Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-Waqt

Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-Waqt (The Scholars of the Predecessors and the People of Our Time) is a short treatise by Abd al-Karim ibn Salih al-Humayd (d. 1445 AH / 2023 CE) that outlines key distinctions between the early Muslim scholars (al-salaf) and contemporary figures (ahl al-waqt) in matters of religious knowledge, teaching, and practice Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-….

Composition and Context

The author completed the treatise in Buraidah in 1417 AH (1996–1997 CE) Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-…. It was published in 1420 AH (1999–2000 CE) and later reissued as an appendix to his larger treatise on the nature of authentic and encroaching learning, Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa-al-Muzahim al-Dakhil, in Muharram 1423 AH (2002 CE) Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a….

The work was framed as a summary statement intended to highlight essential points of contrast rather than an exhaustive catalog of differences Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-….

Structure and Content

The treatise is arranged as a succession of numbered points contrasting the condition of the early predecessors with that of contemporary educators and seekers of knowledge:

• Scope and Definition of Knowledge: The salaf restricted their study to religious disciplines (ulum al-din) and censured secular disciplines, whereas contemporary educators combine religious studies with unprofitable sciences that distract from divine knowledge and invalid concepts that corrupt belief Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-…. Furthermore, contemporary scholars apply Quranic verses and hadiths praising divine knowledge to all modern disciplines indiscriminately Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-….
• Intentions and Worldly Status: The early predecessors treated the acquisition and teaching of knowledge as acts of worship, condemning those who pursued it for wealth, honor, and administrative office Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a…+1. By contrast, contemporary students and institutions evaluate learning by academic qualifications and seek material compensation and status Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a…+1.
• Instruction and Environment: The salaf selected their own teachers based on righteousness and learned primarily within mosques or modeled their gatherings on mosque instruction Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a…+1. Modern education, according to the author, imposes curricula and instructors regardless of their spiritual condition and abandons mosque study because it does not grant professional diplomas Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a…+1.
• Language, Books, and Imitation: The early generations prioritized the Arabic language of the Quran, acquired only verified religious texts, and avoided imitating non-Muslims Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-…. In contrast, modern educational programs place heavy emphasis on foreign languages, promote unrestricted reading and book acquisition, and adopt non-Muslim curricular models Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-….
• Seriousness and Application: The salaf assessed individuals by their deeds rather than the mere volume of their learning, keeping religious truth free from triviality and entertainment Ulama al-Salaf wa Ahl al-…+1. Contemporary educators, the text asserts, mix religious material with humor, games, and prohibited media Bayan al-Ilm al-Asil wa a….