Loving, revering and honouring the companions of the Prophet ﷺ is actually a matter of faith. Why Not? When the blessed Sahabah sacrificed and gave everything on the line for Allah, his Messenger ﷺ and his religion. They رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ did not leave a stone unturned for the propagation of this faith. They worked tirelessly and endlessly, night and day, every breath for Allah, his Messenger ﷺ and his religion. May Allah bless them all and allow us to follow in their footsteps. Ameen!
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
نحمده و نصلي على حبيبنا الكريم محمد المصطفى و على آله و صحبه اجمعين
امًا بعد.
Any person wishes he has good friends in life. Friends and companions who will love him, support him, help him in every endeavour. A person wants someone to rely on. Every person desires this. Rasulullah ﷺ was blessed with such companions who were ready to sacrifice everything for Him, for the Deen of Allah Ta’ala, for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. They sacrificed their lives, their wealth, their families sacrificed with them, they sacrificed their time, the endured persecution, they sacrificed their reputations, and so much more. And for what? What was their reason? What would take a person to such levels of strife? It was purely out of love for Rasulullah ﷺ and the Deen of Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah ﷺ was blessed with the best of companions, the Sahaabah (RA) who Allah Ta’ala speak of so highly in the Quraan Shareef. Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Taubah:
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (التوبة ١٠٠)
And the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirin and the Ansar and also those who followed them exactly (in faith). Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.
The Imam of Tafseer, Imam Ibn Katheer mentions under this ayah:
Therefore, woe to those who dislike or curse them, or dislike or curse any of them, especially their master after the Messenger, the best and most righteous among them, the Siddiq (the great truthful one) and the grand Khalifah, Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah, may Allah be pleased with him. The failure group, the Rafidah (a sect of Shiites), are the enemies of the best Companions, they hate and curse them, we seek refuge with Allah from such evil. This indicates that the minds of these people are twisted and their hearts turned upside down, for where are they in relation to believing in the Qur’an They curse those whom Allah stated He is pleased with! As for the followers of the Sunnah, they are pleased with those whom Allah is pleased with, curse whomever Allah and His Messenger ﷺ curse, and give their loyalty to Allah’s friends and show enmity to the enemies of Allah. They are followers not innovators, imitating [the Sunnah] they do not initiate it on their own. They are indeed the party of Allah, the successful, and Allah’s faithful servants.
My beloved brothers and sisters in Islam. The position of the noble Sahabah must be understood and imbedded in our hearts. Understanding their position in Islam is part of Imaan. They have the highest of positions, and they are the best of people after the Ambiya (Alaihum-Salaam).
The reasons for this are many. They are the group of people who gained the companionship of Rasulullah ﷺ. They showed true sacrifice for deen, risking everything. And, they gave everything so that you and I can recite this Kalimah. Their love for Rasulullah ﷺ was humongous, and they hated parting with him. But while He was alive, and even after He passed away, they sacrificed their lives in the path of Allah Ta’ala to raise the word of Allah Ta’ala. Their mission was to spread Islam as far as they could. Majority of the Sahabah passed away outside of Madinah Shareef. The general principle is that you love that person who sacrifices and goes out of their way for you. So what about those people that sacrificed their lives, wealth, and families, just so that we could have Imaan and be saved from the fire of Jahannam.
So the respect of the Sahabah must be understood in the hearts of everyone. And for that person who disrespects the Sahabah, then we have read many accounts of people who disrespected Sahabah, and Allah Ta’ala punished them in this dunya. These are the beloveds of Rasulullah ﷺ, and no disrespect will be tolerated. We hear the hadeeth every Friday in the second Khutabah.
عبدالله بن مغفل رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: اللهَ اللهَ في أصحابي، لا تتَّخِذوا أصحابي غَرَضًا بعدي، فمَن أحَبَّهم فبِحُبِّي أحَبَّهم، ومَن أبغَضهم فبِبُغْضي أبغَضهم، ومَن آذاهم فقد آذاني، ومَن آذاني فقد آذى اللهَ، ومَن آذى اللهَ يوشِكُ أنْ يأخُذَه.
(رواه الترمذي)
Abdullah ibn Mughaffal (RA) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺ said: (Fear) Allah! (Fear) Allah regarding my Sahabah. Do not take them as a target after me. Whoever loves them, it is because of his love for me that he loves them. And whoever hates them, it is because of his hatred for me that he hates them. Whoever harms them has harmed me, and whoever harms me has harmed Allah, and whoever harms Allah then very soon will he be grasped.
A person knows that they can’t harm Allah Ta’ala. here it means that the person who harms and attack the Sahabah, then they have angered Allah Ta’ala, and the punishment of Allah Ta’ala will be close for that person.
Imam Ibn Katheer makes mention of this in his tafseer, saying that there is a group of people who attack the Sahabah. But only a person whose mind is twisted will attack the most beloved of people to Rasulullah ﷺ. Only someone who is crazy would ignore the great virtues of the Sahabah, as mentioned in numerous Hadeeth and narrations of Sahabah and Tabi’een. Their maqaam and level can never be denied. So woe, warning be to that person who disrespects them in any way. It is a delicate ground, and as Muslims we should be extremely careful about uttering anything in a way that disrespects the Sahabah, as it is laazim and binding upon us to hold them in high esteem and to love them.
Now that we have understood the level of respect that should be had for these great people, we mention another ayah of the Quraan Shareef once again indicating to their great stature in Islam, and why we should take them as examples and role models to follow. Allah Ta’ala mentions:
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا (الفتح ٢٩)
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing falling down prostrate, seeking reward from Allah and acceptance. The mark of them is on their faces from the traces of prostration. This is their description in the Tawrah. But their description in the Injil is like a seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, and becomes thick and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward.
Subhanallah. Look at the way Allah Ta’ala praises the Sahabah in this ayah. Imam Ibn Katheer mention a few points under this ayah:
–مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ، إِذَا اشْتَكَىٰ مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَىٰ لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالْحُمَّى وَالسَّهَرِ
(The parable of the believers in their kindness and mercy for each other, is that of the body: when one of its organs falls ill, the rest of the body responds with fever and sleeplessness.)
The Prophet ﷺ also said,
الْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا
(A believer to another believer is like a building whose different parts enforce each other.) Then he clasped his hands with his fingers interlaced
-Allah describes the believers as active in performing righteous deeds and in praying, which is the best action there is, all the while being sincere to Allah the Exalted and Most Honored in the prayer, awaiting His generous reward alone. Allah’s best reward is Paradise that contains His bounties and favors, abundant provisions, as well as, earning His good pleasure that is greater than the former reward.
-Therefore, since the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, had sincere intentions and righteous good deeds, all those who looked at them liked their appearance and conduct. Imam Malik said, “I was told that when the Christians saw the Companions, who conquered Ash-Sham, they commented, ‘These people are, by Allah, better than the Disciples (of ‘Isa) according to what has been conveyed to us.'” They indeed said the truth, for this Ummah was mentioned in an honorable way in previously revealed Scriptures. The best and most honored members of this Ummah are the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, praised them in previous Books and Revelations
-Such is the parable that describes the Companions of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. They gave the Messenger ﷺ aid, support and victory, just as the shoot hardens the plant,
لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ
(that He may enrage the disbelievers with them.)Relying on this Ayah, Imam Malik stated that the Rawafid are disbelievers because they hate the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. Malik said, “The Companions enrage them, and according to this Ayah, he who is enraged by the Companions is a disbeliever.” Several scholars agreed with Malik’s opinion, may Allah be pleased with them. There are numerous Hadiths mentioning the virtues of the Companions and prohibiting the criticism on their mistakes. It is sufficient that Allah the Exalted has praised them and declared that He is pleased with them. Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً
(Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds, forgiveness) for their sins,
وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
(and a mighty reward.) a generous reward and honorable provisions. Certainly, Allah’s promise is true and shall come to pass and will never be broken or changed. Surely, all those who follow the guidance of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, will be similar to them. However, the Companions have the better virtue, the obvious lead and the perfection in character, on account of which none among this Ummah will be able to attain their level. May Allah be pleased with them and make them pleased. May He place them in the gardens of Al-Firdaws, and make it their abode, and He indeed has done all of that.
There is more detail to what Imam Ibn Katheer brings, but the point to be taken away is that Love of Sahaabah is part of Imaan.Recognising their status is part of Imaan. Swearing, vilifying, making lies against them, all of this leads one down the path of Kufr. May Allah Ta’ala save us from going down such a path.
Allah Ta’ala mentions their good qualities, not just for us to know what they were like, but for us to take lesson as to what a good Muslim should do, what he should be like, the appearance he should adopt, and the life he should lead. If we look into the lives of Sahabah, their day and night was for Allah. The feared Him in everything they did, we’re conscious of Him in every action they committed, and we’re hopeful of his mercy in every step they took. Allah Ta’ala promises them at the end of the ayah forgiveness and a great reward. And Allah Ta’ala is surely the Being who will fulfill these promises.
Understand well the condition of Sahabah. Many of them were promised jannah. Rasulullah ﷺ attested to hearing some of their footsteps in jannah. But this did not stop them from spending their night in crying to Allah. It did not create pride in their hearts, leading to them thinking they are better than others. Even though that was the reality, however their humility was something of note. It is a lesson for each and every person to take. I don’t know where this life will take me, how my ending will be. So a person has to continue striving till the end, and make dua that Allah grants him a life in Imaan, a death on Imaan, and to be raised on the day of Qiyamah with those we truly love, Rasulullah ﷺ and the Sahabah. Ameen.
So we see that the demand of imam, and the demand of the claim of love for Rasulullah ﷺ is that a person loves the Sahabah, reveres them, holds them in high esteem. This is part and parcel of our Imaan. The Sahabah are the reason we have the kalimah in our tongues, and the Sahabah are the ones who transmitted the modes of recitation of Quraan, the ahaadith, the fiqh rulings. We would be nothing without the Sahabah. We would be nowhere without their sacrifices. And their condition was such that they were happy to sacrifice it all for Allah Ta’ala, for the happiness of Allah Ta’ala. because, in reality, a person life in this world is just a block of an eye, so why not make it for the pleasure of Allah? The Sahabah understood this, they understood the meaning of life, they understood what it truly meant to be true lovers of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah ﷺ.
رضي الله عنهم و رضوا عنه
Truly, they were happy with Allah in all conditions.
My respected Ustaadh, Qari Yunus Desai Sahib, who I have the utmost love and respect for, may Allah keep his shadow over us for a long time and keep him in the best of health, renders one poem. This poem can be found in Tafseer Qurtubi:
حب النبي رسول الله مفترض
و حب أصحابه نور ببرهان
من كان يعلم ان الله خالقه
لا يرمين أبا بكر ببهتان
و لا أبا حفص الفاروق صاحبه
و لا الخليفة عثمان بن عفان
اماً علي فمشهور فضائله
و البيت لا يبتن إلا بأركان
و لو ان السماء دنت لمجد
و مكرمة دنت لهم السماء
The love for Nabi Rasulullah ﷺ is fardh
And love for his companions is a light with proof
Whoever knows that Allah has created him
He shouldn’t accuse Abu Bakr (RA) of slander
And neither his companions Abu Hafs (Umar) RA
And neither the Khalifah Uthmaan ibn Affan
As for Ali (RA) his virtues are well known
A house cant be built without its supports
And if the sky had to lower itself out of nobility
And honour, the sky would’ve lowered itself for them
We will end of with an Urdu poem that my respected ustaadh, Mufti Abdullah Moolla Sahib sent to me once. Mufti Sahib has dedicated his life to fighting those who attack the sahabah, and his work and enthusiasm in this field has left a lasting impression upon my heart. May Allah Ta’ala grant him a great reward for all his work, the death of a shaheed, and to be with those he loves, Rasulullah ﷺ and His companions.
The poet says:
جہاں ميں حضرت صديق سا انسان کيا ہوگا
عمر فاروق جيسا عادل ذيشان کيا ہوگا
حياداری ميں کوئی ثانی عثمان کيا ہوگا
علي شير خدا سا صاحب ميدان کيا ہوگا
صحابہ کا يہ عالم ہے تو پھر سلطان کا کيا ہوگا
Where in the world would you ever find a person like Abu Bakr Siddique (RA)
Where would you find a just and awe inspiring person like Umar Farooq (RA)
Where would you find a person as modest as Uthmaan (RA)
Where would you find a soldier as brave as Ali (RA), the lion of Allah Ta’ala
If this is the condition of his companions, then what is the condition of the leader.
