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The Companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf)

Chapter 14 

The Companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf)

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       Most Muslim scholars define the companions (sahaba) of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) to be the people who lived during the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) and saw him or heard him speak, even for a very short period of time.  Islam teaches that no person should be praised or condemned without a valid reason regardless of origin, belief, or color, for, according to the Holy Qur'an, the nearest to Allah are those with the most piety: "Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that believer who has more piety and righteousness."[192]  No blood relation, friendship, companionship, monetary status, or social status plays a role in  nearness to Allah.

       As for the sahaba, the Holy Qur'an divides them into two groups.  The first consists of those who were truthful and loyal and sacrificed their wealth and their souls to defend the cause of Islam: "Those who believed and emigrated and strove hard and fought in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are far higher in degree with Allah.  They are the successful.  Their Lord gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him, and that He is pleased (with them), and of Gardens for them wherein are everlasting delights.  They will dwell therein forever.  Verily, with Allah is a great reward."[193]  Other numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an hail the good comapnions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) such as al-Badriyun, those who stood by the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) during the Battle of Badr even though their number was less than one third of the number of their enemies and their weapons were trivial compared to the weapons of their adversaries.  They stood firm and sacrificed their selves and are among the best of examples for the Muslims.  Likewise, there were respected women among the sahaba who participated in the political, social, and economic life of Islam, such as Um Amarah, who gave her four sons to defend Islam and while tending to her injured son fought in the battle until the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) said: "O Um Amarah, who can bear what you are bearing?"

       However, there is another group which the Holy Qur'an clearly describes - the hypocrites.  Numerous verses in the Holy Qur'an condemn their attempts to destroy the Muslim nation.  Two chapters of the Holy Qur'an in particular refer to them: Chapter 9 (al-tawbah or "The Repentance") and Chapter 63 (al-munafiqin or "The Hypocrites").  In "The Hypocrites," the Holy Qur'an teaches that people should not be judged by their physical appearance or even by their public actions but by their sincerity and dedication to Allah, His Prophet (pbuh&hf), and the Muslim nation: "And when you look at them, their bodies please you, and when they speak, you listen to their words.  They are as blocks of wood, propped up.  They think that every cry is against them.  They are the enemies.  So beware of them; may Allah curse them.  How are they denying the right path?"[194]  These are the disobedient whom Allah would not forgive on the Day of Judgement; according to the Holy Qur'an: "It is equal for them whether you (Prophet Muhammad) ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them.  Allah will not forgive them.  Verily, Allah guides not the people who are rebellious, disobedient to Allah."[195]  Although they performed the prayers and gave alms (zakat), these acts stemmed from their hypocrisy and desire to show off and were not for the sake of Allah: "And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they came to prayers only in a lazy state, and that they only offer contriubtions (zakat) unwillingly."[196]  Even when praying behind the Holy Prophet himself (pbuh&hf), whenever a trade caravan would enter Madinah, these hypocrites would leave their positions in the prayer row to watch the caravan rather than listen to the sermon of the Holy Prophet of Allah (pbuh&hf): "And when they see some merchandise, or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad) standing (while delivering the Friday jum'ah religious sermon).  Say: that which Allah has is better than any amusement or merchandise, and Allah is the best of providers."[197]

       According to historical reports, some of these hypocrites who infiltrated the companions plotted to kill the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf),[198] and the Holy Qur'an states that they had schemed to start a civil war in Madinah: "Verily, they had plotted sedition before and had upset matters for you - until the truth (victory) came, and the Decree of Allah became manifest though they hated it."[199]  "They (the hypocrites) say: 'If we return to Madinah, indeed, the more honorable (the chief of the hypocrites) will expel therefrom the meaner (Allah's Messenger and his followers.'  But honor, power, and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, but the hypocrites know not."[200]

       Some of these hypocrites  established a mosque and invited the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) to inagurate it - not to please Allah but to compete with the other Muslims and disunite the believers.  Allah ordered the Holy Prophet (pubhahf) to refuse their invitation and destroy that mosque which was based on hypocrisy: 

  And as for those who put up a mosque by way of harming and disbelief, and to disunite the believers, and as an outpost for those who warned against Allah and His Messenger aforetime, they will indeed swear that their intention is nothig but good.  Allah bears witness that they are certainly liars.  Never stand therein.  Verily, the mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day based on piety is more worthy for you to stand therein.  In it are men who love to clean and purify themselves.  And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure.  Is he who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His good pleasure better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbles to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell?  And Allah guides not the people who are the dhalimun (cruel, violent, proud, hypocrites, and wrongdoers).  The building which they built will never cease to be a cause of hypocrisy and doubt in their hearts, unless their hearts are cut to pieces.  And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.[201]

       While some of the hypocrites would approach the truthful Muslim beleivers and claim they were genuinely part of the Muslim nation, Allah informs the Muslims not to believe them: "They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people (hypocrites) who intend to divide (the Muslim nation)."[202]  And on countless occasions, they insulted and offfended the Holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh&hf): "And among them (the hypocrites) are men who hurt the Prophet and say, 'He is (lending his) ear (to every news).'  Say: 'He listens to what is best for you, he belives in Allah, has faith in the believers, and is a mercy to those of you who believe.'  But those who hurt Allah's Messenger will have a painful torment."[203]

       Even the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) was unaware of some of the hypocrites in Madinah.  Although he knew 'Abdullah ibn 'Ubay, the leader of the hypocrites, there were others in the mosque of the Prophet, in the city of Madinah whom Allah did not inform him (pbuh&hf) about: "And among the desert people (A'arab) around you, O believers, are some hypocrites, and so are there some among the people of Madinah.  They exaggerate and persist in hypocrisy.  Even you (Prophet Muhammad) know them not.  We know them; We shall punish them twice, and thereafter they shall be brought to a great, horrible torment."[204]  Since the acts of desecration to Islam and the Muslim society of some of the hypocrites reached such an extent that Allah promised them eternal punishment, Muslims should not extend the pleasure of Allah to all of the people around the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) without distinguishing between the good and the bad from them.  Nor should the Muslims refer to them as "the stars - whomever we follow, we will be guided," for Imam Bukhari narrates:

  Allah's Messenger (pbuh&hf) said: I will be there at the Fountain of Kawthar before you, and I will have to contend for some people, but I will have to yield.  I will be saying: My Lord, they are my companions, they are my companions, and it will be said: You don't know what innovations they made after you.[205]

  He also narrates a similar version of this hadith:

  Allah's Messenger (pbuh&hf) said in the company of his companions: I will be at the Fountain waiting for those who will be coming to me from among you.  By Allah, some people will be prevented from coming to me, and I will say: My Lord, they are my followers and the people of my ummah.  And He will say: You don't know what they did after you; they have been constantly turning back on their heels (from their religion).  It is reported that ibn Abu Mulaikah used to say (in supplication): O Allah, I seek refuge with You that we should turn back upon our heels or be put to any trial about our religion.[206]

       Some Muslims claim that whoever disrespects any of the people around the Prophet (pbuh&hf) is a not a Muslim or a believer.  Certainly, criticizing the devout and genuine sahaba of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) is completely forbidden and unacceptable.  However, it should not be forgotten that within the group of people around the Prophet (pbuh&hf) were some hypocrites whom even the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) did not know.[207]  Allah is the first to curse some of those hypocrites.  Furthermore, among the Umayyids, there was a particular caliph who established a precedent for cursing certain sahaba known for their devotion to Allah and Islam.  If any Muslim who curses any of the sahaba is declared a disbeliever, then what would be the Islamic judgement regarding this caliph?  In addition, after the death of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf), the Companions, from time to time, disagreed with each other to the point where no moral person could take both sides.  Individuals from the sahaba of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf) were responsible for the assassination of the third caliph, 'Uthman ibn Affan.    Should they still be regarded as equal to the pious companions of the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hf)?!

       If hadith such as "my companions are like stars - whomever you follow, you will be guided" extends Allah's pleasure indiscriminately to all of those who were around the Prophet (pbuh&hf), then they would not be treated as authentic Prophteic hadith in the Shi'a school of thought since they are not compatible with the Holy Qur'an.

       Some of the companions did commit sins without intending to defy Allah, and Allah has promised them forgiveness: "And there are others who have acknowledged their sins.  They have mixed a deed which was rightoeus with another that was evil.  Allah shall turn to them in forgiveness.  Surely Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."[208]

      Notes:

  [192] Qur'an 49:13

[193] Qur'an 9:20-22

[194] Qur'an 63:4

[195] Qur'an 63:6

[196] Qur'an 9:54

[197] Qur'an 62:11

[198] For further details, see al-Maghazi, al-Waqidi, 2:989

[199] Qur'an 9:48

[200] Qur'an 63:8

[201] Qur'an 9:107-110

[202] Qur'an 9:56

[203] Qur'an 9:61

[204] Qur'an 9:101

[205] Sahih Bukhari, Book on Heart-Melting Traditions, hadith #6089 and #6090; Book on the Trials, hadith #6527; Sahih Muslim, Book on the Virtues, hadith #4250; Ibn Majah, Book on Religious Rituals, hadith #3048; Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, 1:384, 402, 406, 407, 425, 439, 453, 455;5:387, 393, 400

[206] Sahih Bukhari, Book on Heart-Melting Traditions hadith #6104; Sahih Muslim, Book on the Virtues, hadith #4245

[207] Qur'an 9:101

[208] Qur'an 9:102

 

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