Chapter 3

The Sahabah’s Dedication to and Preservation of the Prophetic Sunnah

Introduction

Among the aspects that distinguished the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam from other prophets ‘alayhim al Salam was that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala honoured him with Companions radiya Llahu ‘anhum. He selected them to be his assistants, in-laws, relatives, and flag-bearers, with him and after him.

The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum were deeply devoted to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved him, sacrificed themselves for him, and honoured and revered him due to the attributes of beauty and perfection they saw in him, and because of the perfection of his being and the beauty of his characteristics. They considered him to be the Prophet of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, deserving of love, obedience, compliance, reverence, honour, and support… to the point that they preferred him over every valuable thing, including their lives. After that came the divine command for all of this.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala commanded the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum to emulate the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to follow him and obey him, to accept his rulings, to comply with his commands, to give him precedence and love him, to respect and honour him, and to preserve his Shari’ah and implement his Sunnah.

They fulfilled this in the best possible way. Hence, no one in the history of mankind is known to have had his biography, life, days and nights, character, battles, peace treaties and war, and private and public relationships preserved as well as it was done by the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum.

This is because they believed that everything emanating from him, related to him, and attached to him is all din, which must be preserved and transmitted. In addition, they loved him in a manner unknown to human history. A love unmatched by any leader or great person. Such love that none of his followers, before or after him, displayed as they did. However, they did not remove him from the realm of humanity. They did not cut off their hands, as was done with Yusuf ‘alayh al Salam, despite the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam being more beautiful than him. In fact, he embodied all beauty, just as he embodied all perfection. They did not worship him or take him as a deity, as was done with ‘Isa ‘alayh al Salam, even though he was given miracles greater than those of ‘Isa ‘alayh al Salam, etc.^[1]

Thus, they were the best generation mankind has ever known, both before and after. Therefore, Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala made them role models for those who came after them, after the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and commanded us to follow their footsteps and emulate them. He warned against deviating from their approach and path, saying:

وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُولَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَاءَتْ 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.^[2]

The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum heard Allah’s subhanahu wa ta ‘ala command to obey His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, just as they heard the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam command to them to do so. They knew that the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was the one who would explain the rulings of the Qur’an, its verses, and the commands and guidance of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala. Therefore, their view of the Prophetic Sunnah, which emanated from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the same as their view of the Qur’an. They devoted themselves to following him, adhering to His commands and prohibitions, and committed themselves to obeying him in all matters, in commands, prohibitions, and guidance, from worship to Jihad, from morals to transactions, from rulings to penal punishments, and so on.

Therefore, they were determined to receive the Prophetic Sunnah directly from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam—this being the most common and frequent method—or by hearing it from a Sahabi who narrated it from him—which is rare—but occurred occasionally, as will be explained later, Allah willing. Thus, they were as keen to apply it as they were to preserve and disseminate it.

They preserved his sayings and actions, his sleep and awakening, his movements and inactivity, his standing and sitting, his Jihad and worship, his biography, his expeditions and battles, his humour and admonitions, his sermons, his eating and drinking, his walking and silence, his pleasantry with his family, his training of his horse, his letters to Muslims and polytheists, his covenants and agreements, his observations, his breaths, and his characteristics. This is in addition to the rulings of the Shari’ah, what they inquired about acts of worship, and what is permissible and forbidden that they preserved from him, as well as judgements that they referred to him.^[3]

They left nothing concerning what emanated from him or was connected to him without mentioning it, even if it was something incidental or insignificant. This was solely due to the love that made them consider everything that emanated from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as part of the din, which they were obligated to follow and adhere to.

The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum understood the importance of the Prophetic Sunnah through the Qur’an that they heard, which encouraged them to obey the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala instructed them to do so, forbidding them from contradicting or disobeying him and deviating from his Sunnah.

Likewise, they understood this through what they heard from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam—urging them to obey him and follow his Sunnah^[4]—his character, and the signs of his prophethood that they witnessed. In addition to this, their infinite love for him and their dedication towards everything that came from him: all this and much more, compelled them to adhere to his Sunnah, to adopt it, to be dedicated to it, to recognise what came from him, to memorise it, to transmit it, and to verify it beforehand. They began considering everything that emanated from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as din, which they were not permitted to deviate from or be lax about.

Since Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala made them our role models and warned us against following any path other than theirs, they became the best examples to emulate.

This discussion will focus on their methodology, adherence, and dedication to the Sunnah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, their preservation of it, their steadfastness in it, their defence of it, their application of it, and their dissemination and propagation of it.

Furthermore, the Prophetic Sunnah spread more widely during the time of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum than it did at the beginning of the Prophetic mission. They adhered to it just as they did during the lifetime of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They preserved it, were cautious in practicing it, and strove to spread and implement it. So, what motivated them to this?

To further clarify the matter, I have divided this chapter into five sections:

Section 1: Their love, reverence, and veneration for the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Section 2: Their dedication to the Prophetic Sunnah during the life of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

Section 3: Their preservation of the Prophetic Sunnah after his demise.

Section 4: Their methodology in acquiring Hadith.

Section 5: Their methodology in transmitting Hadith.

Conclusion: May Allah grant us all a good ending.

I chose to discuss their love, reverence, and veneration for the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam because, after decades of extensive study, I have concluded that what motivated them to adhere to the Sunnah, be dedicated to it, preserve it, defend it, and disseminate it, stemmed from—after obedience to Allah and compliance with His commands—the love they cherished for the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and the reverence that settled in their hearts. Thus, they viewed everything emanating from the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as part of the din, which must be preserved.

I have written about their relationship with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in several books. Therefore, in this book, I will suffice on what pertains to it, and I will not lengthen it, Allah willing.

Their dedication and commitment to hear Hadith, preserve it, understand it, apply it, and propagate it—after hearing the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam encouragement to do so—was manifested in several ways, which I will discuss briefly, as a comprehensive study regarding it would require several volumes.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala be pleased with the Companions of His Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and reward them on behalf of Islam and its followers with all goodness. May He grant us their love and the ability to follow in their footsteps. And may He resurrect us with them under the banner of the chosen and noble Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.

NEXT⇒ Section 1

^[1] One may refer to al Hubb al Mutabadal wa Makanat al Nabi al Karim Salla Allahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam Bayn al Ambiya’.

^[2] Surah al Nisa’: 115.

^[3] One may refer to al Madkhal ila Usul al Hadith, pg. 87-88, published with Majmu’ al Rasa’il al Kamaliyyah.

^[4] One may refer to Shubuhat Hawl al Sunnah wa Dahdiha; Mahabbat al Nabi wa Ta’atuhu Bayn al Insan wa al Jamad. I have mentioned numerous pieces of evidence for the obligation to obey the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. I have discussed it briefly in Nash’at ‘Ulum al Hadith.