Is it possible for the reformer to be a group of people, or must he be a single individual?

The questioner : Is this reformer an individual, or can he be a group?

The Shaykh : They may not be a group; they may be individuals.

The questioner : Individuals.

The Shaykh : Yes, and they may be in different sciences.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So there is a reformer in tafsir, a reformer in hadith, a reformer in fiqh, and in any science that benefits the Muslims, he is a reformer. Jihad in the path of Allah also needs a reformer.

The questioner : Every hundred years, according to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), or from his death, or from his migration.

The Shaykh: From his saying (peace be upon him), from his era.

The questioner : Meaning, in Madinah, this opinion was mentioned, of course.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Okay, who was the first reformer to come after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?

The Shaykh : This cannot be limited; because the reformers are many, and among them is Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i.