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Aqeedah and Fiqh

The Status of the Companions in Light of the Qur’an

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ngc7331_gabany_f1.jpgThe source material for this article are some notes I took from an excellent lecture by Dr. Salāh al-Sāwī. Unfortunately, my notes were brief and so I am not able to do full justice to the talk that Shaykh al-Sāwī gave. Nonetheless, I will try my best to clarify the true status of the Companions in the light of the verses of Allāh’s Book.

Islām’s Teachings Concerning Cursing, Revulsion, and Vulgar Language

Before we come to the Qur’ān’s teachings concerning the Companions, I would just like to very briefly clarify some matters related to the character of the Muslim. Imām Ahmad and al-Tirmidhī relate with an authentic isnād that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِطَعَّانٍ وَلَا بِلَعَّانٍ وَلَا الْفَاحِشِ الْبَذِيءِ
“The believer is not given to insults, nor cursing, nor is he one given to wicked, shameless speech.”

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Allāh has addressed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in the Qur’ān describing him thusly:

“And verily, you are on an exalted standard of character.” [68:4]

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) refrained from engaging in cursing or other vulgar speech. Al-Bukhārī reports from `Ā’ishah, may Allāh be pleased with her:

Once, a group of Jews entered upon Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and said “Al-Sāmu `Alaykum (Death be upon you).”

I understood what they had said, so I responded, “Al-Sāmu `Alaykum Wa’l-La`nah (Death be upon you and curse).”

At this, Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “Take it easy `Ā’ishah, for indeed, Allāh loves gentleness in all matters.”

I said, “O Messenger of Allāh, did you not hear what they said?”

Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “I already said, ‘wa `alaykum (and upon you)’.”

With regards to cursing or reviling a Muslim, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has stated, “Cursing a Muslim is fusūq.” [Al-Bukhārī, Muslim]

The meaning of fusūq is to depart from obedience to Allāh. In fact, such revulsion can even lead to disbelief if it is on account of that person’s religiosity. Thus, in that case, it would amount to reviling the religion and that is one of the nullifiers of faith.

In fact, Allāh has prohibited us from insulting even the idols, the false gods, of the disbelievers lest this should lead them to insulting Allāh:

“And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) invoke besides Allāh, lest they insult Allāh wrongfully without knowledge.” [6:108]

With this precaution, let us now come to the main theme of the article:

The Status of the Companions in the Qur’ān

“And know that among you is the Messenger of Allāh. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allāh has made beloved to you the faith and has beautified it in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.” [49:7]

This verse is clearly addressed to the Companions, for the Messenger of Allāh is amongst them. Note that Allāh says that He has made Īmān beloved to them and has beautified it in their hearts and He has made them hate kufr, fusūq, and `isyān. He further describes them as being rightly-guided (rāshidūn). Surely, no one will doubt that anyone to whom Allāh has made faith beloved and beautified in their hearts would not be rightly guided? Then, furthermore, after that, who can deny they are rightly guided when He has also made all forms of disbelief, wickedness and disobedience hated to them?

This particular categorization: disbelief (kufr), wickedness (fusūq), and disobedience (`isyān) has been mentioned for the purpose of clarification. It emphasizes their innocence of any quality that would expel them from the religion while also exonerating them of having any love for committing any sort of sin that would be less than that. The term fusūq is applied to those acts of disobedience which are particularly reprehensible or wicked, whereas the term `isyān would encompass even the slightest act of disobedience. Thus, they can neither be thought of as disbelievers (kuffār) nor sinners (fussāq).

Promise Fulfilled

“Allāh has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession [to authority] in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He is pleased with for them. And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are disobedient sinners.” [24:55]

To understand the implications of this verse, we must look back at history. Allāh is promising those who were present at the revelation of this verse that those of them who believe and do righteous deeds (1) shall be granted authority in the earth, (2) He will establish for them their religion, and (3) He will exchange their state of fear for one of security.

Consider what happened after the death of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Does history not show us how Allāh granted the Companions authority in the earth and established for them their religion? Indeed it does. In fact, the conquests achieved in their short rule were so great that nothing the like of it has been seen before nor since in history. The `Arabs, with little technological know-how or numbers, swept all the way into Spain in the West and the heart of Asia in the East in just a matter of decades. At their hands, not just one but both of the world superpowers were humbled. What is most amazing of all is that most of these farfetched lands that entered into Islām at the hands of the Companions so many centuries ago are still Muslim lands to this day. If the words of this verse are not true of them, then tell me, by Allāh, of whom then are they true?

Does this verse not also indicate to us that in their time, Allāh established for them the religion with which He is pleased? Is this not an indication that the Islām of Abū Bakr, `Umar, `Uthmān, `Alī, and all of the beloved Companions was the very Islām that was brought by our beloved Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?

The People of Badr

In Sūrah al-Anfāl, Allāh states:

“He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.” [8:62]

This verse refers to Allāh’s Aid of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) at the Battle of Badr. Thus, Allāh has testified that those of the Companions who witnessed Badr were believers. This testimony has come to us in a verse of the Qur’ān that shall be recited in the masjids, upon the pulpits, and upon the lips of every believer until the time when Allāh shall inherit the earth and all those upon it. Is there any greater testimony of faith than that?

At this battle, the Companions who were present was some three hundred plus Companions.

The Pledge of Divine Pleasure (Bay`ah al-Ridwān)

“Certainly was Allāh 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.” [48:18]

The Companions who witnessed this pledge were some 1400 in number. In this verse, Allāh has stated:

(1) He was pleased with them
(2) Borne witness that they are believers
(3) And borne witness to the purity of their hearts.

The Expedition of Tabūk

In reference to the great military expedition that went out to Tabūk with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), Allāh states:

“Allāh has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhājirīn and the Ansār 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 is to them Kind and Merciful.” [9:117]

The army that went out with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was composed of about 30,000 men. Is this not indicative that the generality of the Companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) are of a high statuse. Particularly, it is true of the Muhājirīn, those who migrated from Makkah to Madīnah at a time when they were being persecuted for their faith and who sacrificed their homes and wealth to migrate in the Path of Allāh, and it is true of the Ansār who risked the ire of all the Arabs to give shelter to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and to their brothers, the Muhājirīn.

The Description of the Muhājirīn and the Ansār

Thus it is that Allāh describes them in Sūrah al-Hashr, saying:

“[And there is also a share in this booty] for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allāh and to please Him, and supporting Allāh and His Messenger. Such indeed are indeed the truthful (to what they say); And [also for] those who, before them, had settled in the City and the Faith, love those who have emigrated to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in great need. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.” [59:8-9]

Thus Allāh informs us that the Muhājīrūn had only migrated seeking Allāh’s Bounty and Pleasure, and in order to support the religion of Allāh and His Messengers. As for the Ansār, Allāh describes them as those who تبوءوا الدار والإيمان tabawwa’ū’l-dār wa’l-īmān. Tabawwu’ is to become settled in some place. Thus the Ansār had become settled in their faith.

Then, in the next verse, Allāh informs us:

“And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” [59:10]

O Allāh forgive the Muhājirīn and Ansār who preceded us in Fatih, and do not put in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed!

The Spectre of Hypocrisy (Nifāq)

Now the there arises a question that some may ask, “Were there not hypocrites in al-Madīnah?” Of course, every Muslim knows that the answer is yes. In fact, one might ask: is it not true that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not know the exact identity of those hypocrites? This also is true as Allāh tells us:

“And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and [also] from the people of Madinah. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You do not know them, [but] We know them.” [9:101]

This is a reality established by the Qur’ān without a doubt. Allāh also says:

“And if We willed, We could show them to you, and you would know them by their mark; but you will surely know them by the tone of [their] speech. And Allah knows your deeds.” [47:30]

Thus, the hypocrites have a way of speaking that gave away their inclinations and which was recognizable to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).Furthermore, Allāh tells us in the Qur’ān that He is going to distinguish the pure (tayyib) from the filthy (khabīth) by testing the believers in various ways. Thus, after the Battle of Uhud, Allāh says:

“Allāh would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good.” [3:179]

This process of purifying the ranks of the Companions is just what took place in the years to follow in Madīnah. Thus, of the Battle of the Confederates (al-Ahzāb), Allāh says:

“There (in that situation), the believers were tried and shaken with a severe shaking.” [33:11]

As for the hypocrites, they said:

“‘O people of Yathrib (al-Madīnah)! There is no stand (possible) for you (against the enemy attack!) Therefore go back!’ And a band of them ask for permission of the Prophet saying: ‘Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy),’ and they lay not open. They but wished to flee.” [33:13]

Contrast this with the position taken by the believers in this great difficulty:

“And when the believers saw the companies, they said, ‘This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth.’ And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.” [33:22]

Likewise, Allāh refers to the expedition of Tabūk in the Qur’ān as “the hour of difficulty” as we have cited earlier. It was a time of great difficulty and hardship. As for the believers, they embraced the opportunity to please Allāh and His Messenger, while the hypocrites lingered behind in al-Madīnah, afterwards making excuses for their absence.

Thus, we see that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was able to distinguish the believers from the disbelievers from the positions that they took in trying times.

Furthermore, Allāh says in the Qur’ān:

“They hypocrites are apprehensive lest a sūrah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, ‘Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allāh will expose that which you fear.’” [9:64]

A group of the hypocrites were mocking the recitors, who were no less than the scholars and the elite of the Companions. Because of this mockery, the following verses were revealed:

“And if you ask them, they will surely say, ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say, ‘Is it Allāh and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.” [9:65-66]

Thus, in light of these verses, to claim that Abū Bakr and `Umar, were hypocrites, and all the while he was unaware of it, is the pinnacle of sophistry! They were his close companions, his trusted advisors, and the fathers of two of his wives, and yet he was unaware of their true state? What could be more farfetched.

Conclusion

It is important to understand that if anyone is expelled from the fold of Islām, then this means that anything they relate to us of the religion cannot be accepted. Is it anyone but Abū Bakr, `Umar, and all the rest of the trustworthy Companions of our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that we rely on to transmit the religion down to us? In fact, it was under the supervision of Abū Bakr, and later `Uthmān that the mushaf was compiled.

This is why so many of our scholars of the past have stated that if you see anyone reviling the Companions, may Allāh be pleased with them, then be weary of him, for he is seeking the destruction of Islām.

As a final note, it is important to keep in mind that, as Ahl al-Sunnah, when addressing those with whom we disagree, we should advise them with gentleness so that the advice may benefit them. Thus, Allāh gave Mūsā and Hārūn (عليهما الصلاة والسلام) the following instructions for dealing with Fir`awn:

“And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allāh].” [20:44]

And this is what our scholars mean when they say, “Ahl al-Sunnah are the most knowledgeable of people concerning the truth, and the most merciful of people to the creation.”

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25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. ibnabeeomar

    April 30, 2007 at 8:53 AM

    mashallah, jazakallahu khayr for this excellent and informative post. may Allah(swt) be pleased with all of the Sahabah.

  2. Hassan

    April 30, 2007 at 10:19 AM

    Prophet Muhammad PBUH married daughters of Abu Bakr(RA) and Umar(RA). Prophet Muhammad was rarely seen without them with his sides. It was Abu Bakr who Allah referred as
    “sahib” in the cave of thur. It was A’aisha(RA) for whom verses of Quran were revealed to exonerate her. It was Umar(RA) for whom, Allah sent verses to support his opinions. It was Umar from whom Shaytan would run away terrified (shaytan and his allies hate Umar(RA), no surprise). It was Abu Bakr(RA) for which prophet Muhammad PBUH said, I have returned all favors of humans, except Abu Bakr, and his reward is with Allah. It is Abu Bakr, who is Atqa (surah Layl), who gives charity left and right and purify himself. And he does not do it but to seek the pleasure of Allah. Verily who has animosity towards awliya of Allah, Allah would take them enemy.

    Ali(RA) cried on minbar saying Abu Bakr was the best. He was the better than momin of firaun family thousand times, who Allah describes in surah Ghafir. Ali(RA) gave his daughter to Umar(RA) in marriage.

    Yet all shias have to say, this was all “tuqiyah”. Naodbillah it can not be. but to imply hypocrisy in part of Muhammad(PBUH) and Ali(RA).

    I applogize to brother Abu Bakr, he wrote excellent article, but I got emotional and carried away.

  3. Amad

    April 30, 2007 at 11:03 AM

    ASA, Yes, let’s not get carried away ikhwaan.

    Sometimes our dealings with people who share none of our faith becomes unfortunately better than our dealing with those who do share the kalimah and a lot of our deen with us.

    As we know, most of the scholars consider Shia masses to be Muslims, i.e. our brethren. We can discuss matters of difference (and they are significant no doubt) in a kind, factual manner. Also, it is important not to conflate subjects. The previous subject dealt with politics, not theology. This post deals with theology and not politics. It is important to keep issues separate so that they can be discussed in a positive manner.

    If there are comments made about either Sunnis or Shias, that are disparaging or insulting or really have no benefit, we’ll have no choice but to moderate them out.

    So, in that spirit, I’d like to repeat a question: what is the general feeling among mainstream Shias about the shrine built over Umar (RD)’s murderer, Abu Lulu’s grave (click on P.S. tab above for the photo). Is that considered an extremist position or do most Shias agree with this outrage?

  4. Anon.

    April 30, 2007 at 11:36 AM

    I talked with many shi’a who say they haven’t got anything against the sahaba :)

  5. Hassan

    April 30, 2007 at 11:48 AM

    Anon, yes I have met many shias like that, and I hope they are not doing “tuqiyah” which according to one of their fabricated hadith is that a person is not mumin who does not do tuqiyah. Hence they give tuqiyah in explanation of all what they can not explain otherwise, like prophet Muhammad(PBUH) marrying daughters of Abu Bakr(RA) and Umar(RA), Umar(RA) marrying daughter of Ali(RA), Ali(RA) not standing up against Abu Bakr(RA), Umar(RA) and Uthman(RA), Ali(RA) being a close consultant to Umar(RA) always and many more.

    By the way I was under impression that one of the bloggers from the muslimmatters was going to quote shia authentic books to show what they believe about sahabah.

  6. logic

    April 30, 2007 at 2:41 PM

    I did read the article on Sahabas but as usual it is a very narrow minded twisted narration. There are many thing which are very easily questioned.

    1) Vulgar and offensive comments have been exchanged between Sahabas and proof exist in Sahih book of this exchange furthermore History does testify that Ali (A.S) was abused from mimber

    2) On the matter of Hypocrisy and companions you can again refer to the hadith in sahih and i quote
    “Narrated ‘Abdullah:

    The Prophet said, “I am your predecessor at the Lake-Fount (Kauthar) and some men amongst you will be brought to me, and when I will try to hand them some water, they will be pulled away from me by force whereupon I will say, ‘O Lord, my companions!’ Then the Almighty will say, ‘You do not know what they did after you left, they introduced new things into the religion after you.’””

    There are many more instances where the author has just over simplified and as usual applied the Blanket Immunity.. This is a never ending debate and can never be concluded on a blog for sure.

    For my conclusion i would just like to say the original author on this page is insulting the intelligence of all those people that are coverting on the bare premise that they are converting cause Hizbollah stood up to Israel!!!

    Maybe they converted when they noticed people like you make up false stories which hold no weight and the actual face of Shiaism is a lot different then what their lying sheikhs have presented to them.

    If their steadfast behaviour was the issue then lets test it, Let all the neighbouring Arab Sunni countries stand up in defiance instead of shaking hands and their tails.

  7. Abu Bakr

    April 30, 2007 at 5:04 PM

    It seems from your diverting the topic that you do not have a response to the verses of the Qur’an.

    As for your arguing from hadith, you have not brought anything new or shocking. You probably know full well that the narrators of hadith narrate by meaning. Other narrations of this hadith in the Sahih have the wording “men from my ummah.” In any case, with either wording, it is by no means necessary that it is referring to the Companions of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) but merely to some of his ummah who were not faithful to his path. To say that it necessarily applies to his Companions is in need of evidence. This claim is not backed up by the Qur’an and since you are discussing our hadith literature, then it is not backed up by that either. Take for example, the hadith in the sahih “The sign of iman is loving the Ansar and the sign of hypocrisy is hating the Ansar.”

    As for your claim that Ali was abused from the mimbar, we absolutely do not accept this as all such reports come from unverifiable sources. There is no use in pointing out that such narrations can be found in sunni source books, because the collectors of those sunni source books on history intended to gather together all that had been related, true or otherwise. For that reason, you will find that they even mention the narrations of narrators whom all classical sunni historians and traditionists have agreed in classifying as “rafidi liars.”

    As for angry words being exchanged between some Companions at some times, noone has claimed infallibility for any of the Companions except for the Shi’a who claim it for Ali and for their other Imams. If they were at times to commit errors or sins, it is because they are human and not infallible like the prophets. This does not diminish from their being faithful followers of the Prophet’s teachings (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

    In conclusion, I would just like to say, reread this article with an open mind and heart. Go back and read the Qur’an. Can an impartial reader honestly derive from the Qur’an that the main focal point of the religion should be Ali or the concept of Imamat.

    What’s more, the Shia, like many of the so-called Sunni groups, frequently engage in invoking others besides Allah. For the Shia, it is their Imams. For some other sects, it is the “Awliyaa.” You should know that this goes against the heart of the Qur’anic message:

    وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَداً
    “And the masjids are for Allah, so do not make du’a to anyone alongside Allah.”

    Yet, at hajj, while making tawaf around the Ka’ba at al-Masjid al-Haram, I have heard the group leaders for the Shia groups coming from Iran making du’a “Ya Ali…” “Ya Hasan…” “Ya Husayn…” and so forth… and no doubt countless others have witnessed this and heard it

    You should know that this is a path that will lead only to ruin and destruction. So I advise you sincerely, for your own sake, consider this matter, and study it, read the Qur’an and ask Allah and Allah alone to help you understand it and no doubt, if you are sincere, He will guide you to the Straight Path.

  8. Pingback: Status of the Sahabas at Ijtema

  9. Editor @ I J T E M A

    April 30, 2007 at 5:55 PM

    Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
    I pray that you are in the best of health & imaan.
    This is a short message to notify you that this entry has been selected
    for publishing on I J T E M A; a
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  10. restingtraveller

    April 30, 2007 at 7:27 PM

    jazakAllahu khayran for an awesome post. Very beneficial.

  11. Mujahideen Ryder

    April 30, 2007 at 10:16 PM

    I needed this.

  12. Abu Bakr

    April 30, 2007 at 10:36 PM

    Wa Iyyak

  13. Amad

    May 2, 2007 at 7:42 AM

    ‘Logic’ (see his comments here ) was emailed to inform him that his comments were not deleted, but moved here to its appropriate location. In a couple of exchanges, here were some of his more colorful comments:

    “Listen dude you can dance around my complaint all you want but the fact of the matter is there is no insult greater then questioning some man’s faith”

    “The difference is in your thinking. We as Shias dont curse, We call them out for what they really were! we dont believe in blanket immunity! We dont give anyone any honor simply cause they enjoyed the Prophet (saww) companionship cause as it is stated “One soul does not bear the sins of another” hence one soul cannot merit from another either!”

    “Can you pass this message to your friends, I am a extremely proud Rafidha infact i thank Allah for this favor but somehow calling you people Bakris seem to incite some sort of mood change.”

    “As for the retarded article by Abu Bakr, Tell him to go visit Sunnipath…instead and correct his deviance”

    “we end this with a prayer That on the day of Judgement may Allah raise you with the Prophet (saww) companions and me with his (saww) family.”

    “P.S. Can you pass this message to your friends, I am a extremely proud Rafidha infact i thank Allah for this favor but somehow calling you people Bakris seem to incite some sort of mood change.”

    ——————

    I’ll let Br. Abu Bakr respond to what is really a display of insults and arrogance… but I would like to mention a few things:

    ‘Logic’ is all up in arms because his “faith was questioned”. Yet, he sees no problem in questioning the faith of the Sahabah, based on his Shia speculation about what was in the Sahaba’s heart. So, he finds our protest incredulous… should not we be offended when he insults our fathers’ faith? For instance, he refers to people who respect Abu Bakr as “bakris” (“goats” in Urdu)…

    I insisted in my email to him that there is safety in respecting all the Sahabah, both the ahl-bayt and others. How could you go wrong? Would Allah punish us for holding our tongue against the Sahabah, EVEN if we were to assume that the Shia have some truth? That is, if the Shia position is correct, and Sunnis are wrong, then we are still good because we kept our tongues guarded against all the Sahabah. However, if the Sunni position is correct, then aren’t the Shias in kind of a HUGE pickle? Logically speaking, then, ‘Logic’ could be in a lot of trouble. His response “we [shias] call them [sahabas] out for what they were” says a lot; so is it that Allah send a special revelation to tell the Shia who the ‘bad’ Sahabah were and who the good were? What benefit is there in cursing, attacking Sahabas, and in some cases, building shrines over murderers’ grave (e.g. Abu Lulu)?

    Finally, I love the last line, pushing a rhetorical wedge between the Sahabah and the Ahl-Bayt. As if they were mutually exclusive to each other, and you could only choose one or the other. This is the common technique employed in many discussions… the point being we all (sunnis/shias) agree on the immediate ahl-bayt as being righteous (only the ahl-bayt amongst the salaf or whose righteousness is known, no blanket immunity to borrow Logic’s phrase)… so then they are trying to put you on a spot by putting this barrier. The logical problem in the argument is clear. This only works if only one party is right and the other is wrong (in the sense of hell-bound and heaven-bound). What we, Sunnis, say is that the best of the ahl-bayt are AMONG the sahaba, and the best of the sahaba is Abu Bakr, then Omar, then Uthman, and then Ali. We cover all bases alhamdulilah. That is ultimately and undoubtedly the safest position.

    May Allah guide us all to the truth in our deen.

    wallahualam

  14. Abu Bakr

    May 2, 2007 at 12:44 PM

    Quite frankly, there is nothing to respond to … he demanded proofs from the Qur’an for our view, and I gave them to him.

    His protests against “questioning his faith” are a roundabout way to kill any attempts to discuss these matters, for by merely discussing them we now stand accused of “questioning his faith.”

    One more interesting note, vis-a-vis the Qur’an and the Shia, it is only in the hadith literature that Ali and Fatimah and their children are referred to as Ahl al-Bayt (and it is authentic and well-established in the Sahih). However, when one reads the verse in the Qur’an referring to Ahl al-Bayt, it is pretty clear from the context that it is referring to the wives of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Of course, there is no contradiction as they are all members of the Prophetic household, but as Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says,

    “Whoever Allah has not appointed for him a light, then for him there is no light.”

    And may Allah send peace and salutations upon the Prophet, His Family, and all His Companions. Aameen.

  15. Hassan

    May 3, 2007 at 11:01 AM

    http://www.ahlelbayt.com/

    One of the best site I found. Very interesting articles.

  16. Abu Bakr

    May 3, 2007 at 1:41 PM

    Thanks for the link; this is on their front page and relevant to the topic:

    http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/ahlel-bayt/cursing-wives-and-sahabah

    “The following fatwa is found on the Official Website of Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shahroudi. Please note how the Grand Ayatollah allows the cursing but it must be done in such a way as not to reveal the Taqiyyah that is being done in front of the Sunni masses. Perhaps this will wake up those Sunnis who are fooled by the Shia lies when they say that they do not curse the Prophet’s wives or Sahabah. This comes from the mouth of the Grand Ayatollah himself.”

  17. Amad

    May 3, 2007 at 7:08 PM

    More from “Logic” (who I am assuming is afraid to engage here):

    This was my response to him to the last email:

    Logic, you wrote “That on the day of Judgement may Allah raise you with the Prophet (saww) companions and me with his (saww) family.”
    And I say, what if the family is included in the companions… I guess you may be left alone buddy…. Your attempt to drive a wedge between the companions and his family, as if there isn’t an overlap, is shameless and typical of shia rhetoric in order to confuse people. SubhanAllah your hatred for people consumes your intelligence…. I pray that Allah will forgive you and guide you to the path of love for ALL the companions, not just his family.

    To which he replied, replete with insults and arrogance— basically, trying to differentiate between ahl-bayt and Sahabah, so that they can have free-will to do the cursing, subhanAllah, I always question as to what the purpose of this cursing is? Can’t you have your religion and leave the Sahabas alone? Anyway here it is more:

    Do you have any clue of what you are talking about? Islam is not built on your insane “What if” statements it has logic behind it. Now to take your coment apart one just has to look at these examples

    1) Durood – Ahlulbayt first then followed by companions
    2) Ghadeer khum – Quraan and Ahlulbayt not companion
    3) Salman Farsi – difference between companion and Ahlulbayt
    4) Once someone asked Imam Shafi (I think not sure but a major imam nontheless) on the names of companions so he replied with all the names except Ali. When asked why he left Ali out the imam replied cause you asked me about companions.

    Should i keep going on the huge difference between Ahlulbayt and companion or has the point been proven. Sheer insanity is how your mind works if you cant differentiate between these 2. No wonder you people have reduced the glory of the Prophet (Saww) to ordinary people.

    There are plenty of instance of bad character of Sahabas but obviously you are stuck in the “What if” mode which is full of Blanket immunity to all people devoid of all reasoning.

    To Quote you
    “I pray that Allah will forgive you and guide you to the path of love for ALL the companions, not just his family. ”

    I appreciate you praying for me and your wish but i refuse it for All companions.. If our queen Bibi fatima (A.S) died unhappy with your shiekh Abu Bakr then may we all follow her path…

    P.S: Tell Abu Bakr to check out tawwasul from Sunni path and see if it shirk or not. Calling someone a kaafir who is not, the curse comes back at your face…Think about it..Before you come back with another what if reply go look up Bukhari on this..

    I am sorry if you found anything i said to be offending. please forgive me if you did.

    *END* [of course it wasn’t offensive, it was ridiculous- Amad].

  18. amatulwahhaab

    May 5, 2007 at 4:55 PM

    Assalaamu alaykum,

    jazaak Allaah for the article. It sure seems like a very interesting discussion was going on afterwards…

    I recommend this site: http://www.shiaexposed.blogspot.com for more information WITH EVIDENCES regarding the shee’ah. Also, if anyone speaks Arabic they’ll easily find lectures and sites about shee’ahs as well (look at sites like saaid.net, islamway.com, ansar.org).

    Also at wylsh.com they have videos and testimonies of ex-shee’ahs guided to sunni islaam, alhamdulillaah.

  19. jinnzaman

    October 10, 2007 at 7:43 PM

    Assalamu alaikum

    I think this is my favorite post on Muslim Matters. :)

    May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) reward you with jannat al firdaus. Ameen.

    masalama

  20. Pingback: muslimmatters.org » Authority of Sunnah Part-3: Status of Sahaba (Companions)

  21. Pingback: Open Thread Sunday 6-8-08 | MuslimMatters.org

  22. Abu the Baker

    May 24, 2009 at 7:04 PM

    Volume 8, Book 76, Number 585:

    Narrated Abu Hazim from Sahl bin Sa’d:

    The Prophet said, “I am your predecessor (forerunner) at the Lake-Fount, and whoever will pass by there, he will drink from it and whoever will drink from it, he will never be thirsty. There will come to me some people whom I will recognize, and they will recognize me, but a barrier will be placed between me and them.” Abu Hazim added: An-Nu’man bin Abi ‘Aiyash, on hearing me, said. “Did you hear this from Sahl?” I said, “Yes.” He said, ” I bear witness that I heard Abu Said Al-Khudri saying the same, adding that the Prophet said: ‘I will say: They are of me (i.e. my followers). It will be said, ‘You do not know what they innovated (new things) in the religion after you left’. I will say, ‘Far removed, far removed (from mercy), those who changed (their religion) after me.” Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said, “On the Day of Resurrection a group of companions will come to me, but will be driven away from the Lake-Fount, and I will say, ‘O Lord (those are) my companions!’ It will be said, ‘You have no knowledge as to what they innovated after you left; they turned apostate as renegades (reverted from Islam).”

    http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/bukhari/076.sbt.html#008.076.585

  23. Abû Mûsâ Al-Ḥabashî

    May 25, 2009 at 5:01 PM

    “Abu the Baker”,

    Abu Bakr already responded to that in this comment.

  24. AsimG

    May 25, 2009 at 7:33 PM

    I really need to stop reading comments on MM. It’s bad for the mind and the heart. Too much debate :(

  25. Mahmud

    July 2, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

    This article was pretty good. Are there any more articles from this author or is this the only one?

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