Salafi (Arabic: سلفي) are the pious ancestors (Salaf) of the patristic period of early Islam as exemplary models.
[1] The word "Salaf" is an Arabic noun which may be translated as "(righteous) predecessor" or "(pious) ancestor."
[2] In Islamic terminology, it is generally used to refer to the first three generations of Muslims: the Sahabah, the Tabi‘in and the Taba‘ at-Tabi‘in. These three generations are looked upon as examples of how Islam should be practiced.