Saying: The Khalaf are more wise and the Salaf are more knowledgeable
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The first and third questions of Fatwa No. ( 17464 )
Q 1: On one occasion, in one of our lessons on Islamic jurisprudence, the professor told us: "The Khalaf are more wise and the Salaf are more knowledgeable." Is this correct ? And what is the meaning of "more knowledgeable" and "more wise"?
A 1: This is a false saying intended to insult the Salaf of this Ummah by attributing to them a lack of knowledge and wisdom, and to glorify the scholars of Kalam (theological discourse) by attributing knowledge and wisdom to them. The scholars of Kalam were the first to introduce this saying, and its necessary implication is that the people of the inferior centuries are more knowledgeable and better than the people of the superior centuries. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "It is known by necessity to anyone who reflects on the Book and the Sunnah, and on what the people of the Sunnah and the community from all sects have agreed upon, that the best centuries of this Ummah in deeds, words, belief, and every other virtue, are the first century, then those who follow them,
then those who follow them, as this has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through multiple channels, and that they are superior to the later generations in every virtue of knowledge, action, faith, intellect, religion, eloquence, and worship, and that they are more deserving of clarification for every difficult matter. This is not refuted except by one who opposes what is known by necessity from the religion of Islam, and Allah has led him astray while he knows, as Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever among you seeks a guide, let him seek one who has died, for you cannot be safe from fitnah (trial) regarding the living. Those are the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the purest of this Ummah in hearts, the deepest in knowledge, and the least in affectation. They are a people whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet and the establishment of His religion. So recognize their right and hold fast to their guidance, for they were upon the straight path." And others said: "Adhere to the reports of those who came before you, for they brought what is sufficient and what cures, and no hidden good that they did not know has emerged after them." This is while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Ibn Hibban 51:19 . How can a time come to us in which the good is in the greatest of known matters, which is the knowledge of Allah the Exalted? This will never happen. And how excellent is what al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Risalah: "They are above us in every knowledge, intellect, religion, and virtue, and every cause by which knowledge is attained or guidance is reached. Their opinion for us is better than our opinion for ourselves." End of quote. (Al-Fatawa 4 \ 157, 158).
Q 1: On one occasion, in one of our lessons on Islamic jurisprudence, the professor told us: "The Khalaf are more wise and the Salaf are more knowledgeable." Is this correct ? And what is the meaning of "more knowledgeable" and "more wise"?
A 1: This is a false saying intended to insult the Salaf of this Ummah by attributing to them a lack of knowledge and wisdom, and to glorify the scholars of Kalam (theological discourse) by attributing knowledge and wisdom to them. The scholars of Kalam were the first to introduce this saying, and its necessary implication is that the people of the inferior centuries are more knowledgeable and better than the people of the superior centuries. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "It is known by necessity to anyone who reflects on the Book and the Sunnah, and on what the people of the Sunnah and the community from all sects have agreed upon, that the best centuries of this Ummah in deeds, words, belief, and every other virtue, are the first century, then those who follow them,
then those who follow them, as this has been established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) through multiple channels, and that they are superior to the later generations in every virtue of knowledge, action, faith, intellect, religion, eloquence, and worship, and that they are more deserving of clarification for every difficult matter. This is not refuted except by one who opposes what is known by necessity from the religion of Islam, and Allah has led him astray while he knows, as Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever among you seeks a guide, let him seek one who has died, for you cannot be safe from fitnah (trial) regarding the living. Those are the Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the purest of this Ummah in hearts, the deepest in knowledge, and the least in affectation. They are a people whom Allah chose for the companionship of His Prophet and the establishment of His religion. So recognize their right and hold fast to their guidance, for they were upon the straight path." And others said: "Adhere to the reports of those who came before you, for they brought what is sufficient and what cures, and no hidden good that they did not know has emerged after them." This is while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No time comes but that the one after it is worse, until you meet your Lord
لا يأتي زمان إلا والذي بعده شر منه، حتى تلقوا ربكم
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.