Muslim

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
If the early Companions (Sahabah) possess this honor over the later Companions, then how much greater honor and status will they possess over the general Ummah? For indeed, Khalid ibn al-Walid (radi Allahu anhu) also accepted Islam before the Conquest of Makkah.

Hadith Commentary:
From this, the general virtue of the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum) is established. These are the esteemed elders of Islam who were blessed with the vision of the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam); therefore, they hold great significance in the sight of Allah. The narration of Jarir (radi Allahu anhu) has been connected by Imam Muslim, the narration of Muhadir by Abu’l-Fath in his Fawa’id, the narration of Abdullah ibn Dawud by Musaddad, and the narration of Abu Mu’awiyah by Imam Ahmad.

The financial sacrifices of the Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma’in) in the service of Islam are especially virtuous because they spent at a time of severe need, when the disbelievers were dominant and the Muslims were in need.

The purpose is to mention the virtue of the earliest Emigrants (Muhajirun) and the Helpers (Ansar); among them was also Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu).

Thus, the relevance to the chapter is established.

This hadith was stated by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) at the time when there was some dispute between Khalid ibn al-Walid and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (radi Allahu anhuma).

Khalid said something harsh to Abdur Rahman.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) addressed Khalid (radi Allahu anhu) and said this.

Some have said that this address is directed towards those who would be born after the Companions.

They considered them as present and addressed them.

However, this view is not correct, because the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) addressed Khalid (radi Allahu anhu) directly with this hadith, and Khalid (radi Allahu anhu) himself was among the Companions.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
The purpose of this hadith is to express the virtue of the earliest Emigrants (Muhajirun) and the Helpers (Ansar), among whom Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) is foremost.
These individuals spent their wealth on the Muslims at a time when the disbelievers had dominance from all sides and the Muslims were in need of wealth and resources.
2.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) stated this hadith at a time when there was some harsh exchange of words between Khalid ibn al-Walid (radi Allahu anhu) and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (radi Allahu anhu).
When Khalid ibn al-Walid (radi Allahu anhu) spoke harshly to Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (radi Allahu anhu), the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) addressed Khalid ibn al-Walid (radi Allahu anhu) and narrated this hadith.
(Fath al-Bari: 7/44)

Commentary:
1: By "these companions" is not meant the general companions, but rather the foremost and earliest (sabiqoon al-awwaloon) are intended.
This is because, firstly, the reason for this statement of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was a dispute between Khalid ibn al-Walid and Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (radi Allahu anhuma), in which Khalid spoke harshly to Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (and Khalid himself is also a companion). Secondly, the Prophet's statement is: "If any of you..." and it is clear that by "you" here, the companions themselves are being addressed.
Thus, when it is not permissible for later companions to speak ill of the earlier companions,
then all the more so is it impermissible for a non-companion to speak ill of the noble companions.

Imam Mizzi rahimahullah writes in Tuhfat al-Ashraf that in those manuscripts of Sunan Ibn Majah where this hadith is narrated from Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu, it is a scribe’s error, because in the Sihah Sittah this hadith is narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri radi Allahu anhu.

Nevertheless, this error does not affect the authenticity of the hadith, because all the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum are trustworthy and reliable.

➋
This hadith does not specify the People of Badr; perhaps the author has brought this hadith in this chapter because, within its generality, the Companions who participated in Badr are also included.

➌
In this hadith, the address to the Companions radi Allahu anhum apparently pertains to a seemingly minor action.

➍
The reason for the elevated status of the actions of the Companions radi Allahu anhum is that they made sacrifices at a time when the foundation of Islam was being laid, and apart from these few blessed souls, there was no one in the entire world to support Islam. Furthermore, the honor of the companionship of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is such a tremendous honor that even the greatest righteous deed cannot be its substitute. Even the greatest Tabi‘i cannot attain the rank of the lowest Companion.

“Mudd” is a unit of measurement, which is equal to one-fourth of a “sa‘” (sā‘), and the correct amount of a sa‘ is two kilograms and one hundred grams. However, due to differences in the type of grain, this amount can be up to two and a half kilograms.