Forward from: Manhaj Benefits
Benefit 4: What does 'Salaf' mean?
● LINGUISTICALLY:
It refers to someone/something that came before.
Example:
سلفُ الرجلِ: آباؤه المتقدمون
A man's Salaf is his forefathers
{...إِلَّا مَا قَدۡ سَلَفَ}
“with the exception of what preceded (this ruling).” [Sūrah An-Nisāʾ: 22-23]
• BENEFIT: سِلْف/سِلَف is a name of a place. An individual ascribed to this place is السِّلَفِيّ (with a kasrah on the سِ), for example:
إسماعيل بن عبَّاد السِّلَفِيّ (scholar)
● TECHNICALLY:
The term 'Salaf' has two usages; general and specific
• General usage:
كل من تقدم عليك وسبقك من علماء السنة فهو سلفك
All the Sunni scholars who came before you are your Salaf.
So, in relation to us, Sheikh Albani, Sheikh Muqbil, Sheikh Uthaymeen, Sheikhul Islam Muhammad ibn Abdilwahhab, Sheikhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah, Ash-Shāfi’ē, Ahmad...are all our Salaf.
• Specific usage:
It carries the same meaning as the general usage, only that it is confined to a particular time period.
What time period?
1• Some scholars said, it refers to the Sahābah specifically. As for those who come after them; who follow their way, then they are merely followers of the Salaf (Sahabah) and not the 'Salaf' themselves. Thus, according to this view, people are categorised into 3:
a. The Salaf (the Sahabah)
b. Followers of the Salaf (those who follow the way of the Salaf)
c. The Khalaf (those who oppose the way of the Salaf; partly or completely).
2• Some scholars said, 'Salaf' refers to the first generation. So, this includes the Sahabah and any believers who met the Sahabah (the taabi'oon).
3• Others said, 'Salaf' refers to the first three generations of believers, due to the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
((خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهم))
“The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them and then those who follow them.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]
4• There are some scholars who said, everyone who lived prior to 500 Hijri is considered to be from the Salaf. However, this is overstepping the limit in the issue.
Note: The people of innovation during this era, such as the khawarij and the Qadariyyah, are not considered to be from the 'Salaf'. This is why we say Salaf "As-Salih"; in order to exclude the people of innovation.
The strongest opinion:
What is apparent to me is that, the term 'Salaf' originally refers to the Sahabah. As for the Tabi'oon and the Atbaa' At-Tabi'oon, then they are the best of those who follow the way of the Sahabah, and they are a good example for us to follow.
This meaning is apparent from the statements of the imams of the Salafi manhaj, past and present:
For example: Imām Aḥmad raḥimahullāh states:
”أصول السنة عندنا التمسك بما كان عليه أصحاب رسول الله ﷺ والاقتداء بهم.“
The fundamental Principles of the Sunnah with us are: holding fast to what the Sahabah of the Messenger ﷺ were upon, and following their example.”
Similarly, As-Saffārīni states:
”المراد بمذهب السلف ما كان عليه الصحابة الكرام رضوان الله عليهم، وأعيان التابعين لهم بإحسان، وأتباعهم، وأئمة الدين ممن شُهد له بالإمامة وعُرف عظم شأنه في الدين وتلقى الناس كلامهم خلفا عن سلف.“
“What is meant by the madh-hab of the Salaf is that which the honorable Sahabah were upon, may Allah be pleased with them, as well as the notables from the Tabi'oon who followed them in goodness, and those who followed them, and the imams whose leadership and greatness in religion has been attested to and whose statements people have received with acceptance generation after generation.”
● LINGUISTICALLY:
It refers to someone/something that came before.
Example:
سلفُ الرجلِ: آباؤه المتقدمون
A man's Salaf is his forefathers
{...إِلَّا مَا قَدۡ سَلَفَ}
“with the exception of what preceded (this ruling).” [Sūrah An-Nisāʾ: 22-23]
• BENEFIT: سِلْف/سِلَف is a name of a place. An individual ascribed to this place is السِّلَفِيّ (with a kasrah on the سِ), for example:
إسماعيل بن عبَّاد السِّلَفِيّ (scholar)
● TECHNICALLY:
The term 'Salaf' has two usages; general and specific
• General usage:
كل من تقدم عليك وسبقك من علماء السنة فهو سلفك
All the Sunni scholars who came before you are your Salaf.
So, in relation to us, Sheikh Albani, Sheikh Muqbil, Sheikh Uthaymeen, Sheikhul Islam Muhammad ibn Abdilwahhab, Sheikhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah, Ash-Shāfi’ē, Ahmad...are all our Salaf.
• Specific usage:
It carries the same meaning as the general usage, only that it is confined to a particular time period.
What time period?
1• Some scholars said, it refers to the Sahābah specifically. As for those who come after them; who follow their way, then they are merely followers of the Salaf (Sahabah) and not the 'Salaf' themselves. Thus, according to this view, people are categorised into 3:
a. The Salaf (the Sahabah)
b. Followers of the Salaf (those who follow the way of the Salaf)
c. The Khalaf (those who oppose the way of the Salaf; partly or completely).
2• Some scholars said, 'Salaf' refers to the first generation. So, this includes the Sahabah and any believers who met the Sahabah (the taabi'oon).
3• Others said, 'Salaf' refers to the first three generations of believers, due to the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
((خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم، ثم الذين يلونهم))
“The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them and then those who follow them.” [Bukhāri & Muslim]
4• There are some scholars who said, everyone who lived prior to 500 Hijri is considered to be from the Salaf. However, this is overstepping the limit in the issue.
Note: The people of innovation during this era, such as the khawarij and the Qadariyyah, are not considered to be from the 'Salaf'. This is why we say Salaf "As-Salih"; in order to exclude the people of innovation.
The strongest opinion:
What is apparent to me is that, the term 'Salaf' originally refers to the Sahabah. As for the Tabi'oon and the Atbaa' At-Tabi'oon, then they are the best of those who follow the way of the Sahabah, and they are a good example for us to follow.
This meaning is apparent from the statements of the imams of the Salafi manhaj, past and present:
For example: Imām Aḥmad raḥimahullāh states:
”أصول السنة عندنا التمسك بما كان عليه أصحاب رسول الله ﷺ والاقتداء بهم.“
The fundamental Principles of the Sunnah with us are: holding fast to what the Sahabah of the Messenger ﷺ were upon, and following their example.”
Similarly, As-Saffārīni states:
”المراد بمذهب السلف ما كان عليه الصحابة الكرام رضوان الله عليهم، وأعيان التابعين لهم بإحسان، وأتباعهم، وأئمة الدين ممن شُهد له بالإمامة وعُرف عظم شأنه في الدين وتلقى الناس كلامهم خلفا عن سلف.“
“What is meant by the madh-hab of the Salaf is that which the honorable Sahabah were upon, may Allah be pleased with them, as well as the notables from the Tabi'oon who followed them in goodness, and those who followed them, and the imams whose leadership and greatness in religion has been attested to and whose statements people have received with acceptance generation after generation.”