Introduction

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement, Who states in the noble Qur’an:

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَٰنٖ رَّضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

And the first forerunners (in the faith) among the Muhajirin 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.^[1]

لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ

Allah has already forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin, and the Ansar.^[2]

لَّقَدۡ رَضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ إِذۡ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحۡتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَأَثَٰبَهُمۡ فَتۡحٗا قَرِيبٗا وَمَغَانِمَ كَثِيرَةٗ يَأۡخُذُونَهَاۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمٗا

Certainly, was Allah pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you, (O Muhammad), under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest. And much war booty which they will take. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.^[3]

مُّحَمَّدٞ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلۡكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ تَرَىٰهُمۡ رُكَّعٗا سُجَّدٗا يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗاۖ سِيمَاهُمۡ فِي وُجُوهِهِم مِّنۡ أَثَرِ ٱلسُّجُودِۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةِۚ وَمَثَلُهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡإِنجِيلِ كَزَرۡعٍ أَخۡرَجَ شَطۡـَٔهُۥ فَـَٔازَرَهُۥ فَٱسۡتَغۡلَظَ فَٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِۦ يُعۡجِبُ ٱلزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ ٱلۡكُفَّارَۗ وَعَدَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ مِنۡهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٗ وَأَجۡرًا عَظِيمَۢا

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating (in prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) pleasure. Their sign is in their faces from the effect of prostration (i.e., prayer). That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers so that He (i.e., Allah) may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward.^[4]

Peace and salutations be upon the beloved, the leader of the prophets, and the seal of the messengers ‘alayhim al Salam, the one selected for the great intercession and great characteristics, the one honoured with distinguished merits, the compassionate, the merciful.

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

خير الناس قرني ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم

The best of people is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.^[5]

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam further said:

ﻻ ﺗﺴﺒﻮا أحدا ﻣﻦ أﺻﺤﺎﺑﻲ ﻓﺈن أحدﻛﻢ ﻟﻮ أﻧﻔﻖ ﻣﺜﻞ أﺣﺪ ذهبا ما أدرك مد أحدهم ولا نصيفه

Do not revile any of my Companions, for if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Mount Uhud in gold, he would not reach the level of one mudd (type of measure) of theirs or even half of it.^[6]

Muslim narrated it from Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu.

The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said:

أﺻﺤﺎبي أﻣﻨﺔ ﻷمتي ﻓﺈذا ذﻫﺐ أﺻﺤﺎﺑﻲ أﺗﻰ أﻣﺘﻲ ﻣﺎ ﻳﻮﻋﺪون

My Companions are a protection for my Ummah. When my Companions are gone, my Ummah will be afflicted with what they were promised.^[7]

Furthermore, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said regarding them:

أﻧﺘﻢ ﺷﻬﺪاء اﷲ ﻓﻲ اﻷرض

You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.^[8]

May Allah be pleased with the family of His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the honoured, fortunate, and pure ones, as well as his righteous, choicest, and pious Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, the practicing, righteous, reforming scholars, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Qiyamah. May he make us among them and resurrect us with them, under the banner of the leader of the prophets salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Furthermore, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala praised the Companions of His selected Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, deemed them trustworthy, and commended them. He confirmed their perfect faith and sincere conviction, and that they are among the truthful, pious, successful, rightly-guided, and merciful, who were given good tidings of Jannat. Through them, He assisted His beloved and chosen one salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and made them the best Ummah brought forth for mankind. He accepted their repentance. He is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He loved them and they love Him… He pleases the believers and enrages the disbelievers through them. How could it not be? Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala selected them from among all His creation, making them part of His Prophet and chosen one’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam Ummah. He made them his Companions, in-laws, supporters, helpers, and relatives.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala honoured them with satisfaction, sent down tranquillity upon them, and made them the selected and outstanding ones. He made them the best of creation after the prophets ‘alayhim al Salam. They are Allah’s witnesses on His earth, victorious over the creation by means of the truth, supported by His proof and assistance. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala described them—prior to their existence—in previous scriptures, and promised them forgiveness, abundant reward, and great favour. He increased their iman (faith) after adorning it in their hearts. He imposed upon them the word of righteousness, and they were more deserving and worthy of it. He supported His noble and beloved Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam through them, answered their prayers, and sent down angels to support them, bringing glad tidings and reassurance to their hearts. He made disbelief, defiance, and disobedience hateful to them.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala promised them succession on earth, consolidation in din, security and safety, and the removal of fear.

He subhanahu wa ta ‘ala described them with soft-heartedness, humble limbs, flowing tears, and humility. He promised them Jannat, pleasure, eternity, and that their deeds would not be futile.

They are the victorious group of Allah, the forerunners, the close ones, the successful ones, the truthful ones, the rightly-guided ones, the doers of good, the religious scholars, the true believers, the worshippers, the sincere ones, the guided ones, the people of understanding, and the chosen ones radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala removed resentment, jealousy, and grudges from their hearts, and made them loving brothers. Thus, glad tidings and honour came to them, along with the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous. Because they were either martyrs, truthful, or righteous, etc.

They are the best generations from the progeny of Adam ‘alayh al Salam, and they the trustworthy ones of this Ummah. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala selected them to be Companions of His noble and chosen Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This Ummah will remain in good as long as they remain, because they are reformers, just as food is reformed with salt. On the Day of Qiyamah, they will bear witness for the prophets ‘alayhim al Salam regarding their nations. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam bore witness for them; thus he salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam recommended them. It is obligatory to honour them, supplicate for them, seek forgiveness for them, and refrain from reviling or hating them because no matter what anyone does, he will never reach their level. How can he, whereas they were in the company of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam? Therefore, they deserve Jannat in the Hereafter, and the fire (of Jahannam) will not touch any of them.

They are the leaders of the people of Jannat. Among them are those who will enter through the eight doors of Jannat, those on whose death the Throne of Allah shook, those upon whose opinion the Qur’an was revealed, those upon whom Allah and His angels send their greetings, those whom Jibril ‘alayh al Salam visited, those whom the angels shaded and upon whom tranquillity descended, and those who will fly in Jannat with their wings. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala bestowed upon them what He did not give to any of the followers of the prophets ‘alayhim al Salam. May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala be pleased with them and satisfy them.

They will be the first of those who will cross the Sirat (Bridge) and enter Jannat. Among them will be those whose light will be like that of the sun.

Loving them is a sign of iman and hating them is a sign of hypocrisy. They are the confidants of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his bosom friends, and his special ones. Whoever upsets them has upset the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala be pleased with them and satisfy them.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala made it obligatory upon us—those who come after them—to love them, praise them, seek forgiveness for them, be satisfied with them, befriend them, follow their path, and not hate or detest them.

Describing the condition of the Muhajirin and Ansar radiya Llahu ‘anhum and those who come after them, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala states:

لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ ٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُخۡرِجُواْ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمۡ وَأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ يَبۡتَغُونَ فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرِضۡوَٰنٗا وَيَنصُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّٰدِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ يُحِبُّونَ مَنۡ هَاجَرَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمۡ حَاجَةٗ مِّمَّآ أُوتُواْ وَيُؤۡثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بِهِمۡ خَصَاصَةٞۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِهِۦ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ

For the poor Muhajirin who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and (His) approval and supporting (the cause of) Allah and His Messenger, (there is also a share). Those are the truthful. And (also for) those who were settled in the home (i.e. al Madinah) and (adopted) the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what they (i.e. the Muhajirin) were given but give (them) preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul, it is those who will be the successful. And (there is a share for) those who come 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.”^[9]

Hence, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala warned those who oppose His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and follow a path other than that of his faithful and sincere Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum with painful punishment, being thrown into the Fire of Jahannam, and an evil destination. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala warns:

وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعۡ غَيۡرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصۡلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَۖ وَسَآءَتۡ مَصِيرًا

And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers, We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.^[10]

Whoever desires the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has the desire to enter Jannat and remain therein eternally, and whoever desires great success from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala should be happy to follow the Companions of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam completely. Otherwise, he would be wretched, banished, and distant. We seek refuge in Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala states:

وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلۡأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلۡأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحۡسَٰنٖ رَّضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي تَحۡتَهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ

And the first forerunners (in the faith) among the Muhajirin 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.^[11]

What is our stance regarding them? What is our position with them? What is our duty towards them? May Allah be pleased with them and keep them happy.

In the commentary of the verse:

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ

And (there is a share for) those who come 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.”^[12]

Al Imam al Shawkani^[13] states:

أمرهم الله سبحانه وﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﺑﻌﺪ الإﺳﺘﻐﻔﺎر ﻟﻠﻤﻬﺎﺟﺮﻳﻦ واﻷﻧﺼﺎر أن ﻳﻄﻠﺒﻮا ﻣﻦ اﷲ ﺳﺒﺤﺎﻧﻪ وﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ أن ﻳﻨﺰ ع ﻣﻦ ﻗﻠﻮبهم اﻟﻐﻞ ﻟﻠﺬﻳﻦ آﻣﻨﻮا ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹﻃﻼق ﻓﻴﺪﺧﻞ اﻟﺼﺤﺎﺑﺔ رضي الله تعالى عنهم دخولاً أوليا لكونهم أشرف المؤمنين ولكون اﻟﺴﻴﺎق ﻓﻴﻬﻢ فمن لم يستغفر للصحابة رضي الله تعالى عنهم على العموم ويطلب رﺿﻮان اﷲ ﻟﻬﻢ ﻓﻘﺪ ﺧﺎﻟﻒ ﻣﺎ أﻣﺮه اﷲ بهذه اﻵﻳﺔ ﻓﺈن وﺟﺪ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻠﺒﻪ ﻏـلا لهم ﻓﻘﺪ أﺻﺎﺑﻪ ﻧﺰ غ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺸﻴﻄﺎن وﺣﻞ ﺑﻪ ﻧﺼﻴﺐ واﻓﺮ ﻣﻦ ﻋﺼﻴﺎن اﷲ بعداوة أوليائه وخير أمة نبيه الكريم صلى الله عليه وسلم وانفتح له باب من الخذلان يفد به ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﺎر ﺟﻬﻨﻢ إن ﻟﻢ ﻳﺘﺪارك ﻧﻔﺴﻪ ﺑﺎﻟﻠﺠﻮء إﻟﻰ ﷲ ﺳﺒﺤﺎﻧﻪ وﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ والإستغاثة به بأن ينزع من قلبه ما طرقه من الغلّ لخير القرون وأشرف ﻫﺬه اﻷﻣﺔ فإن جاوز ما يجده من الغلّ إلى شتم أحد منهم فقد انقاد للشيطان ﺑﺰﻣﺎم ووﻗﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻏﻀﺐ ﷲ وﺳﺨﻄﻪ…إﻟﺦ

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala instructed them, after seeking forgiveness for the Muhajirin and Ansar, to ask Allah to remove resentment from their hearts toward those who believe in general. Therefore, the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum are included, primarily, because they are the most honourable of the believers and because the context pertains to them.

Whoever does not seek forgiveness for the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in general and does not seek Allah’s pleasure for them, has disobeyed what Allah has commanded him in this verse. If he finds resentment toward them in his heart, then Shaitan has afflicted him and he has been afflicted by great disobedience of Allah, through his enmity toward His friends and the best of the Ummah of His noble Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. A door of failure has been opened for him, leading him to the fire of Jahannam, if he does not redress his situation by turning to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and seeking His assistance in removing from his heart the resentment toward the best of generations and the most honourable of this Ummah.

If he goes beyond his resentment to reviling any of them, then he has surrendered to the reins of Shaitan and has incurred the wrath and anger of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala…

Refer to his conclusion, for it is beneficial.

Furthermore, over the past few years, a number of young scholars have asked me—as a result of what they hear from haters—about the extent of the influence of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in their preservation of the Sunnah. Did any of them write anything of it down? And how true is the claim that the Sunnah began to be compiled in the middle of the third century AH? Meanwhile, others asked me about our duty toward the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, and whether we can be certain that they will enter Jannat.

Some asked me, “Is there anything in the Qur’an that indicates to the status of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum?”

I say: My interest in the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum began about 46 years ago when I was teaching the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam biography at the Masjid in my city.

These lessons attracted many young people. Whenever I saw one of them continuously attending these lessons, I would give him a name of a Companion radiya Llahu ‘anhu—after examining him closely—and ask him to research the morals and characteristics of that Companion radiya Llahu ‘anhu, and write them down for me on a small piece of paper. When he would bring it, I would ask him to verify them.

Through this, my aim was two things:

Reviving the names of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in society, and this has been achieved, all praise to Allah.
Reviving the morals of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum. However, I left my country about 43 years ago. I supplicate to Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala that the second goal or some of it have been achieved.

I have written several books about the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, each one on a specific topic. Therefore, I wanted to write a comprehensive book that would clarify their status in Islam, the extent of their concern for preserving the Prophetic Sunnah, and what is the duty of the Ummah toward them, in addition to other aspects.

I have devoted this thesis to explaining this. I have divided it into an introduction, a preface, and four chapters.

In the preface, I have mentioned the meaning of a Companion, explained the method of identifying him, and not accepting those who claimed to be Companions after the year 110 AH. I have also explained their number, their categories, the last of them to pass away, and the best of them, as an introduction to the research.

In Chapter 1, I mention the status of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in the Qur’an.

In Chapter 2, I mention the status of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in the Prophetic Sunnah.

In Chapter 3, I explore the eagerness of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum in practicing and preserving the Prophetic Sunnah.

In Chapter 4, I mention the Ummah’s duty towards the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

Lastly, the conclusion: I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to conclude it.

I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to make it sincerely for His pleasure, to grant me success and accuracy in it, to protect me from deviation, misguidance, corruption, errors of the pen, and confusion of the soul, to grant me protection in my words, deeds, intentions, and beliefs, and to grant me and all Muslims the love of His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and his family in a manner that pleases Him. I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to honour me and all Muslims with the love of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, to praise them, to be pleased with them, to seek forgiveness and pardon for them, to keep our hearts free from resentment, hatred, and deceit toward all of them, to gift us to one of them, and to resurrect us with them under the banner of the beloved Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to grant us an understanding of His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to grant us words and deeds that please Him, and to make us among the best of His servants and worshippers. I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to forgive me, my parents, my father’s parents, my family, my children, my spouse, my offspring, my brothers, my sheikhs, my loved ones, and those who resort to me, and to gather us all in His abode of mercy.

فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكٗا مِّن قَوۡلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَدۡخِلۡنِي بِرَحۡمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

So (Sulaiman) smiled, amused at her speech, and said, “My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into (the ranks of) Your righteous servants.”^[14]

رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ

My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.^[15]

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلّٗا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٞ رَّحِيمٌ

And those who come 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.”^[16]

Amin. Peace be upon the prophets, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon our master, leader, beloved, and intercessor, Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and upon his fortunate and pure family, his honourable and revered Companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Qiyamah.

And praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Thursday night, 20 Muharram 1428 AH

Abu Ibrahim, Khalil ibn Ibrahim Mulla Khatir al ‘Azzami, resident of Madinah Munawwarah.

^[1] Surah al Tawbah: 100.

^[2] Surah al Tawbah: 117.

^[3] Surah al Fath: 18-19.

^[4] Surah al Fath: 29.

^[5] Sahih al Bukhari, book on testimonies, chapter on one should not bear witness to an unjust testimony when asked to testify; Sahih Muslim, book on the virtues of the Companions, chapter on the virtues of the Companions, then those who come after them, then those who come after them, Hadith: 214-215, and others.

^[6] Sahih al Bukhari, book on the virtues of the Companions, chapter on al Humaydi narrated to us; Sahih Muslim, book on the virtues of the Companions, chapter on the prohibition of reviling the Companions, Hadith: 226.

^[7] Sahih Muslim, book on the virtues of the Companions, chapter on explaining that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is safety for his Companions, Hadith: 207.

^[8] Sahih al Bukhari, book on funerals, chapter on people praising the deceased; Sahih Muslim, book on funerals, chapter concerning the deceased that are praised with good or bad, Hadith: 60.

^[9] Surah al Hashr: 8-10.

^[10] Surah al Nisa’: 115

^[11] Surah al Tawbah: 100.

^[12] Surah al Hashr: 10.

^[13] Al Shawkani: Fath al Qadir, 5/202.

^[14] Surah al Naml: 19.

^[15] Surah al Ahqaf: 15.

^[16] Surah al Hashr: 10.

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