Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdul Salam
The one who harbors hatred or enmity toward the Companions (RA) is the worst in the sight of Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers.
Whoever abuses the Companions (RA), despises them, or speaks against them, is in reality rejecting the upbringing of the Messenger ﷺ, the interpretation of the Qur’an, and the first pillars of Islam.
① Allah’s Declaration of Pleasure with Them
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ
“The foremost of the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and those who follow them in goodness – Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.”
(At-Tawbah: 100)
Those with whom Allah is pleased — hating them or disrespecting them is a sign of disbelief and hypocrisy.
② Threat of Hellfire for Abusing Them
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي… لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ
“Do not revile my Companions! By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd (handful) spent by them, nor half of it.”
(Bukhari 3673; Muslim 2541)
Criticism of the Companions voids the value of one’s deeds compared to theirs.
③ Hatred for Them is a Sign of Hypocrisy
The Prophet ﷺ said:
آلَامَةُ الْإِيمَانِ حُبُّ الْأَنْصَارِ، وَآلَامَةُ النِّفَاقِ بُغْضُ الْأَنْصَارِ
“Love for the Ansar is a sign of faith, and hatred for the Ansar is a sign of hypocrisy.”
(Bukhari 17; Muslim 74)
Anyone who does not love the Companions, particularly the Ansar, carries the trait of hypocrisy.
④ Imam Mālik رحمه الله:
“Whoever speaks against even one Companion, his Islam is questionable.”
(Al-Sharḥ wal-Ibānah of Ibn Battah, no. 1794)
⑤ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله:
“If you see someone speaking ill of any Companion, know that he is a heretic (zindīq).”
(Al-Khallāl, Al-Sunnah, no. 660)
Those who insult the Companions (RA), criticize them, question their justice, piety, or knowledge — it is impermissible to attend their gatherings, listen to their talks, or participate in their programs.
Allah says:
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا، فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ
“It has already been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, do not sit with them until they engage in a different conversation.”
(An-Nisa: 140)
The Companions were the first audience and interpreters of the Qur’an; disrespecting them is akin to disrespecting the verses of Allah.
Whoever insults the Companions (RA) has no real faith in his heart, and those who sit in their gatherings share in their sin.
Faith demands that:
Hatred for the Companions – Enmity with Faith
The one who harbors hatred or enmity toward the Companions (RA) is the worst in the sight of Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers.
Whoever abuses the Companions (RA), despises them, or speaks against them, is in reality rejecting the upbringing of the Messenger ﷺ, the interpretation of the Qur’an, and the first pillars of Islam.
The Status of the Companions in the Qur’an
① Allah’s Declaration of Pleasure with Them
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ
“The foremost of the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and those who follow them in goodness – Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.”
(At-Tawbah: 100)
Those with whom Allah is pleased — hating them or disrespecting them is a sign of disbelief and hypocrisy.Severe Warnings from the Hadith
② Threat of Hellfire for Abusing Them
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي… لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ
“Do not revile my Companions! By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd (handful) spent by them, nor half of it.”
(Bukhari 3673; Muslim 2541)
Criticism of the Companions voids the value of one’s deeds compared to theirs.③ Hatred for Them is a Sign of Hypocrisy
The Prophet ﷺ said:
آلَامَةُ الْإِيمَانِ حُبُّ الْأَنْصَارِ، وَآلَامَةُ النِّفَاقِ بُغْضُ الْأَنْصَارِ
“Love for the Ansar is a sign of faith, and hatred for the Ansar is a sign of hypocrisy.”
(Bukhari 17; Muslim 74)
Anyone who does not love the Companions, particularly the Ansar, carries the trait of hypocrisy.Statements of the Pious Predecessors
④ Imam Mālik رحمه الله:
“Whoever speaks against even one Companion, his Islam is questionable.”
(Al-Sharḥ wal-Ibānah of Ibn Battah, no. 1794)
⑤ Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله:
“If you see someone speaking ill of any Companion, know that he is a heretic (zindīq).”
(Al-Khallāl, Al-Sunnah, no. 660)
Ruling on Attending Gatherings of Those Who Revile the Companions
Those who insult the Companions (RA), criticize them, question their justice, piety, or knowledge — it is impermissible to attend their gatherings, listen to their talks, or participate in their programs.
Allah says:
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا، فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ
“It has already been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, do not sit with them until they engage in a different conversation.”
(An-Nisa: 140)
The Companions were the first audience and interpreters of the Qur’an; disrespecting them is akin to disrespecting the verses of Allah.Conclusion
Whoever insults the Companions (RA) has no real faith in his heart, and those who sit in their gatherings share in their sin.
Faith demands that:
- The greatness of the Companions be proclaimed.
- Those who harbor hatred for them be refuted.
- One distances himself from such people.
- Their programs, channels, and gatherings be boycotted.
