Chapter 2

Introduction

Many ahadith have been narrated from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam that highlight the virtue of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, their high status, their raised standing by their Lord subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, their lofty stature, their noble character, and their beautiful traits.

These ahadith illustrate that the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum are the best generation of mankind and the best generation of this Ummah. Thus, they are the best of the first and the last, after the prophets and messengers ‘alayhim al Salam. They are the trustworthy ones for this Ummah. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala selected them to be the Companions of His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Ummah will continue to be in good space as long as there are Companions on the face of the earth, and victory will be granted to any army among whom there is a Companion. They are Allah’s witnesses on His earth, and the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam will be a witness for them for what they have offered, spent, and sacrificed.

Hence, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam counselled regarding them and the obligation to honour them, supplicate for them, and seek forgiveness for them. He forbade disparaging them, and explained that we will never reach their level, nor will we be able to attain their reward, due to their lofty ranks, elevated status, and acceptance from Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. They will be in the company of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in the Hereafter, just as they were his Companions, in-laws, and deputies in this world.

Similarly, many texts illustrate the virtue of the Muhajirin, that their reward is with Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, that they were unique in their emigration, that it was ordained for them, that their emigration wiped out whatever was committed before it, that the poor Muhajirin will enter Jannat before the rich, in fact, they will be the first to enter Jannat, that the former ones among them were more beloved to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam than the latter—even though the latter ones were honourable, and that the Muhajirin will be forgiven, as the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam supplicated for them.

Furthermore, there are also many texts that illustrate the virtues of the Ansar radiya Llahu ‘anhum, that the sign of iman is loving them and the sign of hypocrisy is hating them, that no believer hates them, and that they were the most beloved to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wished—were it not for the Hijrah—to be from amongst the Ansar. He made his life with them and his death with them—that he would only pass away among them. He made them his confidants and specials ones, counselled regarding them, and supplicated for them, their followers, their offspring, their grandchildren, and their womenfolk. He forbade disparaging them and explained their virtue. He confirmed that they would not emigrate because people would emigrate to them.

He also mentioned Allah’s subhanahu wa ta ‘ala praise for them, and that they were chaste and patient. Therefore, he stated that whoever frightens the people of Madinah has frightened what is within his bosom, and upon him is the curse of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala, the angels, and all of mankind.

Furthermore, he explained the virtue, reward, and status of groups of the Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum, such as the participants of Badr—that they are the best of people, none of them will enter Jahannam, and that their past and future sins have been forgiven, and the participants of the Pledge of al Ridwan—that they are the best of the people of earth, and none of them will enter Jahannam.

The Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum are the leaders of the people of Jannat. Some of them will enter through all eight gates of Jannat, some were divinely inspired, the Qur’an was revealed in accordance to the opinion of some, some were greeted by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and Jibril ‘alayh al Salam, the Throne of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala shook at the death of some, and some were shaded by the angels and tranquillity descended upon them.

I cannot mention everything that has been said about them—generally or specifically—because the object is to highlight their virtue, lofty status, and exalted position and to illustrate their status by Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala and with His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, I will mention some of the texts that have been reported regarding their virtues, but I will not explain them and very seldomly will I comment on them, because the purpose is to highlight their virtues and merits, not their explanations.

I have divided this chapter into four sections:

Section 1: The praise in the Prophetic Sunnah of them in general, highlighting their virtue and status.

Section 2: The praise in the Prophetic Sunnah of the Muhajirin, highlighting their virtue and status.

Section 3: The praise in the Prophetic Sunnah of the Ansar, highlighting their virtue and status.

Section 4: The praise in the Prophetic Sunnah of specific individuals.

I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala to grant us all good thoughts about them and to resurrect us with them, under the banner of the beloved and noble master salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for Allah is the excellent Protecter and the excellent Supporter.

NEXT⇒ Section 1 – The Praise of the Companions in General in the Prophetic Sunnah, Highlighting Their Virtue and Status

BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents