This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The Status of the Companions and Their Classes
The era of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, is called the best of generations (Khair al-Qurun). These people are the true exemplars of the best nation. The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, directly received the religion from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, understood his objectives, examined them through his actions and deeds, and heard the remedy for the nation’s healing from his blessed tongue. This status was not attained by others. Then the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, continued to benefit from one another, and this was the rare gem by which they confronted the entire world. They did not remain indifferent to all religions and their followers but also waged jihad against them with their lives and wealth. This is why the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لا تسبوا أصحابى فوالذى نفسى بيده لو أنفق أحدكم مثل أحد ذهبا ما بلغ مد أحدهم ولا نصيفه
“Do not insult my Companions. By the One in whose hand is my soul! If any one of you were to spend gold equal to the mountain of Uhud, it would not equal even half a mudd of one of them.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet, Hadith: 3673; Sahih Muslim, Book of the Virtues of the Companions: Chapter on the Prohibition of Insulting the Companions, Hadith: 2540, 2541)
This noble statement was said by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to Khalid ibn al-Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, when he had a disagreement with Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, may Allah be pleased with him. Because Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf, may Allah be pleased with him, is counted among the early pioneers (Sabiqeen Awwaloon), those who fought jihad before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah and dedicated their valuable wealth for the elevation of Allah’s religion. However, Khalid ibn al-Walid, Amr ibn al-As, and Uthman ibn Talha, may Allah be pleased with them, became Muslims after Hudaybiyyah and before the conquest of Mecca during the truce period. They are not counted among the early pioneers. Those who became Muslims in the year of the conquest of Mecca are not called Muhajirun (emigrants), because there was no migration after the conquest of Mecca. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called them Tulaqa (freed ones), because after full control and dominance, he freed them.
The Early Pioneers, the Noble Companions
Some companions were honored to participate in the Pledge of Ridwan, and some migrated to Abyssinia. These two types of companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were given the title of Al-Sabiqoon Al-Awwaloon, whether they were Muhajirun or Ansar. According to a hadith narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with both of them, on the day of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
أنتم خير أهل الأرض
"You are the best people on the face of the earth."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Military Expeditions: Chapter on the Battle of Hudaybiyyah, Hadith: 3154; Sahih Muslim, Book of Leadership: Chapter on the Recommendation of Pledging Allegiance to the Imam of the Army, Hadith: 1857)
On that day, our number was fourteen hundred. Because of these very qualities, Satan did not get the opportunity to misguide them. None of them dared to lie about the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Due to human nature, some of them committed acts that could be subject to disapproval, yet not a single one among them had any innovation (bid'ah). The sects such as the Kharijites, Rafidah, Qadariyyah, Murji'ah, and Jahmiyyah are all later developments upon which Satan played his trick.
