Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Brothers in Islam! In today's sermon, we will discuss the virtues and merits of the noble companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
◄ Those noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, whose praise Allah, the Lord of Glory, Himself has mentioned in His most sacred book, the Holy Quran. Besides this, the Prophet ﷺ also praised these companions in numerous blessed hadiths.
◄ Those noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, who were the first recipients of divine revelation.
◄ Who saw our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with their own eyes and heard his commands with their own ears.
◄ Who memorized every Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and conveyed it to the Ummah.
◄ Who sacrificed everything for the sake of Islam, even their own lives, and set examples of obedience that will be read and heard for as long as the world exists.
Before mentioning the virtues and merits of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), we want to explain who is called a "Sahabi" (Companion)?
Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) defined "Sahabi" as follows:
الصحابی من لقی النبی صلي الله عليه وسلم مؤمنا بہ ومات علی الإسلام
That is, a "Sahabi" is one who met the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) while in a state of faith and died upon Islam.
Reference: الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة:130/1
Then explaining this, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy on him, says that according to this definition, every person will be counted as a companion (Sahabi) who met the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while believing in his prophethood. Then he remained steadfast on Islam until his death, whether he stayed in the company of the Prophet ﷺ for a long time or for a short period, and whether he narrated the hadiths of the Prophet ﷺ or not, and whether he participated in any battle with him or not, and whether he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with his own eyes or, due to blindness, could not see him. In both cases, he will be considered a "Companion of the Messenger." However, a person who apostatized after believing in him will not be considered a "Companion."
When we have understood who is called a "Sahabi," let us see how Allah, the Lord of Glory, has mentioned the honorable companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in the Holy Quran and how He has praised them.
① Allah Almighty's Command
﴿وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ١٠٠﴾
"And the first forerunners among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment."
Reference: Surah At-Tawbah: 100
In this noble verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned three types of people:
➊ The Muhajireen, who left their native land and possessions for the sake of the religion of the Lord of Glory and migrated towards Madinah Munawwarah.
➋ The Ansar of Madinah, who supported and helped the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the Muhajir companions, and sacrificed everything for them.
Allah Almighty has mentioned among these two (Muhajireen and Ansar) those who took the lead in migration and faith, meaning those who migrated first and accepted faith first, setting an example for others.
➌ Those who sincerely followed these early pioneers and walked in their footsteps. This includes the later companions, the Tabi‘in, and all those who will come until the Day of Judgment who consider them the standard of truth and remain their followers.
After mentioning the three types of people, Allah Almighty gave them two glad tidings: one is that Allah Almighty is pleased with them, meaning He has forgiven their slips and honored their good deeds with acceptance. The second is that Allah Almighty has prepared gardens for them in which they will reside forever and enjoy His blessings.
Muhammad bin Ka'b al-Qurazi says that Allah Almighty has forgiven all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and has made Paradise obligatory for them in His Book. This applies to both those who were righteous and those who erred. Then he recited this very verse from the Holy Quran and said: "In it, Allah Almighty has expressed His pleasure with the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and declared Paradise for them. Similarly, this reward is for their followers as well, but the condition is that they follow them with sincerity and love."
② Allah Almighty says
﴿ لَّقَد 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 Almighty has taken note of the condition of the Prophet and also of the Muhajireen and Ansar, who supported the Prophet in times of hardship, after a group among them had some wavering in their hearts. Then Allah took note of their condition. Indeed, Allah is Most Compassionate and Merciful to all of them."
Reference: Surah At-Tawbah:117
In this verse, Allah Almighty specifically praises those Muhajireen and Ansar who supported the Prophet ﷺ "in times of hardship." The phrase "in times of hardship" refers to the Battle of Tabuk, during which the hardship was such that the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, found neither food nor water. The weather was extremely hot. There were many riders but few mounts. Despite such severe hardship, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, did not abandon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and endured every kind of difficulty.
When Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about "times of hardship," he said:
"We set out in the intense heat of the season, and on the way, we stopped at a place where we felt extreme thirst, to the extent that it seemed as if our necks would break due to the severity of the thirst. The situation was such that whenever one of us slaughtered his camel, he would squeeze its hump and drink the water that came out. When the condition became so severe, Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه requested the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, 'O Messenger of Allah! Allah accepts your prayers, so please pray for us.' Accordingly, he raised his hands in supplication, and before his hands could return, clouds gathered over us and it began to rain. Then all the Companions رضي الله عنہم filled their containers, and when we departed from there, we realized that the rain had only fallen at the very place where we had stopped."
And Hazrat Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that during the journey of the Battle of Tabuk, there was such a scarcity of food and drink that two companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would split one date into two parts and share it between themselves. And to quench their extreme thirst, several companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would take turns sucking on the same date.
While Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Abu Saeed (may Allah be pleased with him) narrate that "We were with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Battle of Tabuk, during which people suffered extreme hunger and said, 'O Messenger of Allah! If you permit, we will slaughter our camels.' So you gave permission, but then Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came and said to you (peace be upon him):
O Messenger of Allah! If they slaughter their camels, the rides will decrease. Command them to gather whatever food they have in one place, then you pray to Allah for blessing. So the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Very well. Then he ordered to spread a cloth (dastarkhwan) and instructed the people to bring whatever they had and place it on that cloth. Thus, one person would come and place a handful of corn on it, another would come and place a handful of dates, and another would come and add a small piece of barley bread. In this way, a little food was gathered on that dastarkhwan. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for blessing, and after that, he told the people: Now take from this food into your vessels.
So all the members of the army filled their vessels well and everyone ate to their fill. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
"I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah. Whoever meets Allah with these two testimonies and has no doubt about them, Allah will surely admit him into Paradise."
Dear audience! The purpose of mentioning in some detail the severe conditions faced by the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) during the Battle of Tabuk is to help us realize how strong their faith was and how they were embodiments of patience and endurance. And what difficulties they endured for the sake of Islam. It is for this reason that Allah Almighty paid special attention to their condition and clearly declared in His Holy Book, the Quran, that He is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.
③ Divine Command
﴿ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَىٰ ﴾
Say, "All praise is due to Allah alone, and peace be upon His chosen servants."
Reference: Surah An-Naml:59
In this verse, Allah Almighty has sent peace upon His chosen servants and declared them distinguished. Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that this refers to the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) whom Allah Almighty selected for His Prophet.
And Imam Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"Those servants whom Allah Almighty has chosen, they are the people whom Allah selected for His Prophet and made them your companions and ministers."
And Hazrat Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, says:
من کان مستنا فلیستن بمن قد مات ، أولٰئك أصحاب محمد صلي الله عليه وسلم ،کانوا خیر الأمة،أبرہا قلوبا،وأعمقہا علما ،وأقلہا تکلفا،اختارہم اﷲ لصحبة نبیه صلي الله عليه وسلم ونقل دینه،فتشبہوا بأخلاقہم وطرائقہم فہم أصحاب محمد صلي الله عليه وسلم کانوا علی الہدی المستقیم
"If a person wants to follow an example, let him follow the Sunnah of the companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, who have passed away. They were the best people of the Ummah, the purest of heart, the most knowledgeable, and the least pretentious. Allah Almighty chose them to be in the company of His Prophet and to convey His religion to the next generations. Therefore, adopt their manners and ways because they were the companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and they walked on the straight path."
Reference: Takhlees al-Mutashabih fi al-Rasm:460/1
Similarly, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) says that Allah Almighty looked into the hearts of His servants and found the heart of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the best among them. Therefore, He chose him for Himself and granted him the position of prophethood. After that, Allah Almighty again looked into the hearts of His servants and found the hearts of the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to be the best. Hence, He granted them the position of ministers to His Prophet.
④ Allah Almighty says
﴿مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا﴾
’’Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against the disbelievers and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking the bounty and pleasure of Allah. The mark of prostration is evident on their foreheads. Their example is in the Torah, and their example in the Gospel is like a seed that sends forth its shoot, then strengthens it, and it becomes thick and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers. (Allah has done this) so that the disbelievers may be enraged because of them. As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, Allah has promised them forgiveness and a great reward.
Reference: Surah Al-Fath:29
In this verse, Allah Almighty has described many attributes of the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them:
➊ They are harsh against the disbelievers.
➋ And merciful among themselves.
➌ They remain in a state of bowing and prostration.
➍ They seek the grace of Allah Almighty and His pleasure.
➎ Because of their prostrations, a mark is clearly visible on their foreheads.
➏ The companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, have the honor that their distinction and virtue were also mentioned in the earlier heavenly scriptures.
➐ Their example is like that of a crop which is initially weak and then gradually becomes strong. Similarly, the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were initially weak, then became powerful, and their influence and authority increased, which irritated the disbelievers and caused them to be filled with rage and anger.
Allah Almighty has promised forgiveness and a great reward to the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, who possess these qualities and are adorned with faith and righteous deeds.
Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, has narrated several reports in the exegesis of this verse which indicate that if a person is a worshiper, especially one who prays Tahajjud, then light appears on his face because of it. And if his inner self is pure, Allah Almighty beautifies his outward appearance, making him beloved among people. After this, Hafiz Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"The intentions of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were pure and their deeds were good, so whoever saw them was certainly impressed by their personality and character. Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, says that he heard that when the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, conquered Syria, the Christians would involuntarily say, 'By Allah! These people are better than our disciples,' and they were certainly truthful in this because the greatness of this Ummah is described in the earliest books, and the best people of this Ummah are indeed the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them."
Brothers in Islam!
In the virtue of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, we have only mentioned four Quranic verses and their brief exegesis. The Holy Quran is filled with beautiful mentions of their qualities and virtues, but for the sake of brevity, we move forward and listen to the honorable mention of the Prophet of Mercy’s, peace be upon him, proud and noble students.
⑤ It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said
(( النجوم أمنة للسماء،فإذا ذہبت النجوم أتی السماء بما توعد،وأنا أمنة لأصحابی، فإذا ذہبت أتٰی أصحابی ما یوعدون،وأصحابی أمنة لأمتی،فإذا ذہب أصحابی أتٰی أمتی ما یوعدون ))
"The stars are a security for the sky, so when the stars fall, the sky will no longer remain as it was promised. And I am a security for my companions, so when I pass away, the time will come upon my companions which has been promised to them. And my companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are a security for my Ummah, so when my companions (may Allah be pleased with them) end, that which has been promised to my Ummah will befall it."
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2531
Imam Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the explanation of this hadith that as long as the stars remain, the sky also remains. And on the Day of Judgment, when the stars lose their light and fall with a crash, the sky will also split. The survival of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was a source of security for his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. As soon as the Prophet, peace be upon him, passed away, trials befell the companions, may Allah be pleased with them. And the survival of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, was a source of security for the Ummah. As soon as the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, passed away from this world, seditions arose in the Ummah, innovations appeared, and the Ummah became afflicted with discord.
⑥ It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, was asked: Who are the best people? He, peace be upon him, said
(( قرنی ، ثم الذین یلونہم ، ثم الذین یلونہم ))
The people of my generation (are the best), then those who come after them, then those who come after them.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 2651
⑦ Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said
(( لا تسبو أصحابی ، فوالذی نفسی بیدہٖ لو أن أحدکم أنفق مثل أحد ذھبا ما بلغ مد أحدہم ولا نصیفہ ))
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 a mud or half a mud of theirs.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3673
This means that even if a single companion, despite his poverty, spent a little in the way of Allah, it is purer and more deserving of reward with Allah than a large sum of money spent by someone who came after them.
⑧ Hazrat Abu Abdur-Rahman Al-Juhani (RA) says that we were sitting in the assembly of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when suddenly two horsemen appeared
They both came and sat near the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. One of them extended his hand for allegiance and asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah! What is your opinion about the person who saw you, believed in you, followed you, and confirmed you? What will he receive?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "For him is Tuba." (The name of a tree in Paradise) Then he gave allegiance and stepped back. After that, the second person came forward and also gave allegiance, asking the same question as the first person. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to him, "For him is Tuba, then for him is Tuba."
Many more hadiths regarding the virtues of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are present in the books of hadith. In fact, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, states that "The hadiths about the virtues and merits of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and their praise, as well as the superiority of their century over the other centuries, are well-known and even of the mutawatir (mass-transmitted) grade. Therefore, finding fault with them is essentially finding fault with the Quran and Sunnah."
These were the virtues that generally apply to all the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Some virtues are specifically about certain Companions, and we mention a few of them here.
① The Virtues of the Ansar of Madinah
Mentioning the Ansar of Madinah Tayyibah, Allah the Almighty says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُوا الدَّارَ وَالْإِيمَانَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّا أُوتُوا وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
"And (also) those who were settled in (Medina) before them and had believed. They love those who emigrated to them and find no need in their hearts for what they have been given. They prefer them over themselves, even though they are in poverty. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful."
Reference: Surah Al-Hashr:9
In this noble verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned some praiseworthy qualities of the Ansar of Medina, may Allah be pleased with them, and has testified on their behalf that they had embraced faith even before the arrival of the Muhajirin from Makkah. Among them was such a spirit of selflessness and sacrifice that they loved the companions who migrated to Medina with heartfelt affection. And if some portion of the spoils of war was given to the Muhajirin, the Ansar did not feel any resentment or discomfort in their hearts. Even if there was need and hunger in their own homes, they preferred the Muhajirin and their needs over themselves and their own needs, and took care of them in every way.
There are many examples of the spirit of selflessness and sacrifice of the Ansar of Medina, may Allah be pleased with them, but here we mention only two examples.
➊ Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a person came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) (according to one narration, this was Abu Hurairah himself) and said: O Messenger of Allah! I am very hungry. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired at the houses of his wives but found nothing there. [In one narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired at the house of each of his wives, and from every house the answer was the same: they had nothing except water.] Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them): Is there anyone who will host this person? May Allah have mercy on his condition (the one who hosts him). Accordingly, an Ansari (Hazrat Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! I will host him. Then he took that person with him and said to his wife (Hazrat Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her):
( أکرمی ضیف رسول اللٰہ صلي الله عليه وسلم )
Meaning: "This person is a guest sent by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), so whatever is available, feed him and honor him."
She said: By Allah! I barely have enough food for the children. Hazrat Abu Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Alright, do this: when the children start asking for food, put them to sleep, and when the two of us (me and the guest) begin to eat, extinguish the lamp, so that neither of us will eat tonight (and the guest will eat). Accordingly, Hazrat Umm Salim (may Allah be pleased with her) did just that. [In one narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Umm Salim (may Allah be pleased with her) stood up under the pretext of fixing the lamp and then extinguished it. Then both of them pretended to be eating with the guest, although they were not eating. They remained hungry the entire night.]
In the morning, when Hazrat Abu Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(( لقد عجب اللٰہ عز وجل ۔ أو ضحك ۔ من فلان وفلانة ))
"Allah was very pleased with such-and-such man and such-and-such woman, or He smiled upon them."
Then Allah revealed this verse:
﴿وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ﴾
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3798
➋ Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that when Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA) migrated and came to us, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established brotherhood between him and Hazrat Saad bin Rabi' (RA), who was very wealthy. He said to Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA): I am the wealthiest among the Ansar, and this is known to the Ansar as well. I divide my wealth into two parts, one part for myself and the other for you. Besides this, I have two wives; whichever of them you like more, I will divorce her, and when her waiting period (iddah) is completed, you may marry her.
Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf (RA) said:
(بارك اللٰہ لك فی أہلك ومالك)
"May Allah bless your family and your wealth."
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه says that after this, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه became the owner of ghee and cheese, and not much time had passed when the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم saw some yellowish marks on them. So the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم asked him: What is this? He replied: I gave gold equal to the weight of a date stone as dowry and married an Ansari woman. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم congratulated him and said:
(( أولم ولو بشاۃ ))
"Hold a walimah (feast), even if it is by slaughtering a goat."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:2048
These two incidents testify to the spirit of selflessness and sacrifice of the Ansar of Madinah رضي الله عنهم. Besides this, listen to a few more hadiths regarding the virtue of the Ansar of Madinah رضي الله عنهم.
Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
(( لو أن الأنصار سلکوا وادیا أو شعبا لسلکت فی وادی الأنصار،ولو لا الہجرۃ لکنت امرئ ا من الأنصار))
"If the Ansar were to go through one valley or gorge (and other people through another valley or gorge), then I would also go through the valley of the Ansar. And if migration had not taken place, I too would have been one of the Ansar."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3779
And Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that on the day of the conquest of Makkah, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave wealth to the Quraysh, the Ansar said: "By Allah! This is a strange thing that the blood of the Quraysh is still flowing from our swords, and yet our spoils are being given to them!" When this reached the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he called them and said: "What have I heard from you?"
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says: They were not lying, so they admitted that what had reached you is indeed what we said. Then the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(أو لا ترضون أن یرجع الناس بالغنائم إلٰی بیوتہم ، وترجعون برسول اللٰہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم إلٰی بیوتکم؟ لو سلکت الأنصار وادیا أو شعبا لسلکت وادی الأنصار أو شعبہم)
"Do you not like that people loot their homes as spoils of war, and you return to your homes with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him! If the Ansar go to one valley or gorge (and people go to another valley or gorge), then I will also go to the valley or gorge of the Ansar."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3778
And Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates that an Ansari woman came to the presence of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, with one of her children. The Prophet, peace be upon him, spoke to her, then said:
(والذی نفسی بیدہٖ إنکم أحب الناس إلی)
By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! You people are more beloved to me than all other people.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3786
Similarly, Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, also narrates that on the day of the Battle of the Trench, the Ansar of Medina, may Allah be pleased with them, said:
نحن الذین بایعوا محمدا علی الجہاد ما حیینا أبدا
We are those who have pledged allegiance to Muhammad, peace be upon him, that as long as we live, we will continue to strive in jihad.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:2961
In response, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
اَللّٰہُمَّ لاَ عَیْشَ إِلاَّ عَیْشُ الْآخِرَۃ فَأَکْرِمِ الْأنْصَارَ وَالْمُہَاجِرَۃ
"O Allah! The true life is the life of the Hereafter, so honor the Ansar and the Muhajirin."
② Virtues of the People of Badr
At the end of the story of Hazrat Hatib bin Abi Balta'ah (RA), when Hazrat Umar (RA) said that Hatib had betrayed Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers, and asked for permission to behead him, the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( لعل اللٰہ اطلع علٰی أہل بدر فقال: اعملوا ما شئتم فقد غفرت لکم)) وفی روایة:(( فقد وجبت لکم الجنة ))
"Perhaps Allah looked upon the People of Badr (with mercy) and then said: Do as you wish, I have forgiven you." And in another narration: "Paradise has become obligatory for you."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3007
And Rifa'ah bin Rafi' Al-Zarqi narrated from his father, who was among the people of Badr, that when Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked: "What is the status of the people of Badr with you?" He replied: "They are the best among the Muslims." Then Angel Jibreel said: "Likewise, among the angels, those who participated in Badr are the best."
③ The Virtues of the People of Uhud
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لما أصیب إخوانکم بأحد جعل اللٰہ أرواحہم فی جوف طیر خضر ترد أنہار الجنة،تأکل من ثمارہا،وتأوی إلٰی قنادیل من ذہب معلقة فی ظل العرش،فلما وجدوا طیب مأکلہم ومشربہم ومقیلہم قالوا: من یبلغ إخواننا عنا أنا أحیاء فی الجنة نرزق،لئلا یزہدوا فی الجہاد ولا ینکلوا عند الحرب ؟ فقال اللٰہ تعالٰی: أنا أبلغہم عنکم،قال:فأنزل اللٰہ:{ ولا تحسبن الذین قتلوا فی سبیل اللٰہ أمواتا ۔۔۔۔۔} ))
"When your brothers were martyred in Uhud, Allah Almighty sent their souls into the bellies of green birds that go upon the rivers of Paradise and eat its fruits, then they return to the golden lamps hanging under the shade of the Throne. When they felt the pleasure of their food, drink, and sleep, they said: Who will convey to our brothers that we are alive in Paradise and are provided sustenance so that they do not turn away from Jihad and do not retreat during the battle? Then Allah Almighty said: I will convey this message to them on your behalf. Then Allah Almighty revealed this verse: (And do not think of those who are killed in the way of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision...)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood: 2520
④ Virtues of the Companions who participated in the Pledge of Ridwan (رضوان) رضی اللہ عنہم
Allah, the Lord of Glory, has praised those noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in several verses of Surah Al-Fath who participated in the Pledge of Ridwan at Hudaybiyyah and pledged allegiance to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him. The Divine command is:
{لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا ﴿١٨﴾ وَمَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةً يَأْخُذُونَهَا ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا}
"Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts. So He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with a near victory and abundant spoils that they would acquire. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
Reference: Surah Al-Fath: 18-19
In addition, it is narrated from Hazrat Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said to us on the day of Hudaybiyyah:
(( أنتم خیر أہل الأرض))وکنا ألفا وأربعمائة
"You are today the best people on the face of the earth." That day we were fourteen hundred in number.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 4154
And it is narrated from Hazrat Umm Bishr, may Allah be pleased with her, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
(( لاَیَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِنْ شَاءَ اﷲُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الشَّجَرَۃِ أَحَدٌ الَّذِیْنَ بَایَعُوْا تَحْتَہَا ))
"None of those tree people who pledged allegiance under it will enter Hell, God willing."
Reference: Sahih Muslim: 2496
It should be noted that in this hadith, "God willing" is merely for blessing; otherwise, it is certain that none of them will enter Hell.
Besides these hadiths, numerous hadiths regarding the virtues of each of the four rightly guided caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them, as well as many other noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are narrated in the books of hadith, which we do not have the opportunity to mention now. May Allah grant us the ability to follow the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, with sincerity and love. Ameen.
In the first sermon, we discussed the virtues and merits of the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and what our belief should be regarding them and what the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah is about them. Let us find out.
① Loving the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and praying for them is obligatory
The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah is that loving the Noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, is obligatory, praying for them is necessary, and harboring enmity towards them is forbidden, because Allah Almighty granted them the companionship of the Messenger ﷺ and chose them to fight alongside him for the support of the religion. After mentioning the Muhajireen and Ansar in Surah Al-Hashr, Allah Almighty says:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴾
"And (also for) those who came after them, saying, 'Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful.'"
Reference: Surah Al-Hashr:10
This noble verse is clear evidence that loving the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, is obligatory, because Allah Almighty has declared the people who come after the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, as deserving of the spoils of war, but with one condition that they love the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. For this reason, according to Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, those who harbor hatred towards the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are not considered deserving of the spoils of war.
Regarding this same verse, Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "People were commanded to pray for forgiveness for the Companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but people began to speak ill of them."
And it is narrated from Hazrat Bara, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said about the Ansar:
(( لا یحبہم إلا مؤمن،ولا یبغضہم إلا منافق،من أحبہم أحبہ اﷲ، ومن أبغضہم أبغضہ اﷲ ))
"Only a believer can love them, and only a hypocrite can harbor enmity towards them. And whoever loves them, Allah will love him. And whoever harbors enmity towards them, Allah will harbor enmity towards him."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari: 3783
Therefore, it is clear that the habit of the people of faith is to love all the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to pray for them, and to keep their hearts free from enmity and obstinacy against them.
Imam Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him, while explaining the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah regarding the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, says:
نحبّ أصحاب رسول اﷲ صلي الله عليه وسلم ،ولا نفرط فی حبّ أحد منھم ، ولا نتبرأ من أحد منہم،ونبغض من یبغضہم وبغیر الخیر یذکرہم ، ولا نذکرہم إلاّ بخیر،وحبّہم دین وإیمان وإحسان،وبغضہم کفر ونفاق وطغیان
"We love the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and do not exaggerate in the love of any one companion, nor do we declare disassociation from any of them. And we hold enmity towards every person who harbors hatred against the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and does not mention them with goodness. We remember them with goodness and consider their love to be the essence of religion, faith, and benevolence, while holding enmity against them is considered outright disbelief, hypocrisy, and rebellion.
Reference: Matn al-‘Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah:93
And Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "One of the principles of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah is that they protect their hearts from hatred of the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and their tongues from criticizing them."
② Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama‘ah testify to Paradise for the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them
At the beginning of this sermon, we have established with reference to Surah At-Tawbah, verse { وَالسَّابِقُوْنَ الْأوَّلُوْنَ…} that Allah Almighty has declared His pleasure with the Muhajireen, Ansar, and the later Companions (Sahabah) and has promised Paradise for them. Therefore, Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah testifies to Paradise for all the Companions (Sahabah) of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, specifically named certain Companions and declared them to be among the people of Paradise; Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah also testifies to Paradise for them. For example, regarding the Ashara Mubashshara, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
’’Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Talha, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Zubair, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Abdur Rahman bin Awf, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Saad bin Abi Waqqas, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; Saeed bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise; and Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah, may Allah be pleased with him, is in Paradise.
Reference: Sunan Tirmidhi:3747
Similarly, by mentioning the names of many other companions, may Allah be pleased with them, the Prophet ﷺ declared them to be people of Paradise. However, mentioning the names of some companions does not mean that the rest of the companions are not in Paradise; rather, it is evidence of the virtue of those particular companions. Otherwise, we have already established, based on the Qur'an, that Allah has promised Paradise to all the companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
③ All the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, are trustworthy and reliable
The Divine command is:
﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا﴾
"We have thus made you a just (best) nation so that you may be witnesses over the people and the Messenger shall be a witness over you."
Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah:143
The meaning of ﴿أُمَّةً وَسَطًا﴾ according to most commentators is "Adoola Khayara," that is, the best, most excellent, trustworthy, and reliable nation.
The first addressees of this verse are the Companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, who were entrusted with the responsibility of conveying the religion. As Allah Almighty says in this command:
﴿کُنْتُمْ خَیْرَ اُمَّةٍ اُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَاْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَتَنْہَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْکَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُوْنَ باللّٰہِ﴾
"You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah."
Reference: Al-Imran:110
And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, addressing the large gathering of the Companions at the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage, said:
(( ألا لیبلغ الشاہد منکم الغائب))
"Beware! Whoever is present among you here should convey [this message] to those who are absent."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:105
From these noble verses and this prophetic hadith, it is proven that the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, are trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. That is why they were entrusted with the important duty of preaching the religion; otherwise, if they were not trustworthy and reliable, this responsibility would not have been assigned to them.
Moreover, after ﴿أُمَّةً وَسَطًا﴾, Allah Almighty said ﴿لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ﴾, which means that their testimony is acceptable before Allah, and this is also evidence of their integrity, reliability, and trustworthiness. Otherwise, if that were not the case, their testimony would not have been accepted!!
Imam Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on him, writes in the exegesis of the last verse of Surah Al-Fath ﴿مُمُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ…الخ ﴾:
"All the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, are just (trustworthy and reliable), they are the friends of Allah and His chosen servants, and after the Prophets and Messengers, they are the best among His creation. This is the belief of the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. Whereas one sect says no, the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are like ordinary people, so it is necessary to debate their trustworthiness, but their belief is rejected because Allah Almighty has declared His pleasure with them and promised them Paradise and forgiveness."
④ The Rightly Guided Caliphs: Hazrat Abu Bakr, then Hazrat Umar, then Hazrat Uthman, and then Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with them
Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah agree that among the Companions, the most virtuous Companion is Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, and he is the first Caliph. This entitlement is derived from several hadiths of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself. Indeed, during his final illness, the Prophet ﷺ appointed Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه to lead the people in prayer. This was a clear indication that the person who was worthy of leading during the Prophet’s life is the first rightful claimant to the Caliphate after his death.
Also, in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated from Hazrat Jubair bin Mut'im رضي الله عنه that a woman came to the Prophet ﷺ, and he instructed her to come again. She asked: "If I come and do not find you, then what?" The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إن لم تجدینی فأتی أبا بکر ))
"If you do not find me, then come to Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:3659
This hadith is a clear text proving that the first rightful caliph was Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). All the Muhajireen and Ansar who participated in the gathering of Saqifah Banu Sa'idah agreed on this and pledged allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), as narrated in Sahih Bukhari.
Similarly, it is the unanimous belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah that after Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), the second caliph was Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). After him, the third caliph was Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), and after him, the fourth caliph was Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him).
⑤ Insulting the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is forbidden according to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah
According to Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah, insulting and cursing the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is forbidden.
Its prohibition is established by clear evidences from the Qur'an and Hadith. For example:
➊ The Divine command is:
﴿وَالَّذِیْنَ یُؤْذُوْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ بِغَیْرِ مَا اکْتَسَبُوْا فَقَدِ احْتَمَلُوْا بُھْتَانًا وَّاِثْمًا مُّبِیْنًا ﴾
"Indeed, those who harm believing men and believing women without [their] having earned it have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin."
Reference: Surah Al-Ahzab:58
This verse mentions the believers, and the first believers of this Ummah were the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Therefore, insulting them through curses is, in the words of the Holy Quran, slander and a clear sin.
➋ The last verse of Surah Al-Fath:
﴿مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ ……الخ﴾
Which was mentioned at the beginning of this sermon, states that harboring enmity towards the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and being filled with anger and hatred against them is the way of the disbelievers. This is clear evidence that expressing anger and cursing these pure personalities is not befitting for Muslims because it is the act of disbelievers.
➌ We have already mentioned a few hadiths regarding the virtue of the noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, in the first sermon. Among them is a hadith narrated by Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade cursing the Companions. This is evidence that cursing them is forbidden.
➍ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
(( من سب أصحابی فعلیہ لعنة ﷲ والملآئکة والناس أجمعین))
"Whoever insults my noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them), upon him is the curse of Allah, the curse of the angels, and the curse of all people."
Reference: Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Al-Tabarani:12709
In this hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has declared cursed the person who speaks ill and abuses his noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Therefore, those who insult them should consider for themselves what judgment the Chief of Messengers, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him), has passed regarding them!!
➎ Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates that it was said to Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها that people are speaking ill of the noble companions of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, to the extent that even Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما are not being spared! Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها said: Are you surprised by this? In reality, their deeds have ceased, but Allah has willed that their reward should not cease.
From all these evidences, it has become absolutely clear that it is essential to keep our hearts free from hatred and malice towards the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) and to protect our tongues from cursing and insulting them. Otherwise, it should be remembered that a person who speaks ill of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and criticizes them is, in fact, criticizing the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), because the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave them glad tidings and declared them trustworthy and reliable. Rather, such a person is essentially objecting to Allah Almighty as well, because Allah Himself chose them to be with His Prophet, bestowed His pleasure upon them, and promised them Paradise. Moreover, such a person is actually insulting the entire divine religion because it is these very Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who transmitted this religion. Therefore, criticizing the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is an extremely dangerous matter from which immediate repentance is necessary. May Allah grant us all the ability to truly love the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). Ameen.
