Part of Lives of the Salaf — the Pious Predecessors (series completed)
· Lesson 1 of 72
The life of the predecessors between words and deeds | Episode (1) | The concept of the predecessor
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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The lives of the salaf.
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Between word and deed.
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By Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Nasir al-Tayr.
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Defining the salaf.
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The salaf are the vanguard of this Ummah, consisting of the Companions, the Tabi'un, and the leaders of guidance.
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During the three favored generations.
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This term is also applied to anyone who follows their guidance and treads their path.
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Even if they appear many centuries later.
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Such a person is called a Salafi, in attribution to them.
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This name was indeed used during the three favored generations.
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However, it was not widely known or commonly used.
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Contrary to those who deny this.
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And claim that it did not exist until after their time.
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The term "salaf" has two considerations.
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A consideration of time and a consideration of creed.
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As for the salaf in terms of time:
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They are exclusively the three favored generations.
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Those for whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) testified to their excellence.
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As in the hadith of 'Imran Ibn Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him).
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He said:
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The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
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"The best of my Ummah is my generation,
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then those who follow them,
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then those who follow them."
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Thus, the salaf are the people of the three generations.
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And those who come after them are the khalaf (later generations).
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As for the salaf in the second consideration:
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It includes everyone who follows their path.
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In creed and action until the Day of Resurrection.
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Among their other names are:
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The People of Athar and the People of Hadith.
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And other noble titles.
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Which indicate the soundness of this great methodology.
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The characteristics and merits of the salaf over others.
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Our righteous salaf, may the mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon them.
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Possess virtues by which they were favored.
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And merits by which they were distinguished.
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Among their greatest merits and virtues,
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which set them apart from others, is:
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First:
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That they are from the favored generations.
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About whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
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"The best of my Ummah is my generation,
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then those who follow them,
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then those who follow them."
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This excellence is manifest in their deeds and their character,
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their sincerity and their creed.
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It is impossible for those who came after them
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to reach their station.
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Second: Their proximity to the Prophetic era,
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and the divine revelation.
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The Prophet (peace be upon him)
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enjoined the people and the Ummah to follow these favored generations.
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Al-Tirmidhi recorded in his Sunan,
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and Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak,
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from 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
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The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
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"I enjoin you to follow my Companions,
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then those who follow them,
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then those who follow them."
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"I enjoin you to follow my Companions,
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then those who follow them,
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then those who follow them."
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Meaning the followers of the Tabi'un.
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The Prophet (peace be upon him)
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only enjoined us to follow these favored generations
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so that we might adhere to their methodology,
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walk in their footsteps,
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and emulate their traditions.
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Fourth:
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That they inherited knowledge, the Sharia, and the religion
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through close succession; for the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)
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took it from the Prophet (peace be upon him)
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directly, without intermediary.
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The Tabi'un took it from the noble Companions,
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fresh and pure.
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And the followers of the Tabi'un took it from the Tabi'un,
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sweet and refreshing.
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They did not take them from the deviations of the innovators,
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or the nonsense of the Sufis.
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Rather, their hearts were pure,
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their goals were noble,
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and their aspirations were high.
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These characteristics of this unique generation,
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and these merits of these blessed centuries,
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made their generation and their society
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the greatest, best, and purest society on the face of the earth.
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They acted according to the Sharia of their Lord,
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and were harmonious and loving among themselves,
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and safe from innovations and whims.
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The life of the salaf,
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between word and deed.