Surah Al-Fath (48) — Ayah 29

29. Muhammad ﷺ [45] is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are firm against the disbelievers [46], but compassionate among themselves [47]. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking the bounty of Allah and His pleasure. Their distinguishing mark is on their faces from the effect of prostration [48]. This is their description in the Torah, and their description in the Gospel is like a seed that sends forth its shoot, then strengthens it, and it becomes thick and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers—so that He may enrage the disbelievers through them [49]. Allah has promised forgiveness and a great reward to those among them who believe and do righteous deeds.

[45]
Objections to the Writings of the Treaty:

When the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was being written, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to dictate: "From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." At this, the envoy of the disbelievers, Suhail bin Amr, objected, saying that this very statement is the basis of the entire dispute. If we accept Muhammad ﷺ as the Messenger of Allah, then what dispute remains? Instead, write "Muhammad bin Abdullah." And since you wanted to make peace at all costs, you instructed to write "Muhammad bin Abdullah" instead of "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." In this verse, these disbelievers are being told that it is Allah Himself who has sent you as a Messenger, with guidance and the true religion. If you do not accept, then do not. At some point, you will have to accept it. Because the very purpose of this Messenger's sending is that He will make him prevail over all religions. And this will certainly happen. Therefore, Allah's testimony alone is sufficient for his being the Messenger of Allah.

[46]
The Qualities of the Companions, Displaying Dignity Before Disbelievers is Permissible:

This does not mean at all that Muslims should deal with disbelievers with harshness and severity, nor should they do so. Rather, it means that they never remain subdued before disbelievers; in matters of the fundamentals of religion, they can neither compromise with them, nor sell out, nor adopt a soft stance, nor are they overawed by their threats and conspiracies. Instead, they themselves keep the disbelievers overawed, and there are many examples of this from the Prophetic era.

The Role of Abu Dujanah in the Battle of Uhud:

In the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked the Companions: Who will fulfill the right of my sword today? Sayyiduna Abu Dujanah, who was a champion, stepped forward and said: "I will." So, you gave him your sword. He had tied a red band on his head. Taking the sword given by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he advanced towards the disbelievers with great dignity and pride, striking down many of them. Seeing him, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah does not like this gait at all, but today, Abu Dujanah's gait is very pleasing to Allah." When you yourself came with fourteen hundred Companions for the compensatory Umrah, you instructed the Companions to perform ramal (brisk walking) during tawaf. Because it had become widespread among the disbelievers that the climate of Madinah had weakened the Muslims, you ordered them to walk briskly and with pride like young men i.e., to perform ramal. Likewise, on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, you made a full display of your military strength and grandeur, which so overawed the disbelievers of Makkah that they did not even have the courage to confront you.

[47]
The Second Quality of the Companions:

Allah Almighty has described the second quality of the Companions as being merciful and gentle towards one another. Their mutual sympathy, compassion, humility, and hospitality are such that it seems as if they are real brothers. How can there be any doubt about the brotherhood, selflessness, and chivalry of those whom Allah Himself has made brothers by His mercy? Those very people who were once fond of killing and looting, when they embraced Islam, Islam gave them such moral training that they would immediately become zealous in obedience to Allah and His Messenger where zeal was needed, and would become gentle where gentleness was required. Their mutual love and self-sacrifice are so numerous that it is not possible to discuss them all here.

[48]
The Third Quality: Night Vigil and Worship:

This does not refer to the mark on the forehead that appears on some worshippers. Rather, it is that by looking at their faces, even an ordinary person can understand how God-fearing, noble-natured, and truthful they are. As when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Madinah, Abdullah bin Salam, who was at that time a great scholar of the Jews, saw your face and said: "Such a face cannot belong to a liar." In short, the face is actually the mirror of a person, and experience also shows that most intelligent and insightful people can estimate what kind of person someone is just by looking at their face. By looking at the faces of the Companions, it was evident that these were people who stayed awake at night, worshipped, and feared Allah. And the qualities of the Messenger of Allah and his Companions mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel are also of this nature.

[49]
The Fourth Quality: The Group that Nurtured the Plant of Islam in Adverse Circumstances:

That is, at first there was only one Muslim, and that was the blessed person of the Messenger of Allah, who was the first to believe in his own prophethood. Then from one became two, from two became three, from three became seven. In this way, gradually, the plant of Islam emerged from the earth. After emerging, contrary winds began to blow against it, which gradually turned into fierce storms of oppression. But this plant, despite the opposing winds, remained steadfast in its place, continued to flourish and grow. The stronger the opposing winds became, the more firmly this plant took root and grew taller, until on the day of the conquest of Makkah, this plant took the form of a strong and sturdy tree. As this plant grew, the opposing forces would burn with envy upon seeing it. But those who planted, watered, and cared for this plant would become all the more delighted and overjoyed upon seeing it. And when it became a strong tree, firmly rooted, the opposing forces fully realized that now they could do nothing to harm it. Rather, there was no option left but to seek shelter under its shade. The sacred group of Companions who believed in the Last Prophet, and throughout their lives obeyed him wholeheartedly and followed his commands, were the ones who watered and cared for this tree. Such people will have a great reward with Allah, who will forgive their minor slips and grant them high ranks in Paradise. Some scholars have inferred from this verse that a person who harbors jealousy, malice, or hatred against the Companions ؓ can never be a Muslim.