Ten Core Beliefs About the Companions رضي الله عنهم
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
Question:
What should be the creed regarding the noble Companions رضي الله عنهم?
Answer:
The creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah concerning the Companions رضي الله عنهم is as follows:
① Loving all the Companions رضي الله عنهم is obligatory. Loving them is a sign of faith, and in the matter of al-walāʾ (loyalty for Allah’s sake), they are the most deserving. Therefore, harboring hatred or enmity against all, some, or even one Companion is harām and impermissible.
② After the Prophets, the Companions رضي الله عنهم are the most virtuous of all nations, having the highest status with Allah ﷻ.
③ They were the best of the Ummah, the most knowledgeable, and the most understanding of the meanings and implications of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
④ In matters of religion, the understanding of the Companions is authoritative and must be accepted. Any interpretations of Qur’an and Sunnah that contradict their transmitted understanding must be rejected.
⑤ All the Companions رضي الله عنهم are ʿudūl (just and trustworthy) and reliable in narrating reports. Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ have already declared their integrity.
⑥ Every Companion has a special virtue by virtue of being a Companion, though some have additional, distinct virtues established by authentic reports.
⑦ The most virtuous among them are:
- First: Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه
- Second: ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
- Third: ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه
- Fourth: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه
⑧ Any mistakes or disputes that occurred among the Companions رضي الله عنهم were due to human nature; regarding these issues, one must remain silent and refrain from criticism.
⑨ It is necessary to express contentment towards all the Companions رضي الله عنهم, and to make duʿāʾ and seek forgiveness for them.
⑩ It is obligatory to defend all the Companions رضي الله عنهم. Whoever spreads ill-opinion about them, criticizes them, or causes others to doubt them, must be stopped.
