http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbGlzlS3O9g ;)

So this is the origin of the term, linguistically speaking. * As for its meaning in Islam, and when it's used by speakers, it is a reference to: “The Pious Predecessors” (as you find it translated in some places), or “The Righteous Forefathers”. i.e. those pious great Muslims who came before us. And sometimes you'll hear some Islamic speaker use the phrase, السَّلَفُ الصَّالِح “As-Salaf As-Saalih”, which basically has the same meaning as just mentioned.

Specially, and in most cases, when we use this term (Salaf), it is particularly referring to the 1st 3 generations of Muslims [i.e. the Prophet & his Companions (صَحَابَة), then the following generation (called the تَابِعُون [Taabi'oon], or the Successors), and then the generations after them]. * Why are these three considered special? Due to a statement of the Prophet, wherein he stated: “The best of all generations humanity has ever seen is my generation (i.e. of his Companions), then the generation that will follow them, and then the generation that will follow them.” — And he stopped. 300 years. {And FYI, all of the 4 famous Imams of the Muslims, Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Shaafi'ee, Ahmad lived in this time period, these three hundred years.}

+ Last note: As for a very recent phenomenon that has emerged (and truth be told, it was some of our very recent Scholars, and Hadeeth specialists of this era, who coined this term with the best of intentions), of calling oneself a “Salafi” سَلَفِي …which btw, as u can probably guess now, means someone who is following the “Salaf”, the way and methodology of our Pious Predecessors … I personally have seen some dangers/problems arise from this kind of labeling, such as harsh exclusiveness, and many extreme groups calling themselves “Salafis” emerging, who malign and attack many of our Scholars here in the West, and are always busy in refuting and “warning” against individuals, etc.

In general, there's basically nothing wrong with saying you're a “Salafi”, IF and only if you clarify along with mentioning this 'label', what its intended meaning is – so that no one thinks that this is some kind of “new sect”, or cult or whatever…

It is well-known that if you attend public schools, you will end up participating in Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving projects and activities, Halloween-related activities, and the same goes for Christmas, etc.

So it’s not about, this particular Christmas play (and whether she dresses up like a doll or like Santa). It goes deeper into the issue of attending public schools vs. Muslim schools.

* But there’re not a lot of fulltime Muslim schools, sadly. So many times Muslim children end up having to attend public schools.

As a parent, one must try his/her best to educate the child about Islaam, to counter the non-Islamic teachings they’re getting throughout the week. Not just putting them in a Sunday school or… but really teaching them the meaning of Islaam, what it means to be a Muslim, who is Allah, etc.

Conclusion: Some things are requirements in public school, some are not. You have to make the judgment إن شاء الله. I don’t want to say whether dressing up like a doll (as a present of Santa) for a Christmas school play is HALAAL or HARAAM… just realize that whatever children are brought up upon, whatever children are shown, taught, and made accustomed to – especially during their young years (until around 13) – it will have an effect on them.

Allah knows best
- AbdulBasit Khan

My daughter is 6 yrs old, and was told to dress up as a doll for the xmas school play ( it was santas xmas presents) was this haram for her?

Jaza kallakheir.

Narrator: Anas Ibn Maalik. * When the Prophet came to Madeenah, ولهم يومان يلعبون فيهما the People of Madeenah had 2 days in which they used to enjoy themselves & play and have fun. * {So, Br. Sami, it’s nothing religious.} The hadeeth says,

كان لهم يومان في كل سنة يلعبون فيهما , فلما قدم النبي _ صلى الله عليه وسلم _ المدينة قال : كان لكم يومان تلعبون فيهما وقد أبدلكما الله بهما خيرا منهما , يوم الفطر ويوم الأضحى

They used to have 2 days (imagine, Thanksgiving/Christmas) in every single year (i.e. annual), in which they used to play and party. When the Prophet arrived to Madeenah, he asked them: ما هذان اليومان؟ “What are these 2 days of yours?” What did they say? They said: كنا نلعب فيهما في الجاهلية “We used to play on these 2 days every year, in the time of Jaahiliyyah.”

+ They didn’t say, we sacrifice for the gods. Or this is the day of Jesus Christ’s birth, or the day of Hubal and Laat. Or any relgious-related issue… no! They simply said, we used to play on these 2 days, every single year, in the pre-Islamic period.

The Prophet says to them: إن الله قد أبدلكم بهما خيرا منهما, يوم الفطر ويوم الأضحى “Surely, Allah has indeed replaced these 2 days for you, with 2 days that are Better than them! The Day of Fitr, and the Day of Adhaa.”

So – my dear brother – this is the issue. Not religious or otherwise, or halaal or haraam. * It’s just that, Allah has given us in exchange for these man-made holidays, Holidays that are Better! So instead of celebrating thanksgiving, we have the Day of Adha —- a Day of Shukr and thanksgiving to Allah. :) Give gifts & ‘turkeys’ to the non-Muslims on This day, on Our god-given day of celebration, no on theirs. What better way of Da’wah? Tell them that this is Our annual day of celeberation. Party on your day of `Eid, not on their day.

Catch my drift?

But the issue here is not, (quote on quote) religious holidays vs. “Non-religious” holidays.

It’s أعياد (`Eids) of the non-Muslims vs. the `Eids that Allah has given us – people of Islaam.

In the Saheeh, the Prophet tells Abu Bakr: إن لكل قوم عيدا “Every people have their `Eid. وهذا عيدنا And THIS is our `Eid.”

He said, the Day of `Arafah (this coming Thursday), the Day of Nahr (Friday) and the Days of Tashreeq (following 3 days) عيدنا أهل الإسلام are the `Eids (annual days of celebration) for us, People of Islaam.

…. So the point, is – we want to try & differ from the traditions, the practices, the annual celebrations of the non-Muslims, in sha Allah. * Not whether it is permissible or impermissible, or religious or non-religious. * As the Prophet said about those 2 days the Kuffaar took as days of relaxation & party – أريد أن أخالفهما I want to differ from them, in this practice of theirs. * It wasn’t a religious/non-religious issue. It was about, being different.

+ Finally, I want to leave you with this hadeeth to think about (in my next comment). :)