Epistemology of the Takfiris: An Appraisal of the Validity of the Sources of Knowledge of the Takfiris

The epistemology of the Takfiris is contingent upon understanding the sources of knowledge of the Salafi-Takfiri movement. In denying that the intellect is on par with tradition, the Salafis effectively have no access to the former and see it as nothing but supporting evidence for tradition or textual authority. Hence it can be said that this current or school of thought sees the intellect to be under tradition in a hierarchal relationship and does not believe that it has any independent authority.
Hence tradition or textual authority, composed of the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and consensus, is the most important source of knowledge for the Salafis. Consequent to this is their acceptance of traditions that have only a single chain of narrators and that are weak, which is the most controversial aspect of their epistemology. While they do not reject outright intuition or inspiration as a source of knowledge, they do strongly oppose these being put on par with or taking precedence over textual authority. The arguments and debates between Salafis and Sufis underscores the truth of this claim.