Can There Be People in the Ummah Greater Than the Companions?
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Abū Thaʿlabah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Ahead of you are days of patience, in which holding onto faith will be like holding onto a burning coal. During those times, the reward of one who acts will be equal to that of fifty men doing the same deed.”
He added: Someone asked: “O Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them or fifty of us?” He replied: “Fifty of you.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4341; Sunan Ibn Mājah 4014 – chain ḥasan)
Abū Jamʿah رضي الله عنه narrated:
“We had a meal with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ along with Abū ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ رضي الله عنه. He asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, is there anyone better than us? We accepted Islam with you and fought alongside you.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Yes, a people will come after you who will believe in me without ever seeing me.’”
(Musnad Aḥmad 4/106 – chain ḥasan. Authenticated by al-Ḥākim and al-Dhahabī; Ibn Mandah: ‘sound and well-known chain’)
These narrations outwardly suggest that there could be people in the Ummah better than the Companions. How is this reconciled?
❖ Answer:
The scholars explained that these narrations do not mean non-Companions can be absolutely superior to Companions. Rather:
① Reward in specific deeds does not equal overall superiority.
- Some later believers may receive multiplied reward for patience and faith during times of extreme trials.
- But this increase in reward in certain deeds does not make them superior to the Companions in rank.
② Partial virtues vs. comprehensive virtues.
- A non-Companion may surpass a Companion in some particular aspect of obedience.
- But overall superiority lies with the Companions due to their unique and unmatched virtues.
❖ Statement of Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī رحمه الله (d. 974H):
الخيرية بينهما إنما هي باعتبار ما يمكن أن يجتمعا فيه وهو عموم الطاعات المشتركة … فلا يبعد حينئذ تفضيل بعض من يأتى على بعض الصحابة فى ذلك، وأما ما اختص به الصحابة … من مشاهدة طلعته صلى الله عليه وسلم ورؤية ذاته … فأمر من وراء العقل …
The comparison of superiority here is only in matters where both groups can share, such as general acts of obedience. In this regard, it is not impossible for some later believers to surpass some Companions. But the special privilege of the Companions—such as beholding the radiant face of the Prophet ﷺ and witnessing his blessed presence—this is beyond intellect to compare. No later person’s deeds, however great, can come close, let alone equal it.
(al-Ṣawāʿiq al-Muḥriqah 2/613)
Conclusion:- Some later believers may receive greater reward in specific deeds than some Companions.
- However, the unique honor of being a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ is an absolute virtue that no one can ever reach.
- Therefore, no one from this Ummah can surpass the Companions in overall superiority.
