Narration from Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman bin Auf (RA)
Sayyiduna Abdul Rahman bin Auf (RA) narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
Abu Bakr is in Jannah, Umar is in Jannah, Uthman is in Jannah, Ali is in Jannah, Talha is in Jannah, Zubair is in Jannah, Abdul Rahman bin Auf is in Jannah, Saad bin Abi Waqqas is in Jannah, Saeed bin Zaid is in Jannah, and Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah is in Jannah.
- Abu Bakr (Siddiq) is in Jannah
- Umar is in Jannah
- Uthman is in Jannah
- Ali is in Jannah
- Talha is in Jannah
- Zubair is in Jannah
- Abdul Rahman bin Auf is in Jannah
- Saad bin Abi Waqqas is in Jannah
- Saeed bin Zaid is in Jannah
- Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah is in Jannah(Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3747 with an authentic chain, Adhwa al-Masabih: 6109)
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 370).
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) was on the mountain of Hira with Abu Bakr (Siddiq), Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talha, and Zubair (RA) when the mountain began to shake due to an earthquake. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Be still, for upon you are none but a Prophet, a Siddiq, and martyrs.” (Sahih Muslim: 2417).
This authentic Hadith signifies the great virtues of these esteemed companions. The title of Siddiq for Abu Bakr (Abdullah bin Uthman) was given by the Prophet (PBUH). This Hadith also foretells that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA) would not be martyred, while Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Uthman, Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Talha, and Sayyiduna Zubair bin al-Awam (RA) would be martyred. This prophecy was fulfilled word for word.
Sayings of Sayyiduna Anas (RA)
Sayyiduna Anas (RA), the servant of the Prophet (PBUH), narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) said:The most compassionate of my Ummah towards my Ummah is Abu Bakr; the most stringent regarding the matters of Allah is Umar; the most truthful in modesty is Uthman; the most knowledgeable in inheritance laws is Zaid bin Thabit; the most proficient in recitation of the Quran is Ubayy bin Ka’b; the most knowledgeable regarding what is lawful and unlawful is Muadh bin Jabal. And every Ummah has a trustee, and the trustee of this Ummah is Abu Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah.
(Musnad Ahmad 3/281, Hadith 14035, Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3791, Hasan Sahih, Adhwa al-Masabih: 6111 with an authentic chain)
Love for the Ten Promised Paradise and Other Companions
Loving the ten promised Paradise and other companions is an essential part of faith. Imam A’wam bin Hawshab al-Shaybani (a trustworthy, steadfast, and virtuous scholar, died in 148 AH) states:“Mention the virtues of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) so that love for them fills the hearts. Do not mention their faults, lest hatred fills the hearts against them.”
(Tathbit al-Imamah wa Tarteeb al-Khilafah by Hafiz Abu Nu’aym al-Asbahani: 217, with a reliable chain)
Criticizing and mentioning the faults of the companions is a characteristic of the people of innovation. The people of the Sunnah love the companions because of the testimony of the Quran and Hadith. The beloved companions of the Prophet (PBUH) are the ones who conveyed the Quran and Hadith to the Muslim Ummah, and Allah is pleased with them, bestowing upon them the title of "رضي الله عنهم و رضوا عنه".
Statements of Prominent Scholars
Renowned trustworthy and devout scholar Imam Ma’afi bin Imran al-Mawsili (died in 185 AH) was asked about Umar bin Abdul Aziz and Sayyiduna Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan (RA). He replied:“No one can be compared to the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Muawiyah was his companion, brother-in-law, scribe, and the trustee of Allah’s revelation.”
(Tarikh Baghdad 1/209, no. 48, with a reliable chain)
The renowned and esteemed Tabi’i Imam Masruq bin al-Ajda’ (died in 62 AH) states:
“Loving Abu Bakr and Umar (RA) and recognizing their virtues is part of the Sunnah.”
(Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn Asakir 32/257, al-Ma’rifah wa al-Tarikh by Imam Ya’qub bin Sufyan al-Farsi 2/813, with a reliable chain)
May Allah be pleased with all of them.