❖ The Scholarly Importance of Silence on the Disputes Among the Companions ❖
By: Professor Zafar Ahmad
This article by Professor Zafar Ahmad seeks to dispel widespread misconceptions regarding the disputes (mushajirat) among the noble Companions (RA) and to provide sound intellectual and scholarly guidance. Its intent is not to offend anyone, but to offer a constructive foundation for promoting unity among Muslims.
Whether they were Muhajirun, Ansar, or those who accepted Islam after the Conquest of Makkah, all the Companions (RA) are assured of a good end as stated in the Qur'an:
"تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ، لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ، وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ"
"That was a nation who has passed away; for them is what they earned, and for you is what you earn. And you will not be questioned about what they used to do."
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 134)
✔ Only Allah knows the final state (ḥusn al-‘āqibah) of those who came after the Companions.
✔ Non-Companions have no right to label any of the known and righteous Companions as rebels or mistaken based on those disputes.
When asked about the dispute between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat A’ishah (RA), he simply recited the verse:
"تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ..."
(Mulla Ali Qari, Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar, p. 102)
Quoting Hasan al-Basri on Hazrat Ali, Uthman, and Mu‘awiyah (RA):
✔ All had virtues: some excelled in early acceptance of Islam, others in noble lineage.
✔ Both sides were subjected to trials and tribulations.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, Vol. 3, p. 142)
"Allah protected our hands from being stained with their blood; we must also protect our tongues."
(Al-Damiri, Hayat al-Hayawan, Vol. 1, p. 350)
"I fear Allah regarding any statement that I might be questioned about."
(Al-Khayrat al-Hasan, p. 57)
"We leave the disputes of the Companions to Allah."
(Ghuniyat al-Talibin, p. 140)
"It is impermissible to attribute certain error to the Companions."
"They all exercised ijtihad seeking the pleasure of Allah."
(Al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Qur’an, Vol. 16, p. 322)
Most senior Companions did not participate in these internal battles.
Imam Ibn Kathir notes that thousands of Companions were alive, but only a small group took part in the conflicts.
✔ It is necessary to abstain from passing verdicts in the Companions’ disputes.
✔ Declaring Hazrat Ali (RA) definitely upon truth and Hazrat Mu‘awiyah (RA) definitely upon error is often an ijtihadi error by some later scholars.
✔ Based on the principle of “Ahwan al-Balīyyatayn” (choosing the lesser of two harms), if one must be considered mistaken, it is more appropriate to apply that to a non-Companion.
Not all differences arise between truth and falsehood. Often, such differences are between:
Just like the issue of raising or not raising hands in prayer, differences should not be extended beyond their scholarly bounds.
Both sides of the Companions may be considered correct, each based on their ijtihad.
Senior scholars such as Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others chose silence on this matter.
Following their example is far better than imitating later approaches that delve into judgmental discourse.
✔ In disputes among the Companions (RA), the best stance is that of silence and restraint, not of issuing judgments or identifying error.
✔ According to the leading scholars of the Ummah, these were ijtihadi disagreements, and speculation or condemnation is unwarranted.
✔ Upholding silence, in line with the approach of the pious predecessors, is the most scholarly and spiritually safe path.
By: Professor Zafar Ahmad
◈ Clarifying the Misconceptions About Disputes Among the Companions
This article by Professor Zafar Ahmad seeks to dispel widespread misconceptions regarding the disputes (mushajirat) among the noble Companions (RA) and to provide sound intellectual and scholarly guidance. Its intent is not to offend anyone, but to offer a constructive foundation for promoting unity among Muslims.
◈ The Certainty of the Good End (Ḥusn al-‘Āqibah) of the Companions
According to the Qur'an
Whether they were Muhajirun, Ansar, or those who accepted Islam after the Conquest of Makkah, all the Companions (RA) are assured of a good end as stated in the Qur'an:
"تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ، لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ، وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ"
"That was a nation who has passed away; for them is what they earned, and for you is what you earn. And you will not be questioned about what they used to do."
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 134)
◈ The State of Those Who Came After
✔ Only Allah knows the final state (ḥusn al-‘āqibah) of those who came after the Companions.
✔ Non-Companions have no right to label any of the known and righteous Companions as rebels or mistaken based on those disputes.
◈ Attitudes of the Early Scholars
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (RH)
When asked about the dispute between Hazrat Ali and Hazrat A’ishah (RA), he simply recited the verse:
"تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ..."
(Mulla Ali Qari, Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar, p. 102)
Imam al-Awza‘i (RH)
Quoting Hasan al-Basri on Hazrat Ali, Uthman, and Mu‘awiyah (RA):
✔ All had virtues: some excelled in early acceptance of Islam, others in noble lineage.
✔ Both sides were subjected to trials and tribulations.
(Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala, Vol. 3, p. 142)
Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (RH)
"Allah protected our hands from being stained with their blood; we must also protect our tongues."
(Al-Damiri, Hayat al-Hayawan, Vol. 1, p. 350)
Imam Abu Hanifah (RH)
"I fear Allah regarding any statement that I might be questioned about."
(Al-Khayrat al-Hasan, p. 57)
Shaykh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (RH)
"We leave the disputes of the Companions to Allah."
(Ghuniyat al-Talibin, p. 140)
Imam al-Qurtubi (RH)
"It is impermissible to attribute certain error to the Companions."
"They all exercised ijtihad seeking the pleasure of Allah."
(Al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Qur’an, Vol. 16, p. 322)
◈ Importance of Silence in Companion Disputes
✔ Position of the Majority of the Senior Companions
Most senior Companions did not participate in these internal battles.
Imam Ibn Kathir notes that thousands of Companions were alive, but only a small group took part in the conflicts.
◈ Refraining from Judgement
✔ It is necessary to abstain from passing verdicts in the Companions’ disputes.
✔ Declaring Hazrat Ali (RA) definitely upon truth and Hazrat Mu‘awiyah (RA) definitely upon error is often an ijtihadi error by some later scholars.
✔ Based on the principle of “Ahwan al-Balīyyatayn” (choosing the lesser of two harms), if one must be considered mistaken, it is more appropriate to apply that to a non-Companion.
◈ Nature of Ijtihadi Disagreements
Not all differences arise between truth and falsehood. Often, such differences are between:
- What is better (awla) and what is less preferable (khilaf al-awla)
- What is best (ahsan) and what is good (hasan)
- What is superior (afdal) and what is virtuous (mafdul)
Just like the issue of raising or not raising hands in prayer, differences should not be extended beyond their scholarly bounds.
Both sides of the Companions may be considered correct, each based on their ijtihad.
◈ Evaluating the Later Scholars' Approach
✔ The Virtue of Silence
Senior scholars such as Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others chose silence on this matter.
Following their example is far better than imitating later approaches that delve into judgmental discourse.
❖ Conclusion
✔ In disputes among the Companions (RA), the best stance is that of silence and restraint, not of issuing judgments or identifying error.
✔ According to the leading scholars of the Ummah, these were ijtihadi disagreements, and speculation or condemnation is unwarranted.
✔ Upholding silence, in line with the approach of the pious predecessors, is the most scholarly and spiritually safe path.
