Who Are the Salaf? And What is the Saved Way?
The word Salaf refers to the earliest generations of Muslims—the only group whom Allah praised in the Qur’an and whom the Prophet ﷺ described as the best of all people. The Salaf are the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, their students (the Tabi‘een), and their students (the Atba‘ at-Tabi‘een)—those who lived and practiced Islam exactly as it was revealed.
Imam as-Sam‘ānī رحمه الله defined the Salaf as “the first generations: the Companions, their students, and those who followed them,” while Imam al-Lalika’i رحمه الله clarified that the Salaf are those upon whom Allah’s pleasure descended and whom His Messenger ﷺ praised for their virtue and guidance.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them…” (Bukhari, Muslim)
And Allah presents these generations as the only true example to follow: “And the first forerunners among the Muhājirīn and the Ansār and those who followed them with good conduct—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him…” [9:100]
Anyone who opposes the way of the Salaf, introduces innovations, or prefers personal desires and new interpretations over the path of these early generations is threatened with misguidance and the Hell-Fire, unless and until they return to this saved way.
The Prophet ﷺ warned: “My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of them will be in the Fire except one.” He was asked, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “They are those who are upon what I and my Companions are upon today.” (Tirmidhi 2641)
True salvation, safety, and Allah’s pleasure are found only by following the Qur’an and Sunnah as understood and practiced by the Salaf. Every other path leads to ruin and destruction—unless and until a person returns to the way of the Salaf.