Written by: Qari Usama bin Abdul Salam
The Prophet ﷺ said:
خَيْرُ ٱلنَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ
“The best of people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2651; Sahih Muslim 2533)
Explanation:
This hadith proves the consensus (ijmaʿ) that all the Sahabah (RA) are just (ʿudūl) and superior to the later generations.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الأنصَارُ لا يُحِبُّهُم إلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يُبْغِضُهُم إلَّا مُنَافِقٌ، فمَن أَحَبَّهُم أَحَبَّهُ اللهُ، وَمَن أَبْغَضَهُم أَبْغَضَهُ اللهُ
“Only a believer loves the Ansar, and only a hypocrite hates them. Whoever loves them, Allah loves him; and whoever hates them, Allah hates him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3783)
Explanation:
Love for the Ansar is a sign of true faith, and hatred towards them is hypocrisy.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنْفَقَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ، وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ
“Do not revile my Companions. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd (handful) spent by them, nor even half of it.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3673)
Explanation:
This shows the unmatched sincerity, sacrifice, and faith of the Companions.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ فِي أَصْحَابِي، لَا تَتَّخِذُوهُمْ غَرَضًا بَعْدِي، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُمْ فَبِحُبِّي أَحَبَّهُمْ، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمْ فَبِبُغْضِي أَبْغَضَهُمْ
“Fear Allah concerning my Companions. Do not make them a target after me. Whoever loves them, loves them because of my love; and whoever hates them, hates them because of my hatred.”
(Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 3862 – Sahih)
Explanation:
The Prophet ﷺ linked love for his Companions to love for himself, and hatred for them to hatred for him.
Allah says:
لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ
“Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.”
(Al-Fath: 18)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ بَايَعَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ
“None of those who gave the pledge under the tree will enter Hell.”
(Sahih Muslim 2496)
Explanation:
All participants of Bayʿat al-Ridwan have Allah’s pleasure and are guaranteed safety from Hellfire.
Conclusion:
Every Companion (RA) is beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Honoring them, loving them, and refraining from speaking ill about them is a part of our creed (ʿaqīdah).
1. All Companions Are Just and the Best of People
The Prophet ﷺ said:
خَيْرُ ٱلنَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ
“The best of people are those of my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2651; Sahih Muslim 2533)
Explanation:
This hadith proves the consensus (ijmaʿ) that all the Sahabah (RA) are just (ʿudūl) and superior to the later generations.
2. Praise for the Ansar
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الأنصَارُ لا يُحِبُّهُم إلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلَا يُبْغِضُهُم إلَّا مُنَافِقٌ، فمَن أَحَبَّهُم أَحَبَّهُ اللهُ، وَمَن أَبْغَضَهُم أَبْغَضَهُ اللهُ
“Only a believer loves the Ansar, and only a hypocrite hates them. Whoever loves them, Allah loves him; and whoever hates them, Allah hates him.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3783)
Explanation:
Love for the Ansar is a sign of true faith, and hatred towards them is hypocrisy.
3. The Status of the Muhajirun
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنْفَقَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ، وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ
“Do not revile my Companions. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd (handful) spent by them, nor even half of it.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3673)
Explanation:
This shows the unmatched sincerity, sacrifice, and faith of the Companions.
4. General Command to Respect All Companions
The Prophet ﷺ said:
اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ فِي أَصْحَابِي، لَا تَتَّخِذُوهُمْ غَرَضًا بَعْدِي، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُمْ فَبِحُبِّي أَحَبَّهُمْ، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمْ فَبِبُغْضِي أَبْغَضَهُمْ
“Fear Allah concerning my Companions. Do not make them a target after me. Whoever loves them, loves them because of my love; and whoever hates them, hates them because of my hatred.”
(Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi 3862 – Sahih)
Explanation:
The Prophet ﷺ linked love for his Companions to love for himself, and hatred for them to hatred for him.
5. Glad Tidings of Paradise for the Companions of Bayʿat al-Ridwan
Allah says:
لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ
“Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.”
(Al-Fath: 18)
The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ بَايَعَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ
“None of those who gave the pledge under the tree will enter Hell.”
(Sahih Muslim 2496)
Explanation:
All participants of Bayʿat al-Ridwan have Allah’s pleasure and are guaranteed safety from Hellfire.
Summary of the Virtues of the Companions (RA)
- They are the best generation of mankind.
- Loving them is part of faith; hating them is hypocrisy.
- Their deeds surpass those of later generations in value and sincerity.
- Insulting or criticizing them is forbidden.
- Many have explicit promises of Paradise, especially those in Bayʿat al-Ridwan.
Conclusion:
Every Companion (RA) is beloved to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Honoring them, loving them, and refraining from speaking ill about them is a part of our creed (ʿaqīdah).
