Who Are the Pious Predecessors?

Who are the Pious Predecessors?

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.

The term “Pious Predecessors” or “Al-Salaf Al-Saliheen” technically refers to someone who died within the first four hundred years after the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). It is a term that was deduced from this hadith:

“The best of people are my generation then those who come after them and then those who come after them.” [Bukhari, al-Sahih]

Examples of these great individuals are the Companions of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), their students, the four Imam’s of Islamic Law, and many others.

Those who came after the “salaf” are known as the “khalaf.” They are also held in high esteem by all Muslims. They organized and clarified the belief and practices of the pious predecessors.

Your prayer is valid. There is no delay in any pillars of the prayer. [Maydani, al-Lubab]

And Allah alone knows best,

[Ustadh] Omar Popal

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani