Virtues of the Sahabah in Light of the Qur’an and the Benefits of Suhbah

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an:

لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُوْنَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوْبِهِمْ فَأنزَلَ السَّكِيْنَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحاً قَرِيْباً

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 tranquillity upon them and rewarded them with an imminent conquest.^{^[1]}

لَقَدْ تَابَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى النَّبِىِّ وَالْمُهٰجِرِيْنَ وَالْاَنْصٰرِ الَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُ فِىْ سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيْغُ قُلُوْبُ فَرِيْقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهبِهِمْ رَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajirin^{^[2]} and the Ansar^{^[3]} who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined (to doubt), and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.^{^[4]}

وَالسَّٰبِقُونَ الاٌّوَّلُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُهٰجِرِيْنَ وَالأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِيْنَ اتَّبَعُوْهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍۙ رَّضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوْا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنّٰتٍ تَجْرِيْ تَحْتَهَا الأَنْهٰـرُ خٰلِدِيْنَ فِيْهَآ أَبَدًاؕ ذَلِكَ 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.^{^[5]}

مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُواْ مَا عَاهَدُوْا اللّٰهَ عَلَيْهۚ ِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ قَضٰى نَحْبَهوَمِنْهُمْ مَّنْ يَّنتَظِرُۖ وَمَا بَدَّلُوْا تَبْدِيْلاً

Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow (to the death), and among them is he who awaits (his chance). And they did not alter (the terms of their commitment) by any alteration.^{^[6]}

مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰهِؕ وَالَّذِيْنَ مَعَهٓ أَشِدَّآ ءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآ ءُ بَيْنَهُمْ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَّبْتَغُوْنَ فَضْلاً مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرِضْوَانًاؗ سِيْمَاهُمْ فِىْ وُجُوْهِهِمْ مِّنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِؕ ذٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِى التَّوْرَاةِۛۖ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِى الإِنْجِيْلِۛ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهفَاٰزَرَهفَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوٰى عَلٰى سُوْقِهٖ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيْظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَؕ وَعَدَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِيْنَ ءَامَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوْا الصّٰلِحٰتِ مِنْهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَّأَجْراً عَظِيماً

Muhammad is the Rasul 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 mark (i.e. sign) is on their faces (i.e. foreheads) from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Injil 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.^{^[7]}

These verses — among many others — are a testament to Allah’s Ta’ala eternal honour and respect for the noble Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. They showcase many of their merits including His eternal forgiveness and happiness for them, their truthfulness, selflessness, and unique praise as mentioned in both the Torah and the Injil. These unalterable divine verses — which Allah Ta’ala has anointed us to recite — repudiate the beliefs of any zealot who thinks the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum became apostates after the death of Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. We recite them continuously so that we may recognise their high-rank and station which they enjoy with Allah Ta’ala; and so that we may follow in their footsteps and be raised — Allah willing — alongside them on the Day of Judgement.

NEXT⇒ Ahadith Relating to the Sahabah

^{^[1]} Surah al Fath: 18

^{^[2]} Those who emigrated from Makkah and settled in Madinah for the cause of Islam.

^{^[3]} The inhabitants of Madinah who had accepted Islam and assisted Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and other emigrants upon their arrival there.

^{^[4]} Surah al Towbah: 117

^{^[5]} Surah al Towbah: 100

^{^[6]} Surah al Ahzab: 23

^{^[7]} Surah al Fath: 29

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