Why should we attribute ourselves to the Salaf

[Surah Al-Hajj: 78]
Answer: We will present to the noble reader a short debate that occurred between  our Shaikh (i.e. Al-Albaanee), rahimahullaah, and the professor ‘Abdul-Haleem  Abu Shaqqah, author of the book “The woman’s liberation during the time of the  Revelation”:
The Shaikh said: “If it is  said to you ‘What is your madh-hab’, what will you say?”
He said: I will say: “I am  Muslim.”
The Shaikh said: “This is not  sufficient.”
He said: “But Allaah has  named us Muslims.” And then he recited the verse: “It is He who has named you  Muslims since before.” [Surah Al-Hajj: 78] So the Shaikh said: “This is a correct answer – if we were  living during the first generation, before the spreading of groups. So if we  were to ask any Muslim today, from these groups that we differ with  fundamentally in Creed, his response would not be any different from this word,  for all of them – the Shi’ee, the Raafidee, the Khaarijee, the Durzee, the  Nusairee, the ‘Alawee – would say ‘I am Muslim.’ So this is not sufficient in  these days.” He said: “So then I will  say: ‘I am a Muslim upon the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.’”
So the Shaikh said:”This is also not sufficient.”
He said: “Why not?” The Shaikh said: “Do you find any person from the people  we have just used as an example saying: ‘I am a Muslim that is not upon the  Qur’aan and the Sunnah.’ Which person will say that he is not upon the Qur’aan  and the Sunnah?” Then the Shaikh began to explain to him the importance of this  supplemental phrase, which we have adopted. And it is: The Qur’aan and the  Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf As-Saalih (righteous  predecessors).
He said: “So then I am a  Muslim on the Qur’aan and the Sunnah with the understanding of the Salaf  As-Saalih (righteous predecessors).”
The Shaikh  said: “So if someone were to ask you what is your madh-hab, you would tell him that?” He said: “Yes.” So the Shaikh said: “What do  you think if we were to shorten that linguistically, for the best types of  speech is that which is short but has a lot of meaning? So let us (just) say: I  am a Salafee.” He said: “I could be polite to you and say yes, but my  belief is the same as before. Because when people hear that you are a Salafee, the first thing that will  come into their minds are occurrences in which they experienced harshness from  some of the extremists amongst the Salafees.”
The Shaikh said: “Assuming your words were correct, if you said:  ‘I am a Muslim’, will they not think that you are a Shi’ee or a Raafidee or a Durzee or an Isma’eelee,  etc.?” He said: “Possibly, but I would  have followed the noble verse: ‘It is He who has named you  Muslims.’” So the Shaikh said: “No, my brother! You did not follow the verse  because the verse refers to the correct form of Islaam. It is necessary that you speak to the people  according to their levels of comprehension – will anyone understand from you  that you are a Muslim according to the intended meaning of the verse?
And  the things that you warned about just now may be correct or they may not because  your mentioning ‘harshness’ – this can be found in some individuals, but not as  a methodology of belief and knowledge. So leave the individuals to the side for  we are talking about the methodology. This is since if we were to say: ‘Shi’ee’ or ‘Durzee’ or ‘Khaarijee’ or ‘Sufi’ or ‘Mu’tazilee’, these same things that you warned about (i.e.  harshness) would appear from them (also).”
So this is not our discussion.  We are looking for a name that provides an indication of a person’s belief,  which he worships Allaah with.”
Then the Shaikh said: “Were not all of the Sahaabah Muslims?”
He said: “Of course.”
Then the Shaikh said: “Were not all of the Sahaabah Muslims?”
He said: “Of course.”
The Shaikh said: “But in  spite of this, there was among them those who stole and those who fornicated,  but this did not lead any of them to say: ‘I am not a Muslim.’ Rather, he was a  Muslim – a believer in Allaah and His Messenger SAWS  as a methodology – however he would contradict his methodology at times, for he  was not infallible.
Therefore, may Allaah bless you, we are talking about a word that indicates our  belief, our ideas, and our source of reference in our life in that which is  related to the affairs of our religion, which we worship Allaah by. And as for this person being harsh and that  person being lenient, then that is another matter.”
Then the Shaikh said: “I want you to contemplate on this concise word  until you no longer persist in (just using) the word Muslim. And you know well  that there doesn’t exist anyone that will understand what you are intending to  say at all, so speak to the people according to their levels of comprehension.  And May Allaah bless you for  your compliance.”
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]