The Position of the Believers regarding the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum

1. Firm belief of their leadership in Islam and affirming all their praises in the Noble Qur’an:

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُوْنَ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاللهِ

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.^[1]

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُوْنُوْا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُوْلُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيْدًا

And thus We have made you a median [i.e., just] community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.^[2]

Verily We changed your direction of prayer to that of Ibrahim ‘alayh al Salam and We chose it for you making you the best nation produced (as an example for mankind) so that you will be witnesses over the people on the day of Qiyamah. Median nation in the verse above means the best and most magnanimous. The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum have most right to this as they were the first to be addressed by the verse.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَعَدَ اللهُ الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوْا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِيْ الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِيْنَهُمُ الَّذِيْ ارْتَضىٰ لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِّنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُوْنَنِيْ لَا يُشْرِكُوْنَ بِيْ شَيْئًا وَمَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذٰلِكَ فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُوْنَ

Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that – then those are the defiantly disobedient.^[3]

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has promised those who believe in Him alone, without associating partners with Him, whilst performing righteous actions with authority, establishment, and security on earth. The Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum are no doubt the ones at the forefront of this promise, proven by the word of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala minkum (among you).

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has fulfilled His promise, granted conquest to the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum across the East and the West, and made them authorities and leaders. This affirms their leadership in Islam and confirms that they were righteous believers.

2. Following the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum in goodness:

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala has praised the forerunners among the Muhajirin and Ansar and all those who come after them with goodness. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala made following them with goodness a path to His pleasure and happiness.

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَالسَّابِقُوْنَ الْأَوَّلُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِيْنَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِيْ تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِيْنَ فِيْهَا أَبَدًا ذٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيْمُ

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.^[4]

Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala threatened those who follow other than the way of the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum with Hell and an evil abode. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَمَنْ يُشَاقِقِ الرَّسُوْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْهُدىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيْلِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ نُوَلِّهِ مَا تَوَلّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِ جَهَنَّمَ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيْرًا

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 (make him responsible for his choice) and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.^[5]

3. Praise and happiness for them and seeking forgiveness for whatever occurred between them. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَالَّذِيْنَ جَاءُوْا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْإِيْمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

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.” ^[6]

4. Believing that the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum are not infallible.

After the Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, there is no one infallible. This however does not detract from their leadership and their true Iman. Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala says:

وَلَقَدْ صَدَقَكُمُ اللهُ وَعْدَهُ إِذْ تَحُسُّوْنَهُمْ بِإِذْنِهِ حَتّىٰ إِذَا فَشِلْتُمْ وَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِيْ الْأَمْرِ وَعَصَيْتُمْ مِّنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَرَاكُمْ مَّا تُحِبُّوْنَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُرِيْدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُرِيْدُ الْآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ صَرَفَكُمْ عَنْهُمْ لِيَبْتَلِيَكُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا عَنْكُمْ وَاللهُ ذُوْ فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ

And Allah had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing them [i.e., the enemy] by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and Allah is the possessor of bounty for the believers.^[7]

NEXT⇒ The Testimony of Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala exonerating the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Aisha from the falsehood she was accused of

[1] Surah Al ‘Imran: 110.

[2] Surah al Baqarah: 143.

[3] Surah al Nur: 55.

[4] Surah al Tawbah: 100.

[5] Surah al Nisa’: 115.

[6] Surah al Hashr: 10.

[7] Surah Al ‘Imran: 152.

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