Evaluation of the Authority of Predecessors Understanding Based on the Verse The Foremost the First

According to Salafists, salaf is divided into two types, temporal and methodical. They consider the first three generations of Muslims i.e. the generations of Prophet Muhammad and his companions (the Sahabah), their successors (the Tabi‘un), and the successors of the successors as both temporal and methodical salaf while those who adhere to their methods and lifestyle are considered to be salafis, though they may not be living in their times. One of the fundamental principles of the salafis is the authority of the predecessors' (Salaf) understanding considering it necessary to follow them both in belief and practice. The verse 100 of Surah al-Tawbah of the Quran is one of the Quranic proofs concerning the authority of the predecessors' understanding. This verse faces problems from within itself as well as from other verses and narrations; therefore, it is not able to substantiate the claims made by Salafists. In this article which has been written with an analytical and descriptive method, the opinion of Salafis concerning the verse 100 of Chapter al-Tawbah has been critically assessed.