This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri Hafizahullah Difa-e-Sahaba Radi Allahu Anhum.
About the Noble Companions Radi Allahu Anhum
There are numerous Quranic verses and mutawatir ahadith regarding the virtues and merits of the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them). From the earliest times, scholars have authored books on the greatness and excellence of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
Hafiz Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) (676 AH) says:
الأحاديث فى فضل الصحابة، رضي الله عنهم، على الإطلاق كثيرة مشهورة فى الصحيحين وغيرهما، وأما فضائلهم على الخصوص لطائفة ولأشخاص، فأكثر من أن تحصر.
"There are many famous ahadith in Bukhari, Muslim, and others about the absolute virtue of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). There are so many ahadith about the individual merits of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that it is impossible to count them."
Reference: (Tahdhib al-Asma wa al-Lughat: 15/1)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (728 AH) says:
هذه الأحاديث مستفيضة بل متواترة فى فضائل الصحابة والثناء عليهم وتفضيل قرنهم على من بعدهم من القرون، فالقدح فيهم قدح فى القرآن والسنة.
"The virtues of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), their praise and commendation, and their superiority over later generations are established by famous, indeed mutawatir, ahadith. To insult the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is in reality an insult to the Quran and Hadith."
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa: 430/4)
Hafiz Sakhawi (may Allah have mercy on him) (902 AH) says:
هذا باب لا انتهاء له.
"There is no end to the writings on the virtues of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)."
Reference: (Fath al-Mughith: 120/4)
Definition of a Companion:
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him (852 AH), says:
أصح ما وقفت عليه من ذلك أن الصحابي من لقي النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم مؤمنا به، ومات على الإسلام، فيدخل فيمن لقيه من طالت مجالسته له أو قصرت، ومن روى عنه أو لم يرو، ومن غزا معه أو لم يغز، ومن رآه رؤية ولو لم يجالسه، ومن لم يره لعارض كالعمى.
“In my opinion, the most accurate definition of a Sahabi (Companion) is one who met the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in a state of faith and died in a state of Islam. Among those who met him are included those companions who spent a long time in the company of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as well as those who spent a short time; also included are those companions who narrated hadith from him and those who did not; those who participated in battles with him and those who did not; those who merely saw him but did not attend his gatherings, and those who did not see him due to some impediment, such as blindness.”
Reference: (الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة : 158/1)
All the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are inhabitants of Paradise:
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah is that no one except the Prophets is infallible. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) were people of goodness, always seeking Allah's pleasure and fearing His punishment. They were the best people of their time, but despite all this, they were not infallible; rather, due to human nature, they made mistakes. However, Allah Almighty has declared forgiveness for all the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and has promised His pleasure and mercy forever.
All the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are inhabitants of Paradise. Later generations have no right to use some mistakes of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as a basis for their opinions, while Allah Almighty has forgiven all their mistakes. They are forgiven and blessed and are the inheritors of Paradise.
Allah Almighty says:
وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ
"Allah has promised Paradise to all the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them)."
Reference: (Surah Al-Hadid: 10)
The Divine command is:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُم مِّنَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُونَ
"Indeed, those for whom We have decreed Paradise will be removed from the Hellfire."
Reference: (Surah Al-Anbiya: 101)
The command of Allah Almighty is:
لَٰكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ جَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ 88 أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
"The Messenger and those who believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. For them are good things, and they are the successful. Allah has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great success."
Reference: (Surah At-Tawbah: 88-89)
The command of Allah Almighty is:
لَقَد تَّابَ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"Allah has accepted the repentance of the Prophet and the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the difficult times, after some of their hearts had deviated. Then He accepted their repentance. Indeed, He is the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate."
Reference: (Surah At-Tawbah: 117)
Imam Abu Bakr Ajuri (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 360 AH) says:
وعدهم الجنة خالدين فيها أبدا، وأخبرنا أنه قد رضي عنهم ورضوا عنه : أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ(سورۃ المجادلۃ : 22)
"Allah Almighty has promised Paradise to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and they will abide therein forever. Moreover, Allah Almighty has informed us that He is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. The Divine command is: أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ This is the group of Allah; remember, the group of Allah are the successful."
Reference: (Ash-Shari'ah: 1624/4)
Allama Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 456 AH) says:
كلهم عدول فاضل من أهل الجنة.
"All the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are just, virtuous, and destined for Paradise."
Reference: (Al-Ihkam fi Usul al-Ahkam: 90/5)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 728 AH) says:
إنا نشهد لهم بالجنة كما استقر على ذلك مذهب أهل السنة.
"We bear witness to the Paradise of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), as is the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama'ah."
Reference: (Minhaj as-Sunnah: 203/6)
He also says:
من جزم فى واحد من هؤلاء بأن له ذنبا يدخل به النار قطعا فهو كاذب مفتر، فإنه لو قال ما لا علم له به لكان مبطلا، فكيف إذا قال ما دلت الدلائل الكثيرة على نقيضه؟
"Whoever asserts with certainty that a particular Companion (may Allah be pleased with him) has committed a sin that will definitely cause him to enter Hellfire, then he is a liar and a slanderer. Because if he says this about someone without knowledge, he is a wrongdoer; how then can he say this about someone for whom there are many evidences to the contrary of being a Hellfire dweller?"
Reference: (Majmu' al-Fatawa: 432/4)
In the books of Hadith, there are some individuals about whom the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed about Hellfire, but remember, all of them were hypocrites, not Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
All the Companions are trustworthy and just:
All the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are believers; their religion is trustworthy, and they are reliable and just in religion. The justice, religion, and trustworthiness of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are established; Allah Himself has declared their justice. Allah has established proof over the entire Ummah through them, made them the narrators of the religion, and the embodiment of the actions of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. Thus, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, became the standard of faith, indeed they became the proof of faith.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
ألا ليبلغ الشاهد منكم الغائب.
“Beware! Whoever among you is present should convey to those who are absent.”
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 105, Sahih Muslim: 1679)
Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إن أصحاب النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كلهم عدول ثقات.
“All the Companions of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, are just and trustworthy.”
Reference: (Sahih Ibn Hibban: 442/6)
Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
إن الله نظر فى قلوب العباد، فوجد قلب محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم خير قلوب العباد، فاصطفاه لنفسه، فابتعثه برسالته، ثم نظر فى قلوب العباد بعد قلب محمد، فوجد قلوب أصحابه خير قلوب العباد، فجعلهم وزراء نبيه، يقاتلون على دينه.
“When Allah, the Exalted, looked into the hearts of His servants, He found the heart of Muhammad, the Generous, peace be upon him, the best among all hearts, so He chose him for His prophethood and sent him with the message. Then, after the heart of Muhammad, the Generous, peace be upon him, He looked into the hearts of the servants and found the hearts of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, the best among them, so He made them the ministers and companions of His Prophet, who fight for the religion of the Prophet, peace be upon him.”
Reference: (Musnad al-Imam Ahmad: 3600, and its chain is Hasan)
Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
إن الله تبارك وتعالى نزه أقدار أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن ثلب قادح، وصان أقدارهم عن وقيعة منتقص، وجعلهم كالنجوم يقتدى بهم، وقد قال تبارك وتعالى : إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثم قال : يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ فمن أخبر الله عز وجل أنه لا يخزيه فى القيامة، وقد شهد له باتباعه ملة إبراهيم حنيفا، لا يجوز أن يجرح بالكذب، لأنه يستحيل أن يقول الله تبارك وتعالى : يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ ثم يقول النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم : من كذب على متعمدا فليتبوأ مقعده من النار، فيطلق النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إيجاب النار لمن أخبر الله عز وجل أنه لا يخزيه فى القيامة، بل الخطاب فى الخبر وقع على من بعد الصحابة، وأما من شهد التنزيل وصحب الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فالثلب لهم غير حلال، والقدح فيهم ضد الإيمان، والتنقص لأحدهم نفس النفاق، لأنهم خير الناس قرنا بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بحكم من : وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ 3 إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ
“Undoubtedly, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has purified the Companions of the Messenger, peace be upon him, from any defect that would cause discredit in justice; He has protected their personalities from sins that would diminish their status and made them like stars to be followed. The Exalted has said: إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ‘The closest of Ibrahim’s are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe in him. Allah is the protector of the believers.’ Also, the Divine command is: يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ ‘On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe with him.’ So, for one about whom Allah has informed that He will not disgrace them on the Day of Resurrection and has testified that they follow the monotheistic religion of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, it is not permissible to falsely criticize such a person. Because Allah has informed: يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ ‘On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe with him.’ Then the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘Whoever deliberately lies about me, let him prepare his place in Hell.’ It is impossible that the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, would threaten Hell for someone about whom Allah has informed that He will not disgrace them on the Day of Resurrection. Rather, the address in the hadith is to the Muslims who came after the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. As for those who witnessed the revelation of the Quran and remained in the company of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, it is not permissible to criticize or discredit them; discrediting them is actually the opposite of faith. To belittle any of them is outright hypocrisy, because the period after the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is the best period, as informed by the One about whom Allah said: وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ 5 إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ‘The Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, does not speak from his own desire, but what is revealed to him.’”
Reference: (Kitab al-Majruhin: 36/1)
Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr, may Allah have mercy on him (463 AH), says:
هم خير القرون، وخير أمة أخرجت للناس، ثبتت عدالة جميعهم بثناء الله عز وجل عليهم وثناء رسوله عليه السلام، ولا أعدل ممن ارتضاه الله لصحبة نبيه ونصرته، ولا تزكية أفضل من ذلك، ولا تعديل أكمل منه.
“The era of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, was the best era; they were the best people of the Ummah, created for the guidance of people. The justice of all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is established because Allah, the Exalted, and His Messenger, peace be upon him, have praised them. There is no one more just than the one whom Allah has chosen for the companionship and support of His Prophet; no one has better purification or more perfect moderation than him.”
Reference: (Al-Isti’ab: 1/1)
Hafiz Khateeb Abu Bakr Baghdadi, may Allah have mercy on him (463 AH), says:
إن عدالة الصحابة ثابتة معلومة بتعديل الله لهم وإخباره عن طهارتهم واختياره لهم فى نص القرآن.
“The justice of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is established and known because Allah, the Exalted, has declared their moderation in the Quranic texts and has informed that they are pious and chosen.”
Reference: (Al-Kifayah p. 46)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him (728 AH), says:
كان الصحابة كلهم ثقات باتفاق أهل العلم بالحديث والفقه.
“All the muhaddithin and fuqaha are unanimous that all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are trustworthy.”
Reference: (Minhaj al-Sunnah: 457/2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him (852 AH), says:
قد اتفق أهل السنة على أن الجميع عدول، ولم يخالف فى ذلك إلا شذوذ من المبتدعة.
“The Ahl al-Sunnah are unanimous that all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are just; except for some innovators, no one has opposed this.”
Reference: (Al-Isabah: 131/1)
The Meaning of the Court of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them:
Allama Zarkashi, may Allah have mercy on him (794 AH), says:
قال الإبياري: وليس المراد بعدالتهم ثبوت العصمة لهم، واستحالة المعصية، وإنما المراد قبول رواياتهم من غير تكلف بحث عن أسباب العدالة، وطلب التزكية، إلا من يثبت عليه ارتكاب قادح، ولم يثبت ذلك، والحمد لله، فنحن على استصحاب ما كانوا عليه فى زمن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، حتى يثبت خلافه، ولا التفات إلى ما يذكره أهل السير، فإنه لا يصح، وما صح فله تأويل صحيح، ولا عبرة برد بعض الحنفية روايات أبى هريرة، وتعليلهم بأنه ليس بفقيه، فقد عملوا برأيه فى الغسل ثلاثا من ولوغ الكلب وغيره.
"Allama Ali bin Ismail Abyari, may Allah have mercy on him (616 AH), says: The justice of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, does not mean that they were infallible from error and that it was impossible for them to commit sins. Rather, the justice of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, means that their narrations are accepted unconditionally. There is no need to discuss or investigate the reasons for their justice and purification, except if any criticism is proven against someone, but nothing of that sort has been proven, praise be to Allah. Therefore, we consider the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to be just as they were during the Prophetic era, until proven otherwise. Whatever the scholars of biography say about the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, will not be given attention because it is not proven, and whatever is proven has a correct interpretation. It is also not reliable that some Hanafis have rejected some narrations of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, and the reason given is that he was not a jurist, while the Hanafis themselves have acted upon some opinions of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, for example, when a dog puts its mouth in a vessel, it should be washed three times."
Reference: (Al-Bahr Al-Muheet fi Usool al-Fiqh: 189/6)
