Was the Prophet a Salafi?

Question

Assalaamualykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu
Respected Mufti Sahib
In Harare Zimbabwe people seem to be greatly confused with what salafiasm is!
A certain prominent member of our community made the following remark,
"There is nothing wrong with being a salafi, there is no difference with their Islam and our Islam (the four math-habs)". He went on further to state,
"That our Beloved Nabi-e-Kareem Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam was a salafi as there were no four Imaams present in Nabi-e-Kareem Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalaam's time.
1) Please comment on the above
2) If you have any literature that can enlighten the people of Zimbabwe on the dangers of salafiasm kindly assist!
Jazakallah
Wasalaam

zha654 · Answer

The current day Salafis are those viciously against following one Imaam of Fiqh - Some of them even speak ill of Imam Abu Hanafi (A.R). The one saying these statements are misled and engaged in misleading others. Stay far from such people even if they are flowery in their speeches. His statements display his arogance. We have written extensively on this subject. See on our site amongst others.
1) Taqleed Made Easy
2) Why follow one Imam of Fiqh and we have released in hard copy
3) Towards Understanding Taqleed Part 1
4) Towards Understanding Taqleed Part 2