The Best Nation - The Companions Of The Prophet

The companions (may Allah satisfy them) loved and served the Prophet (SAW) in a manner without precedent in history. Through their devotion to the Prophet (SAW) and obedience to Allah ta'ala, Allah was pleased with them and they were raised in status.

Their unique love of the Prophet (SAW) is apparent from the statement made by Urwa to his brethren Quraish on his return from Hudaibiyah. He said, "I have seen many monarchs. I have been in the courts of Caesar, Khusrau and Negus. I can swear that I have not seen any King held in greater respect by his subjects than Muhammad is by his Companions. By God, when he gives an order, they all rush to carry it out, when he performs the ablution (wuzu), they nearly all come to blows in the scramble for the water he has used for it, when he speaks, a hush overtakes them. So excessively do they revere him that they dare not raise their eyes in his presence to obtain a full view of him."

THEIR LOYALTY TO THE PROPHET

The Companions (Sahaba) placed no loyalty or love above their loyalty to him and their devotion to Islam. Loyalties to family, friends and tribe were rendered subservient to the love of Allah and His Messenger.

It is stated that the Prophet once summoned Abdullah, son of Abdullah bin Obaiy, and spoke to him thus: "Do you know what your father says?" Abdullah replied, "May my father and mother be a sacrifice unto you! 0 Prophet of God, what does he say?" "He says" said the Prophet, "that if I returned to Medina, he who was honourable would turn out him who was debased." On hearing this, Abdullah exclaimed, "He is right. You are honourable and he is debased. You come to Medina by all means. It is well known there that no son is more obedient to his father than I, but if it be the wish of God and His Prophet that I sever my father's head, I am ready to do so." The Prophet bade him not to do so.

On reaching Medina, Abdullah posted himself at the city-gate, sword in hand, to wait for his father's arrival. As soon as the son saw the father, the former roared: "Was it you who said that if the Prophet returned to Medina, he who was honourable would turn out him who was debased? You will soon learn who is honourable and who is debased. By God, you cannot live in Medina now without the permission of God and His Prophet."

Abdullah bin Obaiy was stunned when he heard these words from his son, and he began to wail. "Do you hear, 0 men of Khazraj, my son hinders me from returning to my home! Do you hear, 0 men of Khazraj, my son hinders me from returning to my home! " But the son did not relent. "As surely as I believe in God", he said, "you cannot enter Medina unless the Prophet allows you." People tried to intercede, but in vain. At last the Prophet was informed. He sent word to Abdullah to let his father come in. Then Abdullah yielded, saying, "Now that the Prophet’s permission has come, he can enter".

Such was the example of the companions, never before had this earth seen a more righteous and harmonious body of men. They were a unique generation formed and shaped by the Quran and the Messenger of Allah himself. Thus, the Prophet (SAW) said:

"Honour my companions, because they are the best among you, next those who will follow them (Tabiyn), next those who will follow them (Tabi-tabiyn); there after falsehood will appear." (Nisai)

Abdullah ibn Masud (May Allah satisfy him) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said:

“The best of my nation (Khairu ummati) is the one with me now."

Abu Said al Khudri narrated that the Prophet

(SAW) said:

"Do not curse or rebuke my companions. By Allah if one of you would spend as much gold as would weigh the mountain of Uhud he would not be rewarded equal to the one given to my companions where one of them just gave a handful of wheat." (Bukhari, Muslim)

THEIR RELIABILITY IS BEYOND REPROACH

The Companions’ (Sahaba) reliability in conveying matters of religion and legislation is beyond reproach and is based on the text in the Book of Allah, i.e. the Mighty Quran.

Allah, the Supreme, says:

"Thus We have appointed you a middle nation (Ummatan wasatan), that you may be witnesses against mankind, and the Messenger may be a witness against you." (AI Baqarah:143)

"Witnesses (Shuhada) against mankind" means to provide over the interest or welfare of mankind, i.e. saying what is correct and proper (Maruf) and enjoining it. That they are witnesses over mankind implies that they substantiate a claim or prove such and such a claim is wrong. In other words, distinguishing right from wrong, on behalf of mankind. Thus Allah exalted the Companions, and raised them to the role of being witnesses over mankind (Shuhada ,alannas).

ALLAH WAS PLEASED WITH THE COMPANIONS

During Dhul-Qada in the sixth year after hijrah the Prophet (SAW) set out with the Muslims to perform the little pilgriamge. After a number of incidents with Quraysh on the way to the pilgrimage, the Prophet (SAW) sent Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah satisfy him) to Abu Sufyan and the chiefs of Quraysh to tell them that he had not come for war. After informing Quraysh of the Prophet's intention they kept him prisoner. The Prophet (SAW) and the Muslims were informed that Uthman had been killed. Upon hearing this news the Prophet (SAW) said they would not leave until they fought the enemy, he summoned the men to give their undertaking to fight. He extracted their pledge to fight unto death under a tree. This incident is known as the pledge of AI-Ridwan.

Regarding this action Allah said:

“Allah was well pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance unto thee beneath the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts. " (AI Fath : 18)

and, "He (Allah) then sent down tranquillity and peace into their hearts." (AI Fath : 2)

THE SABIQIN

The people who have won the race

The companions embraced Islam before other people and Allah (SWT) called them the Sabiqin, i.e. the people who have won the race, and they are the people near to Allah and exalted in paradise. Allah said to the Prophet (SAW):-

“The first to lead the way-the Muhajireen (those who forsook their homes) and the Ansar (those who gave their aid), and those who follow them in deeds - Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him. For them hath He prepared gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: that is the supreme bliss." (At Taubah:100)

Allah ta'ala also said about them:

“And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race: Those are they who will be brought high. In the gardens of delight." (Al Waqiah : 10.11,12)

And in Surah AI Hashr, Allah said:-

“And (it is) for the poor Muhajirs (fugitives) who have been driven out of their homes and their belongings, who seek bounty from Allah and help Allah and His Messenger. They are sincere ones (sadiqun).

Those who entered the city and the faith before them, love those who flee unto them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter) but give them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their own lot. And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls - they are the ones who are successful (Muflihun). " (AI Hashr : 8-9)

In this verse Allah, the Supreme, informs us about something the like of which has never happened in the history of mankind. The people who migrated to Medina had left their wealth and property behind, they were poor. The people of Medina possessed resources hardly sufficient to sustain themselves. But Allah made it possible for the Ansar to love the Muhajireen so much so that they became brothers, sharing in wealth and so eased the destitution of the Muhajireen. An example of this extreme spirit of generosity with which the Ansar greeted the Muhajireen is the following statement of Sa'd ibn ar Rabiah. The Prophet (SAW) had linked Sa'd with Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf. Sa'd said:

"My brother! Among the people of Medina I have the most wealth. I have two orchards and I have two wives. See which of the two orchards you like and I shall vacate it for you and which of my two wives is pleasing to you and I will divorce her for you."

THE CONSENSUS OF THE COMPANIONS

Because Allah was pleased with the companions, and Allah knows everything past and future, the scholars of Islam conclude that the unanimous agreement of the companions is a source of Shariah, i.e. an Islamic evidence for us to follow.

They were in direct contact with the Prophet (SAW) and were aware of his Sunnah. Therefore, when they agree upon something, where no explicit command of Allah or any Sunnah related on the authority of the Prophet is to be found, then the companions agreement is an evidence for us to follow. And because of all that we have said above we are sure the companions (may Allah satisfy them) would never agree -as a whole- to act upon something not in agreement with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (SAW).

An example of this consensus of the companions (Ijma as-Sahaba) is the priority which must be given to the appointment of a Khalifah for Muslims. The Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) informs us that the dead must be buried quickly and that it is forbidden for those responsible for the burial to delay the burial on account of other things. Yet when the Prophet (SAW) died the companions delayed his burial until after they had selected a Khalifah from among them.

Before the burial arrangements had been completed the companions (may Allah satisfy them) gathered in the place of Bani Saidah and proceeded to select the Khalifah. After discussing all agreed to give allegiance (baya) to Abu Bakr (may Allah satisfy him). Following which, three days after the death of Rasoollullah (SAW), they buried him.

This unanimous agreement of the companions on this action is an Islamic evidence for us of the importance of appointing the Khalifah for Muslims, even more vital than the burial of the Prophet (SAW).

Similarly, when Umar (may Allah satisfy him) was close to death he nominated the six people among the companions who, when the Prophet (SAW) had died, the Prophet had been pleased with them to select a Khalifah from among them. The six included Ali, Uthman, Abdul Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd, Talha and Zubeir. He decreed that if agreement on the Khalifah was not reached within three days, the one who disagrees should be beheaded after the three days. No one disputed this order, even though to kill someone without just cause is forbidden. And these six were not just anyone, they were the six best companions who had been promised paradise. The agreement of the companions on this order is therefore an Islamic evidence for us that the Muslims are forbidden to be without a Khalifah for more than three days. After three days of discussion and consultation with the people of Medina, Uthman (may Allah satisfy him) was chosen as Khalifah.

Al-Fajr Magazine