Abu Haneefah (d. 150H) (rahimahullaah) said:

 

“Adhere to the athar (narration) and the tareeqah (way) of the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) and beware of newly invented matters for all of it is innovation” [Reported by As-Suyootee in Sawn al Mantaq wal-Kalaam p.32]

 

Imaam al-Asbahaanee (d.535H) - rahimahullaah - said:

 

“The sign of Ahlus-Sunnah is that they follow the Salafus-Saalih and abandon all that is innovated and newly introduced into the Deen.” [Al-Hujjah fee Bayaanil Mahajjah 1/364]

 

As-Sam'aanee (d.562H) said:

 

“As-Salafi: this is an ascription to the Salaf and following their ways, in that which is related from them.” [al-lnsaab (3/273)]

 

lbn al-Atheer (d.630H) said, commenting upon the previous saying of as-Sam'aanee:

 

“And a group were known by this ascription.” [al-Lubaab fee Tahdheebul-lnsaab (2/162)]

 

lbn Taymiyyah (d.728H) - rahimahullaah - said:

 

“There is no criticism for the one who proclaims the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf, who attaches himself to it and refers to it.  Rather, it is obligatory to accept that from him by unanimous agreement (Ittifaaq) because the way (madhdhab) of the Salaf is nothing but the Truth (Haqq).” [Majmoo al-Fataawaa 4:149]

 

Imaam adh-Dhahabee (d.748H) - rahimahullaah - said:

 

“It is authentically related from ad-Daaraqutnee (d385H) that he said: There is nothing more despised by me than 'ilmul-kalaam (innovated speech and rhetorics). I say: No person should ever enter into 'ilmul-kalaam, nor argumentation.  Rather, he should be Salafee (a follower of the Salaf)."[Siyar 16/457]

 

So the meaning is: that the term Salafi, and its ascription to them, was a matter known in the time of Imaam as-Sam'aanee, or before him.

 

Statements of the Imaams about following the Salaf

Imaam al-Laalikaa'ee (rahimahullah) said:
"That which is most obligatory upon a Muslim:

Knowledge of the aspects of the creed of the Religion and what Allaah has obligated upon His Servants including the understanding of His Tawheed and of His Attributes, and believing in His Messengers with evidences and with certainty. And arriving at [all of] that and seeking evidences for them with clear proofs.

And among the mightiest of statements and clearest of proofs and understandings is:

1.The Book of Allaah, the Manifest Truth

2.Then the saying of the Messenger of Allaah (sulAllahu 'alayhi wassalaam)

3.And of his Companions, the chosen, pious ones

4.Then that which the Salaf us-Saalih were unanimously agreed upon

5.The holding fast to all of that and remaining firm upon it till the Day of Judgement

6.Then turning away from the innovations and from listening to them - from amongst those things the astray people have invented" [ Sharh Usool ul-I'tiqaad (1/9)]

 

'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Azîz, rahimahullah, [d.101H] said: "Do not go beyond where they stopped. For verily they stopped upon knowledge and with a perceiving view sufficed."

Imâm al-Awzâ'î, rahimahullah, [d. 157H] said: "Stick to the footsteps of the Salaf, even if people abandon you. Beware of the views of men, even if they beautify it for you with words."

Imaam al Awzaa’ee also said rahimahullaah 
‘Patiently restrict yourselves to the Sunnah and pause where the people paused; say what they said and avoid what they avoided. Take the path of the Salajus-Saalih for indeed what is sufficient for them is sufficient for you.’

 

 It is important to note that our Imaam adh-Dhahabee described when someone can be an actual scholar of Islam. He says


ان يكون تقيا ذكيا نحويا لغويا زكيا حييا سلفيا

That upon him is to be Taqiyan (have taqwah) -Dhakiyan (have intelligence) -Nahwiyan (firm in Arabic grammar) -Lugawiyan (firm in Arabic language) -Zakiyan (pure in action and/or intentions) -Hayiyan (shy) -Salafiyan (who follows the way of the Salaf As Saleh)

Siyaar A'laam an-Nubalaa (13/580)

Thus no one can be regarded as a scholar of Islam unless they have these attributes the last of which is that they be salafi, otherwise they would only be a scholar of whatever innovated way they specialize in rather than in Islam.