A Thought-Provoking Reminder for Those Who Disrespect the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ
Compiled by: Abu Ubaidah Muhammad Saqib
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
❖ A Point of Reflection
This is a reminder for those individuals who disrespect the noble Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah Ta‘ala says:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ
(سورة الحشر، الآية 10)
And (those) who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and place not in our hearts any hatred against those who believe. Our Lord, indeed You are Most Kind, Most Merciful.”
❖ Statement of Imam Malik رحمه الله
وَقَالَ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَغَيْرُهُ: مَنْ أَبْغَضَ الصَّحَابَةَ وَسَبَّهُمْ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ فِي فَيْءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ حَقٌّ.
(الشفا للقاضي عياض 2/120)
Imam Malik رحمه الله said: Whoever harbors hatred against the Companions رضي الله عنهم and reviles them, then he has no right in the wealth of the Muslims.
❖ Explanation
Those who do not adopt this quality, i.e., whose hearts contain enmity against the believers, cannot be regarded among the true believers according to this verse.
The identity of a true believer is that he loves the people of faith and harbors no hatred or enmity against them.
❖ Words of Sayyidah A’ishah رضي الله عنها
She said: “People were commanded to seek forgiveness for the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, but instead, they reviled them.”
(صحيح مسلم، كتاب التفسير، حديث 7539)
❖ Severe Warning of the Prophet ﷺ
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reviles my Companions, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.”
(المعجم الكبير للطبراني 12/142، رقم 12709)
❖ Saying of Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما
He said: “Do not revile the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ. Indeed, the time one of them spent in the company of the Messenger ﷺ is better than the lifetime of your deeds.”
(سنن ابن ماجه، حديث 162)
❖ The Prophet ﷺ on the Chosen Companions
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Allah chose me and selected for me Companions. He made some of them ministers, helpers, and relatives. Whoever reviles them, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. On the Day of Judgment, none of his deeds will be accepted.”
(المستدرك للحاكم 3/732، رقم 6656)
❖ Imam al-Sha‘bi رحمه الله
He said:
The Jews and Christians considered their respective Prophets’ Companions as the best of their nation, but the Rafidah (Shia) considered the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ the worst. Despite being commanded to seek forgiveness for them, they cursed them. Thus, the sword will remain raised against them until the Day of Judgment.
(تفسير القرطبي 18/33)
❖ Imam Malik رحمه الله on the Motive of Reviling Companions
He explained that such people wanted to find fault in the Prophet ﷺ. When they could not, they attacked his Companions to imply that he was a bad man who had bad companions. Whereas, every Companion defended and supported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with their lives and wealth at a time when Islam had not yet spread.
(الصارم المسلول لابن تيمية ص 580)
❖ Statement of Al-Mu‘afa ibn ‘Imran رحمه الله
When asked about comparing Umar ibn Abdul Aziz with Mu‘awiyah رضي الله عنه, he became angry and said: “No one can be compared with the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ. Mu‘awiyah was his scribe, his companion, his relative, and his trustee over the revelation of Allah.”
He then quoted the Prophet ﷺ: “Leave my Companions and my relatives; whoever reviles them, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people.”
(الشريعة للآجري 5/2466)
❖ Repeated Authentic Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever reviles my Companions, upon him is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all people. Allah will not accept from him obligatory nor voluntary deeds.”
(فضائل الصحابة لأحمد 1/52، الشريعة للآجري 5/2498-2500)
❖ Abu Zur‘ah رحمه الله
He said: “If you see a man belittling any of the Companions of the Messenger ﷺ, then know that he is a heretic. This is because the Messenger ﷺ is true, and the Qur’an is true, and it was only the Companions who conveyed the Qur’an and Sunnah to us. Their intention is to discredit the witnesses of our religion so that they can nullify the Qur’an and Sunnah. They are heretics.”
(الكفاية في علم الرواية للخطيب البغدادي ص 49)
❖ A Striking Example
The Prophet ﷺ even forbade reviling a rooster because it awakens for prayer:
لَا تَسُبُّوا الدِّيكَ، فَإِنَّهُ يُوقِظُ لِلصَّلَاةِ.
(سنن أبي داود، حديث 5101)
If reviling a rooster was prohibited for one small good deed, how then can anyone revile the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم who conveyed the entire religion of Islam to us exactly as the Messenger ﷺ left it?
Indeed, it is absolutely forbidden. Their service in transmitting Islam is the greatest favor upon this Ummah, and respecting them is an essential part of faith.
Conclusion:The Companions رضي الله عنهم are the blessed carriers of this religion. Loving them is from faith, and reviling them is a path to destruction, bringing upon oneself the curse of Allah, His angels, and all people.
