verses
These verses indicate that the Qur’an uses not only the term “Muslim”, but also terms like:
- Mu’min (Believer)
- Muhajir (Emigrant)
- Ansari (Helper)
Hence, using different descriptive titles does not contradict the Qur’an, provided they are not used as substitutes or rivals to the name “Muslim”.
✔ The Purpose of Titles Like Ahl-e-Hadith, Salafi, Athari
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا﴾
“And We made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another.”
[Al-Ḥujurāt: 13]
This shows that names and group identities can serve the purpose of recognition and identification —
not division or sectarianism.
So titles such as:
- Ahl-e-Hadith (People of Hadith)
- Salafi (One who follows the methodology of the Salaf)
- Athari (One who adheres to narrations)
— are used purely for identification. They are not replacements for the Qur’anic titles “Muslim” or “Mu’min”, nor are they set in opposition to them.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
