Is Salafism a Sect?

Moderator: Your eminence sheikh, may Allah make you successful. We hear some people say: it is not lawful for one to affiliate himself with the Salaf (pious predecessors), and they consider the Salafism to be one of today's sects; what is your opinion about what they said? Sheikh: Yes, the Salaf is the sect of Allah. The Salaf is a sect but the sect of Allah. Allah the Almighty says: {...They are the sect of Allah. Verily, it is the sect of Allah that will be the successful.} [Al-Mujadila: 22] So, The Salaf (pious predecessors) sided with the Book (Quran), Sunnah, and the companions and thus became the sect of Allah. And those who oppose them are misguided deviant sects. Sects vary. There is the sect of Allah, and there is the sect of Shaitan, as mentioned in the last verse of Surat Al-Mujadila. There is the sect of Allah, and there is the sect of Shaitan. Sects vary. So, whosoever adheres to the Book (Quran) and Sunnah is with the party of Allah. And whosoever is on the wrong path belongs to the sect of Shaitan. And you choose whether you’d like to be among the sect of Allah or the sect of Shaitan. Choose, yes