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It goes without saying that love and veneration for all the Sahabah of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is a prerequisite for every Muslim’s iman. Every Muslim — even faintly concerned with his iman — should therefore completely abstain from attacking or criticising the honour and dignity of the noble Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. In doing so, he prevents the door of war from being opened upon himself; for did Allah Ta’ala not declare war on anyone who harms His friends?
The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum reached the pinnacle of wilayah (sainthood); they read salah behind Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fought alongside him in battle, spent their days and nights in his blessed company, assisted him salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in times of need, and were the first to witness and receive revelation as it descended unto Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If such people are not considered the friends of Allah Ta’ala, then who will be? The verses of the Qur’an and the hadith of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that speak to the virtues of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum are far too many; therefore, it is only appropriate that a Muslim should love them for the sake of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; he should try to emulate their way of life, and work towards spreading their doyen lifestyle throughout the world.
Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh in his book, Ghayat al Tabjil, writes:
It is incumbent upon every believer to show love and respect to the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum, insofar as even looking for excuses on their behalf (for whatever disagreements may have occurred between them). Wretched is the one who speaks about them in a profane manner! How many a scholars have written on the harms of cursing the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum! Among them:
- Qadi ‘Ayyad and the commentators of his al Shifa’
- Ibn Qudamah
- Taqiyy al Din al Subki in Ghayrat al Iman al Jali li Abi Bakr wa ‘Umar wa ‘Uthman wa ‘Ali[1], and in al Saif al Maslul.
- Imam al Suyuti in Ilqam al Hajar Li man Zakka Sabb Abi Bakr wa ‘Umar
- Ibn ‘Abidin in Tanbih al Wulat wa al Hukkam ‘Ala Shatim Khayr al Anam aw Ahad Ashabihi al Kiram ‘Alayhi wa ‘Alayhim al Salat wa al Salam
- Imam al Alusi (grandson of the famous commentator ‘Allamah al Alusi rahimahu Llah) in Sabb al ‘Adhab ‘Ala Man Sabba al Ashab.
It is as if the enormity of this sin (cursing the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum) is so great, that all other sins seem relatively inconsequential. Included in this is attacking (the personality of) ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. This has been established by Sa’id ibn Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu in both the Musnad of Imam Ahmed and Sunan of Abu Dawood.
[1] This treatise is to be found among his fatawa.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
It goes without saying that love and veneration for all the Sahabah of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is a prerequisite for every Muslim’s iman. Every Muslim — even faintly concerned with his iman — should therefore completely abstain from attacking or criticising the honour and dignity of the noble Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. In doing so, he prevents the door of war from being opened upon himself; for did Allah Ta’ala not declare war on anyone who harms His friends?
The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum reached the pinnacle of wilayah (sainthood); they read salah behind Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, fought alongside him in battle, spent their days and nights in his blessed company, assisted him salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in times of need, and were the first to witness and receive revelation as it descended unto Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. If such people are not considered the friends of Allah Ta’ala, then who will be? The verses of the Qur’an and the hadith of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that speak to the virtues of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum are far too many; therefore, it is only appropriate that a Muslim should love them for the sake of Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; he should try to emulate their way of life, and work towards spreading their doyen lifestyle throughout the world.
Mahmud Sa’id Mamduh in his book, Ghayat al Tabjil, writes:
It is incumbent upon every believer to show love and respect to the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum, insofar as even looking for excuses on their behalf (for whatever disagreements may have occurred between them). Wretched is the one who speaks about them in a profane manner! How many a scholars have written on the harms of cursing the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum! Among them:
- Qadi ‘Ayyad and the commentators of his al Shifa’
- Ibn Qudamah
- Taqiyy al Din al Subki in Ghayrat al Iman al Jali li Abi Bakr wa ‘Umar wa ‘Uthman wa ‘Ali[1], and in al Saif al Maslul.
- Imam al Suyuti in Ilqam al Hajar Li man Zakka Sabb Abi Bakr wa ‘Umar
- Ibn ‘Abidin in Tanbih al Wulat wa al Hukkam ‘Ala Shatim Khayr al Anam aw Ahad Ashabihi al Kiram ‘Alayhi wa ‘Alayhim al Salat wa al Salam
- Imam al Alusi (grandson of the famous commentator ‘Allamah al Alusi rahimahu Llah) in Sabb al ‘Adhab ‘Ala Man Sabba al Ashab.
It is as if the enormity of this sin (cursing the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum) is so great, that all other sins seem relatively inconsequential. Included in this is attacking (the personality of) ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. This has been established by Sa’id ibn Zaid radiya Llahu ‘anhu in both the Musnad of Imam Ahmed and Sunan of Abu Dawood.
[1] This treatise is to be found among his fatawa.