Avoiding Extremes in Views Regarding the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ
✍ Written by: Professor Zafar Ahmad
Shayṭān is a declared enemy of mankind, and protecting oneself from his deception is essential. Even righteous and sincere individuals can fall into his traps.
If our father Sayyidunā Ādam (AS) could be misled by Shayṭān, how can we consider ourselves immune?
We ask Allah for protection from such deception — especially from falling, knowingly or unknowingly, into exaggeration or disparagement regarding the noble Companions (ṣaḥābah) رضي الله عنهم.
Some claim: “Certain companions only spent a short time with the Prophet ﷺ, so their personalities may not have fully transformed.”
Response:
– If Zayd makes this claim, the question arises: Has Zayd himself fully transformed?
– If he claims yes, then by his own scale, transformation occurs in direct proportion to the years of companionship.
By that logic:
– 10 years = 100% change
– 5 years = 50%
– 2 years = 20%
– Zero time with the Prophet = zero change
Hence, Zayd himself becomes unreliable and unfit to comment on the ṣaḥābah.
Some say: “The companions are not a standard of truth.”
Response:
– Then is Zayd himself the standard?
– If Zayd claims to be a criterion of truth, he contradicts his own premise.
Allah says:
"فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ"
“What is there after the truth except misguidance?” (Surah Yūnus)
So if Zayd is not the truth, then by Qur'anic definition, he becomes a standard of misguidance, not authority.
– Not every mistake makes a person false.
– In ijtihādī matters, a mujtahid who errs receives one reward, and one who is correct receives two — as per Hadith.
Only the prophets are infallible, yet within this Ummah, the ṣaḥābah remain a valid standard of truth.
In Surah al-Fātiḥah, we are taught to ask for the path of those who received Allah’s favor, which includes:
– Prophets,
– Ṣiddīqīn,
– Shuhadā’,
– Ṣāliḥīn.
Though not infallible, their path is straight and divinely endorsed.
Some people fall into extremism (ifrāṭ) by claiming that there must always be a maʿṣūm (infallible) Imām in every era.
Others fall into negligence (tafrīṭ) by claiming that after the Prophet ﷺ, no standard of truth remains.
✔ The truth lies in the middle:
– The ṣaḥābah are the standard of truth after the Prophet ﷺ.
– While their ranks vary, all are guided and worthy of reverence.
In events like the Battle of Jamal and Ṣiffīn, if someone questions who was upon truth — ʿAlī (RA) or ʿĀ’ishah (RA) —
Such a question is akin to questioning the rightness of Mūsā and Hārūn (AS) during their differences.
✔ These were ijtihādī matters, and all involved companions remain respected and honored.
If someone labels Muʿāwiyah (RA) a tyrant or rebellious,
– Let him ask: Does he have certainty of his own good ending (ḥusn al-khātimah)?
Allah declares:
"يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ"
“On the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet or those who believed with him.” (Surah al-Taḥrīm: 8)
This verse affirms the salvation and honor of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
Some claim he was a munāfiq.
– But this contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah, as the Prophet ﷺ:
✔ Appointed him as scribe of revelation,
✔ And honored his family.
✔ No evidence exists from the Prophet ﷺ to support such a severe accusation.
– Allah has given glad tidings of paradise to many of the companions.
– Harboring hatred or suspicion against them is a sign of personal deviation.
After the Prophet’s ﷺ demise, the apostasy movement (ridda) was defeated by the efforts of:
– The Muhājirīn,
– The Anṣār,
– And those newly inclined towards Islam.
Allah affirmed their faith and ultimate success.
The majority of companions did not participate in internal conflicts.
– Even in those battles, reconciliation was achieved by Ḥasan (RA), showing the high moral fabric of the ṣaḥābah.
– The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are not infallible,
– But they are a standard of truth within their capacity.
– The Qur'an affirms their guidance and good end.
Thus, harboring doubt or malice toward them is a sin and a path to misguidance.
✍ Written by: Professor Zafar Ahmad
❖ Shayṭān — The Open Enemy of Mankind
Shayṭān is a declared enemy of mankind, and protecting oneself from his deception is essential. Even righteous and sincere individuals can fall into his traps.
If our father Sayyidunā Ādam (AS) could be misled by Shayṭān, how can we consider ourselves immune?
We ask Allah for protection from such deception — especially from falling, knowingly or unknowingly, into exaggeration or disparagement regarding the noble Companions (ṣaḥābah) رضي الله عنهم.
✿ Examples of Shayṭān’s Deceptions and False Accusations Against the Companions
➊ Objection: Short Duration of Companionship
Some claim: “Certain companions only spent a short time with the Prophet ﷺ, so their personalities may not have fully transformed.”
Response:
– If Zayd makes this claim, the question arises: Has Zayd himself fully transformed?
– If he claims yes, then by his own scale, transformation occurs in direct proportion to the years of companionship.
By that logic:
– 10 years = 100% change
– 5 years = 50%
– 2 years = 20%
– Zero time with the Prophet = zero change
Hence, Zayd himself becomes unreliable and unfit to comment on the ṣaḥābah.
➋ Objection: The Companions Are Not a Criterion of Truth
Some say: “The companions are not a standard of truth.”
Response:
– Then is Zayd himself the standard?
– If Zayd claims to be a criterion of truth, he contradicts his own premise.
Allah says:
"فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ"
“What is there after the truth except misguidance?” (Surah Yūnus)
So if Zayd is not the truth, then by Qur'anic definition, he becomes a standard of misguidance, not authority.
❖ Fallibility and the Criterion of Truth
– Not every mistake makes a person false.
– In ijtihādī matters, a mujtahid who errs receives one reward, and one who is correct receives two — as per Hadith.
Only the prophets are infallible, yet within this Ummah, the ṣaḥābah remain a valid standard of truth.
✿ The Path of the Rightly Guided
In Surah al-Fātiḥah, we are taught to ask for the path of those who received Allah’s favor, which includes:
– Prophets,
– Ṣiddīqīn,
– Shuhadā’,
– Ṣāliḥīn.
Though not infallible, their path is straight and divinely endorsed.
❖ Groups of Extremism and Neglect
Some people fall into extremism (ifrāṭ) by claiming that there must always be a maʿṣūm (infallible) Imām in every era.
Others fall into negligence (tafrīṭ) by claiming that after the Prophet ﷺ, no standard of truth remains.
✔ The truth lies in the middle:
– The ṣaḥābah are the standard of truth after the Prophet ﷺ.
– While their ranks vary, all are guided and worthy of reverence.
✿ On the Disputes Among the Companions
In events like the Battle of Jamal and Ṣiffīn, if someone questions who was upon truth — ʿAlī (RA) or ʿĀ’ishah (RA) —
Such a question is akin to questioning the rightness of Mūsā and Hārūn (AS) during their differences.
✔ These were ijtihādī matters, and all involved companions remain respected and honored.
❖ Accusations Against Muʿāwiyah (RA)
If someone labels Muʿāwiyah (RA) a tyrant or rebellious,
– Let him ask: Does he have certainty of his own good ending (ḥusn al-khātimah)?
Allah declares:
"يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ"
“On the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet or those who believed with him.” (Surah al-Taḥrīm: 8)
This verse affirms the salvation and honor of the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions.
✿ Was Muʿāwiyah (RA) a Hypocrite?
Some claim he was a munāfiq.
– But this contradicts the Qur’an and Sunnah, as the Prophet ﷺ:
✔ Appointed him as scribe of revelation,
✔ And honored his family.
✔ No evidence exists from the Prophet ﷺ to support such a severe accusation.
❖ Allah’s Promise Regarding the Companions
– Allah has given glad tidings of paradise to many of the companions.
– Harboring hatred or suspicion against them is a sign of personal deviation.
✿ The Apostasy Wars and the Role of the Companions
After the Prophet’s ﷺ demise, the apostasy movement (ridda) was defeated by the efforts of:
– The Muhājirīn,
– The Anṣār,
– And those newly inclined towards Islam.
Allah affirmed their faith and ultimate success.
❖ Participation in Internal Battles
The majority of companions did not participate in internal conflicts.
– Even in those battles, reconciliation was achieved by Ḥasan (RA), showing the high moral fabric of the ṣaḥābah.
✿ Conclusion
– The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ are not infallible,
– But they are a standard of truth within their capacity.
– The Qur'an affirms their guidance and good end.
Thus, harboring doubt or malice toward them is a sin and a path to misguidance.
