In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Linguistic meaning of the word ‘Salaf’

By Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Saadiq an-Nijaar may Allah preserve him

This is taken from the book, “Fadlul Maqaal fi wujub ittiba’ as-Salaf al-Kiraam”. Shaykh Saalih bin Sa’ad as-Suhaymee checked and wrote an introduction to this book, may Allah preserve both of them. The shaykh writes:

Linguistic definition of Salaf:

It is composed of the letters seen laam and faa.

In the dictionary “Lisaanul ‘Arab” (6/330-331) it says:

Salaf: whoever preceded you from amongst your fathers and relatives; those who are above you in age and virtue.

Allah The Sublime and Exalted said:

فَجَعَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ سَلَفً۬ا وَمَثَلاً۬ لِّلۡأَخِرِينَ

“And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples.”

Imaam al-Baghawi 516 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his tafseer of this ayah (7/218):

“The ‘precedent’ (salaf) is whoever came before them. Allah made them precedents, so the latter generations could take a lesson from them”

Also the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his daughter Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her):

فانه نعم السلف أنا لك

“I am the best salaf for you” (Bukhari and Muslim)

What is intended by the word “salaf” in the hadith is: one who preceded

Imaam Nawawi 676 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) in his explanation of Sahih Muslim (15/225) clarified the meaning of this hadith by saying:

“Salaf: one who has preceded, and the meaning is: I have preceded you.”

Translated by: Michael AbdusSalaam Deonarain

الفقير الى الله