Respecting The Companions Of The Holy Prophet
Part of respecting and obeying the Beloved Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) consists of respecting his Companions (radiAllahu anhum), obeying them, recognizing what is due to them, following them, praising them, asking forgiveness for them, refraining from discussing their differences, showing enmity to those who are hostile towards them, and shunning the misguidance of some people and the innovators and the reports of any historians or ignorant transmitters who detract from any of them. If there is something equivocal that is reported about them regarding the trials that took place between them, then adopt the best interpretation and look for the correct way out of it, since that is what they deserve. None of them should be mentioned in a bad manner, nor are they to be rebuked for anything. Rather, we mention their good deeds, their virtues, and their praiseworthy lives and are silent about anything else.
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “When my Companions are mentioned, hold back.” (At-Tabarani)
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala) says, “Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allah and those with him are hard against the disbelievers but tender among themselves…” (48:29) and “And the first and foremost are the Muhajirun and the Ansar,” (9:100) and “Allah was pleased with the believers when they were swearing allegiance to you under the tree,” (48:18) and “Men who have made true the covenant they had made with Allah.” (33:23)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “My Companions are like stars. Whichever of them you follow, you will be guided.” (Al-Bazzar)
Anas (radiAllahu anhu) said that the Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “The likeness of my Companions is like salt in the food. Food is not good without it.” (Al-Bazzar)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “Allah! Allah! My Companions! Do not make them targets after me! Whoever loves them loves them by my love. Whoever hates them hates them by my hatred. Whoever harms them harms me. Whoever harms me harms Allah. Whoever harms Allah is about to be seized.” (Ibn Abi Hatim)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “Do not curse my Companions. If any of you were to spend the weight of Uhud in gold, it still would not reach the measure of one of them or even one-half of it.” (Muslim)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “Anyone who curses my Companions has the curse of Allah on him, and of the Angels, and all people. Allah will not accept any exchange or recompense from him.” (Ad-Daylami and Abu Nu’aym)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said in the hadith from Jabir (radiAllahu anhu), “Allah chose my Companions over everything else in existence except for the Prophets and the Messengers. He chose four of them for me: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. He made them my best Companions, and all of my Companions are good.” (Al-Bazzar and ad-Daylami)
Malik ibn Anas (rahmatullahi alaih) and others said, “Whoever hates the Companions and curses them does not have any right to Muslim booty. This judgment is taken from the Ayah, ‘Those who came after them submitted, “O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put not into our hearts any rancor towards those who believe.”‘(59:10)
‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said (rahmatullahi alaih) said, “There are two qualities which are the cause of salvation for whoever has them: truthfulness and love for the Companions of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam).” (Qadi ‘Iyad)
Ayyub as-Sakhtiyani (rahmatullahi alaih) said, “Whoever loves Abu Bakr has established the deen. Whoever loves ‘Umar has made the clear way. Whoever loves ‘Uthman has been illuminated by the light of Allah. Whoever loves ‘Ali has taken hold of the firm handle. Whoever praises the Companions of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) is free of hypocrisy. Whoever disparages any of them is an innovator opposing the Sunna and the right-acting Salaf. It is feared that none of his actions will rise to heaven until he loves them all and his heart is sound.” (Qadi ‘Iyad)
Khalid ibn Sa’id (radiAllahu anhu) said that the Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “O people, I am pleased with Abu Bakr, so let that be known! O people, I am pleased with ‘Umar, ‘Ali, ‘Uthman, Talha, az-Zubayr, Sa’d, Sa’id, and ‘Abdu’r-Rahman ibn ‘Awf, so let that be known! O people, Allah has forgiven the people of Badr and al-Hudaybiyya. O people, protect me in my Companions and my relations by marriage. Do not let any of them have cause to demand restitution from any of you for an injustice against them. A wrongful claim will not be granted tomorrow on the Day of Rising.” (Qadi ‘Iyad)
A man said to al-Mu’afa ibn ‘Imran (rahmatullahi alaih), “Where is Mu’awiya in relation to ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdu’l-‘Aziz?” He got angry and said, “One does not compare anyone with the Companions of the Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam)! Mu’awiya was his companion, his relation by marriage, his scribe, and one who was entrusted with the revelation of Allah!” (Qadi ‘Iyad)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) came to a man’s funeral but did not pray over him. He said, “He hated ‘Uthman, so Allah hates him.” (At-Tirmidhi)
The Beloved Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) said, “Protect me in my Companions and my relations by marriage. Anyone who protects me in them will be protected by Allah in this world and the Next. Anyone abandoned by Allah is about to be seized.” (Abu Nu’aym and ad-Daylami)
It is related from Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu), “There is none of the Companions of Muhammad (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) but that he will have the power of intersession on the Day of Rising.” Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) was asked by al-Mughira ibn Nawfal (radiAllahu anhu) to intercede for him on the Day of Rising. (Qadi ‘Iyad)
Sahl ibn ‘Abdullah at-Tustari (rahmatullahi alaih) said, “Anyone who does not respect the Messenger’s Companions (sallAllahu alaihi wa aalihi wa sallam) nor esteem his commands does not believe in him.” (Qadi ‘Iyad)