What is the definition of the terms al-Salaf and al-Khalaf?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : The Salaf from the Khalaf, and what is its limit?
The Shaykh : Ah, first know that the term al-Salaf may refer to the methodology, and this includes everyone who adopts this methodology until the Day of Resurrection. It has no time limit, do you understand? The methodology of the Salaf: here, al-Salaf refers to everyone who says what the Book and the Sunnah indicate. On this basis, it has no limit. As for the time limit, if al-Salaf is intended to mean the three superior generations—the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the generation after them—these are the Salaf. Everyone other than them is Khalaf. Those after them are Khalaf. The time has ended.
The questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : My intention is ... .
The Shaykh : No ... if Allah wills.
The student: We want to change the method.
The Shaykh : ... This is a rule.
The Shaykh : Ah, first know that the term al-Salaf may refer to the methodology, and this includes everyone who adopts this methodology until the Day of Resurrection. It has no time limit, do you understand? The methodology of the Salaf: here, al-Salaf refers to everyone who says what the Book and the Sunnah indicate. On this basis, it has no limit. As for the time limit, if al-Salaf is intended to mean the three superior generations—the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the generation after them—these are the Salaf. Everyone other than them is Khalaf. Those after them are Khalaf. The time has ended.
The questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : My intention is ... .
The Shaykh : No ... if Allah wills.
The student: We want to change the method.
The Shaykh : ... This is a rule.