Part 1
Some Narrations of the Imaams of Sunnah Concerning the Excellence of the
Companions
RadhiAllaahu anhum
Taken from the Book
‘The Narrations Mentioned by Imaams of the Sunnah in the Chapters of ‘Aqeedah
from the Book
‘Siyaar ‘Alaam an-Nubala’
Researched By
Jamaal bin Ahmad bin BasheeraBaadee
Translated by
Abbas Abu Yahya
Introduction
Verily Allaah Azza wa Jal has praised the Companions of His
Messenger -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- in many places in His
noble Book. He has praised them with the
best and most complete of characteristics.
Allaah blessed them with His being pleased with them and with
repentance. He informed them of what He has prepared for
them of a generous reward and an eternally great recompense in Paradise.
Allaah said:
وَالسَّابِقُونَ
الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ
بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ
تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
<<And the
first to embrace Islaam of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah
to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and
gave aid to the Muhâjirûn) and also those who followed them in Faith, Allaah is
well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which
rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.> >
[Taubah:100]
Allaah said:
لَقَدْ تَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ
وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ
مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
<< Allaah
has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirûn (Muslim emigrants who left their
homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who
followed him in the time of distress (Tabûk expedition, etc.), after the hearts
of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted
their repentance. Certainly, He is unto
them full of Kindness, Most Merciful. >> [Taubah: 117]
Allaah said:
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ
مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ
فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ
فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ
مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ
فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ
عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Allaah said:
لَا يَسْتَوِي مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَنْفَقَ مِنْ
قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَاتَلَ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ
أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ بَعْدُ وَقَاتَلُوا ۚ وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
<< Not
equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of
Makkah) (with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than those who
spent and fought afterwards. But to all,
Allaah has promised the best (reward).
And Allaah is All-Aware of what you do. >>
[al-Hadeed: 10]
Allaah said:
لِلْفُقَرَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا
مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمْ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا
وَيَنْصُرُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ
هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ ﴿﴾ وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ
وَالْإِيمَانَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا
يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ
أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَنْ يُوقَ
شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
<<(And there is also a share in this
booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their
property, seeking Bounties from Allaah and to please Him and helping
Allaah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger. Such are indeed the truthful (to what they
say);-
And those who, before them, had homes (in
Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them and have
no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the
booty of Banî An-Nadîr) and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves,
even though they were in need of that.
And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will
be the successful.>>
[al-Hashr:8-9]
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah said, explaining the first Aayah:
‘Allaah made a share of what He
mentioned and prepared for the Companions, of Him being pleased with them and
Paradise for those who followed the Companions in goodness.’[1]
He continues saying:
‘So whoever follows the first to embrace Islaam, then he is from
them. They are the best of people after
the Prophets. Indeed the Ummah of Muhammad is the best Ummah
that came for the people and the Companions are the best of the Ummah of Muhammad.’[2]
Then he derived from this principle an important issue, which is the
obligation of following the Companions in what they were upon of
knowledge, action and Deen for the one who wants success and salvation.
Shaykh-ul-Islaam said: ‘Due to this, knowing the statements of the
Companions concerning knowledge, Deen
and their actions, is better and more beneficial than knowing the statements
and actions in all sciences of the Deen
and its actions
of those who came later such as in Tafseer,
principles of the Deen and its
branches, Zuhud, worship, manners, Jihad etc. This is because the Companions are better
than those who came after them as the Book and the Sunnah indicate.
So following the Companions is better than following those after them.
Having knowledge of their Ijmaa’
(consensus) and disputes about knowledge and Deen is better and more beneficial than having knowledge of what is
mentioned of the
Ijmaa’ and disputes of other than
them. This is because their Ijmaa’ is nothing other than faultless and
if they disputed, then the truth never escaped them.’[3]
The Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa
sallam- testified to their goodness and excellence. He said in a hadeeth which is narrated of him by
Abdullaah bin Mas’ood –RadhiAllaahu anhu:
" خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي, ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ، ثُمَّ
الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ , ثُمَّ يَأْتِي قَوْمٌ
تَسْبِقُ أَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ وَشَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ "
‘The best of the people[4] are of
my generation, then those who came after them, then those who came after them. Then there will come a people whose testimony will
precede their oath and their making an oath is their testification.’[5]
Imaam an-Nawawee -Rahimullaah- said:
‘The scholars are in agreement that the best generation is the
Messenger’s -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- generation and the
meaning here is the Companions.’[6]
Ibn Hajr -Rahimullaah- said:
‘A generation is a people in one close period of time who participated
in a matter from the matters of concern.’
He continues saying:
‘The meaning here of ‘the generation of the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi
wa sallam’ in this hadeeth is
the Companions.’[7]
The noble Companion Abdullaah bin Mas’ood –RadhiAllaahu anhu- has an amazing
statement where he describes the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi
wa sallam- saying:
إن الله نظر في قلوب العباد فوجد قلب محمد -صلى الله
عليه وسلم- خير قلوب العباد فاصطفاه لنفسه فابتعثه برسالته ، ثم نظر في قلوب
العباد بعد قلب محمد فوجد قلوبَ أصحابهِ خيرَ قلوبِ العبادِ فجعلهم وزراءَ نبيهِ
يُقاتِلون على دينه
‘Indeed Allaah looked at the hearts of His slaves and He found the heart
of Muhammad to be the best of the hearts of His slaves so He chose
him for Himself and sent him with His Message. Then
Allaah looked
into the hearts of His worshippers after the heart of Muhammad -sallAllaahu alayhi
wa sallam- and He found that the hearts of Muhammad’s Companions were the best of
the hearts of His worshippers, so He made them the ministers for His Prophet
and they fought for His religion.’[8]
Also,
on the authority of Abdullaah bin Mas’ood –RadhiAllaahu anhu- who said:
‘Whoever from amongst you wants to follow, then he should follow the
Companions of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa
sallam- since their hearts were the most righteous in this Ummah, the deepest in knowledge, the most natural, the most correct
in guidance and were in the best condition.
The Companions were people whom Allaah chose to be with His Prophet and to
establish His religion. So know their
excellence and follow them in their footsteps, for indeed they were on the correct
guidance.’[9]
Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jamaah have, during
what has passed in history and time, in different places and countries, implemented the
command of their Lord –Ta’ala- and the command of the Messenger of
Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- that they should honour
and respect
the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- with their hearts
and their tongues.
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymeeyah -Rahimullaah- says:
‘From the principles of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jamaah: is the honour
and veneration
in their hearts and on their tongues for the Companions of the Messenger of
Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa
sallam- just as
Allaah describes them in His saying:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ
وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ
رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
<< And
those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord!
Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith and put not in
our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord!
You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.’>> [Hashr: 10]
Likewise, in obedience to
the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- when he said:
لا تسبوا أصحابي لا تسبوا أصحابي فوالذي نفسي بيده لو أن
أحدكم أنفق مثل أحد ذهبا ما أدرك مد أحدهم ولا نصيفه
‘Do not curse my Companions. I
swear by Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you spent the like of mount
Uhud in gold, you would not reach the equivalent of a Mudd (a certain
weight) of one of the Companions, not even half a Mudd.’[10]
Ahl-ul-Sunnah accept what is mentioned in the Book, the Sunnah and Ijmaa’
regarding
their excellence and rank.’[11]
The Rawafidah,[12]
Khawarij[13] and
Nawaasib[14] opposed
Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jamaah in this issue; they did not keep to the bequest
of the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- regarding the
rights of his Companions.
As for the Rawafidah, they brought the Bida’ of (text) that they claimed the Prophet -sallAllaahu alayhi wa
sallam- stated about ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib –RadhiAllaahu anhu- with which they
would not have an excuse to leave the Khilafah of ‘Alee, a statement that he was sinless and
whosoever opposed him had committed disbelief. Then, as a consequence, they made Takfeer of all the Companions except very few in number. They claimed that the Companions hid these
statements and changed the religion. The
Rawafidah sought closeness to Allaah - as they claim - by cursing and reviling
the Companions –RadhiAllaahu anhum. Abu Bakr and Umar –RadhiAllaahu
anhumaa- received the most
of their oppression and extreme lies.[15]
As for the Khawarij, then they made Takfeer
of ‘Uthmaan and ‘Alee and of those who followed them and they also made Takfeer of both groups who took part in the battle of Siffeen.[16]
As for the Nawaasib, their evil belief led them to hate ‘Alee bin Abee
Taalib –RadhiAllaahu anhu- and they belittled him. They exaggerated in this until they accused
him of evil, oppression and that he wanted the Duniya. Then their condition and their hatred
and enmity continued until they belittled the rest of Ahl ul Bayt (the family
of the Prophet), especially al-Hassan bin ‘Alee–RadhiAllaahu anhu.
[1]
‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’13/23
[2]
‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’13/24
[3]
‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’13/24
[5]
Agreed upon, narrated by Bukhari in the beginning of ‘The book of
the excellence of the Prophet’s Companions’ in his saheeh. & by Muslim in ‘The book of
the excellence of the Companions –RadhiAllaahu
anhum’ in the chapter
‘Excellence of the Companions then those after them, then those after them.’
[6]‘Sharh an-Nawawee’16/84.
[7] ‘Fath ul-Bari’7/5.
[8] Narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad
1/379, Tayyalisi in al-Musnad p.23, Ibn al-Arabi in al-Mu’jaam 2/84, Khateeb
al-Bagdadi in ‘al-Faqeehi wal-Mutafaqihi’2/100 & al-Bayhaaqi in
‘al-Itiqaad’p.208.
[9] Narrated by Ibn AbdulBarr in ‘Jamia
Bayaan al-Ilm wa Fadleehi’2/97.
[10] Narrated by Muslim in ‘The book of
the excellence of the Companions –RadhiAllaahu
anhum-. Chapter: The
Prohibition of Cursing the Companions –RadhiAllaahu anhum-. 4/1967
[11]
‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’3/152
[12]
Shaykhul-Islaam
said: ‘From the time Zayd rebelled, the Shia split into the Rafidah and
the Zaydeeyah. When Zayd was asked about Abu Bakr and Umar he said ‘May Allaah
have mercy upon them,’ and the people rejected him.
He said to them: Rafadtumoonee (you have rejected me) so they were
called the Rafidah, because they rejected him. Those who did not reject him
from the Shia were called Zaydeeyah, since they ascribed themselves to
him.’(Minhaaj as-Sunnah) 1/35.
This clarifies for us that the reason
for them being Rafidah was their hatred for Abu Bakr & Umar –RadhiAllaahu anhumaa-, their
cursing them and not accepting them as leaders.
Abdullaah bin Ahmad said: ‘I asked my
father: ‘Who is a Rafidee?’
He answered: ‘He who curses Abu Bakr
and Umar.’ narrated by al-Khalaal in ‘as-Sunnah’p.492.
[13] They were given this title because
they rebelled against the Imam ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib –RadhiAllaahu anhu. From the
most important of their beliefs is: making Takfeer of people who commit major
sins, they say that these people will be in the Hell-fire eternally.
They also say that the Khilafah can be
from other than the Quraish.
They make Takfeer of ‘Uthmaan, ‘Alee,
Talha,
Zubair and ‘Aeysha –RadhiAllaahu
anhum- they also call
for rebellion against evil leaders, they are many
different sects.
(See: ‘Makaalaat al-Islaameeyeen’ by
‘Ashaari 1/189, & ‘al-Farq bayn al-Firq’by Bagdadi p.55 & p.97.
[14] Nawaasib: They are those who openly
declare Ahl-ul-Bayt to be enemies.
[15]
See: ‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’ 3/356.
[16] ‘Majmoo al-Fatawa’ & ‘al-Khuttat
al-Miqreezeeyah’ 2/354.
