What is "salaf"

n. (context Islam English) One of the earliest Muslims, including Muhammad's companions and followers.

Salaf (, "ancestors" or "predecessors"), also often referred to with the honorific expression of "al-salaf al-ṣāliḥ" (, "the pious predecessors") are often taken to be the first three generations of Muslims, that is the generations of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his companions (the Sahabah), their successors (the Tabi‘un), and the successors of the successors (the Tabi‘ al-Tabi‘in).