I have heard about the Salaf; who are the Salaf, O honorable Shaykh?
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The questioner : I have heard about the Salaf; who are the Salaf, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The Salaf means those who came before, so anyone who precedes another is the Salaf of that person. However, when the term "Salaf" is used in a general sense, it refers to the three superior generations: the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the generation following them. These are the righteous Salaf. Whoever comes after them and follows their methodology is like them in the way of the Salaf, even if he is later than them in time. This is because "Salafiyyah" is applied to the methodology followed by the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3993Sahih (Darussalam) And in another wording: .
Based on this, Salafiyyah here is restricted by meaning. So, whoever is upon the methodology of the Companions, the Tabi'un, and those who followed them with excellence is a Salafi, even if he is in our current era, which is the fourteenth century after the Hijrah.
The Shaykh : The Salaf means those who came before, so anyone who precedes another is the Salaf of that person. However, when the term "Salaf" is used in a general sense, it refers to the three superior generations: the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the generation following them. These are the righteous Salaf. Whoever comes after them and follows their methodology is like them in the way of the Salaf, even if he is later than them in time. This is because "Salafiyyah" is applied to the methodology followed by the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them), as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
and my nation will split into seventy-two, all of which will be in Hell apart from one, which is the main body.
إن أمتي ستفترق على ثلاث وسبعين فرقة كلها في النار إلا واحدة وهي الجماعةWhoever is upon what I and my Companions are upon.
من كان على مثل ما أنا عليه وأصحابيBased on this, Salafiyyah here is restricted by meaning. So, whoever is upon the methodology of the Companions, the Tabi'un, and those who followed them with excellence is a Salafi, even if he is in our current era, which is the fourteenth century after the Hijrah.