Questioner:
So Shaykh, so how do we deal with this person [one who defends innovators] in particular?
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī:
Deal with him just as you deal with any opposer of the Salafi manḥaj; by distancing yourself from them, and inviting to the methodology of the Salaf, and staying firm upon it and strengthening the people upon it and by warning them from every opposer of this manḥaj.
Questioner:
Ok, but do we say he is Salafī?
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī al-Madkhalī:
How [can you say this]!? Do not say a person who opposes the Salafi manḥaj that he is a Salafi. Don’t say a person is Salafi until you are certain that he is upon this manḥaj, and that he takes pride in it, and calls to it, and allies himself with a people due to it, and he disassociates himself from a people due to it. This is the Salafī. As for his claims of Salafīyyah whilst allying with the people of bidʿah and defending them and insulting the people of Sunnah, then such a person is not Salafī and he is not honoured, regardless of who he may be, whether an Arab, or non-Arab, eastern or western.
Salafīyyah has characteristics, distinguishing qualities and signs that you are able to differentiate between its people (Salafīs) and other than them through loyalty and disloyalty, creed, daʿwah and [their] stances.