Is there any scholar who has spoken about distinguishing between the methodology of the early scholars and the methodology of the later scholars?

The questioner : Shaykh, we have some questions to clarify this issue, especially now in Riyadh, where they are the ones who adopt this methodology. As a result, a group of young people have become wavering. So we raised some questions, including questions fromThe Shaykh : Sa'd. He said, "Present them toThe Shaykh : Nasser. The first question: It is not hidden from your excellence what is being stirred up among the students of hadith knowledge in this time regarding what is called the methodology of the early and later scholars. First, do you know, may Allah reward you, of any previous scholar who raised this claim?

The Shaykh : My answer to that is no. Rather, I believe that this distinction falls under the general meaning of his statement (peace and blessings be upon him) I do not mean that it is a bid'ah (religious innovation) merely because it is a newly invented matter, because this specific meaning is not what is intended by this hadith and its like. Rather, what is intended is the newly invented matter by which the innovator seeks nearness to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). From this perspective, this is a bid'ah of misguidance. And it is not only that; rather, they are most like those who seek nearness to Allah by what Allah has forbidden, such as those who seek nearness by praying at the graves of the awliya (close friends of Allah), the righteous, and the prophets. This is, without doubt, a sin. It is a sin, but seeking nearness to Allah through sin is a bid'ah. So when they distinguish between the early scholars of hadith and the later scholars of hadith, they have invented something that the people of hadith do not know at all. If they had stopped at this invention alone, perhaps the matter would have been easy. But they added to that that they seek nearness to Allah through this invention. Then they increased, as it is said, "mud in the mud," by destroying the Sunnah and putting an end to it with such a distinction. And it is certain that this division is merely a thought that occurred to one of them, and he is the one who established this bad practice. So upon him is its burden and the burden of whoever acts upon it until Allah wills. And perhaps it will be put to an end soon, by the permission of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). The point is that there is no way to set limits for this division. Who are the early scholars of hadith, and who are the later ones among those after them? I thought I heard a tape of this. So, considering that you are new to listening to his tapes, you remind me, if I am right or wrong.