The Noble Sahabah (رضي الله عنه): What Should Our Stance Be Towards Them?

Everybody has a raw nerve which should never be touched, even by mistake! Some will never tolerate that anyone even harms a hair of their mother, son, or wife, whilst some will scream murder if anyone scratched vehicle. Well, in Islam, there is a raw nerve that should never be touched, even in jest, or even lightheartedly. They are the venerable Prophets (Alyhis salam), the noble Sahabah (Radi’Allahu Anhum) , or any pious person (the Awliya Allah) whose proximity to Allah is known.

Volumes can be written on this subject, but due to the fact that some segments of society have nowadays made it a fashion of belittling the Sahabah and criticizing their actions – as if the Sahabah is answerable to them,- there is a need to briefly point out the stance of every Muslim towards the Sahabah. I’ve tried to simplify this article in FIVE SUCCINT POINTS so everyone can easily understand and digest it in one sitting:

  1. The Sahabah, or Companions of Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) have been termed “the best of nations” in the Qur’an (Aal Imran: 110). Besides being chosen by Allah to be of assistance to Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) in establishing Islam, Allah tells us that the Sahabah were an elite pious group: “You will see them sometimes bowing, sometimes prostrating, seeking Allah’s bounty and His pleasure. Their hallmark is on their faces because of the effect of prostration.” (Fath: 29) All of them passed away in the following state: “Allah was happy with them, and they with Allah.” (Taubah: 100) As Muslims, we can only envision the Sahabah as Allah described them to us in this pure unblemished way, not in any other way.
  2. Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) has commanded us thus: “Honour my Sahaba for certainly they are the best of you.” (Mishkat, pg. 554) Our Noble Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) also predicted a time when some vile people – who turned out to be the Shi’ah Rawaafidh – would disobey him in this regard. In their hatred for Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) which they would not be able to express, they would malign the Sahabah instead. He Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) loudly proclaimed: “Fear Allah! Fear Allah, regarding my Sahaba! Do not make them a target of criticism after me.” (Tirmidhi, vol. 2 pg. 225)
  3. Now comes the next question: how should we react when we see someone abuse any of the Sahabah? Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) has answered this 1400 years ago: “When you see those people who curse my Sahaba then say to them: “May the curse of Allah be upon the one who is the more evil between you.” (Tirmidhi vol. 2 pg. 227, Mishkat pg. 554) When the raw nerve is being touched, there is no time for niceties. The very integrity of Islam is at stake here! The scholars have deduced from this hadith that DEFENDING THE HONOUR OF THE SAHABA AND RESPONDING TO THE ACCUSATIONS LEVELLED AGAINST THEM IS A RELIGIOUS OBLIGATION ON ALL MUSLIMS.
  4. The treatise titled “Al-’Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah” is a book on creed accepted by all scholars in all ages. It provides the ideal stance of each Muslim on this crucial topic: “… and we love all the Sahaba of Rasulullah (Sallalahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam). We do not go to the extreme in our love for any one of them, nor do we discard any of them. We abhor anyone who harbours hatred or speaks ill about them. We only refer to them with goodness. Love for them is part of religion, Islam and piety. Hatred for them is tantamount to disbelief, hypocrisy and evil… Whosoever speaks well of the Sahaba of Rasulullah (Sallalahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam), his wives and his family is free from hypocrisy.” (Al ’Aqidah al Tahawiyyah pg. 11-12)

Concerning the punishment of those who indulge in this vile act, Imam Malik (d. 179 A.H) said: “Whosoever reviles the Sahaba should be disciplined. Whosoever says that any of the Sahaba, whether it be Abu Bakr, ‘Umar , ‘Uthman , Muawiyah or ‘Amr ibn al ’As (Radiallahu ‘Anhum), were misguided should be executed. Whosoever is vulgar against any of the Sahaba should be severely punished.” (Rasaʼil Ibn ‘Abidin al Shami vol. 1 pg. 358)

  1. So if we can not speak about the Sahabah negatively, were they infallible (ma’sum) and perfect like the Prophets? No, they were not sinless, but they were just (‘Adul), swift in repentance, excellent in their piety, pure of heart, sincere in dees, and beloved to Allah. If Allah and His Messenger (Sallalahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) pronounced their accreditation for them, no further discussion is needed. There is no need to spend hours and hours examoniing every minute detail of the Sahabah as the Shi’ah are fond of doing.

Yes, On rare occasions when they did commit a sin or an error of judgment, there was always Divine wisdom behind it. It was never done due to their evil nature, hypocrisy or inclination toward sin. Scholars beautifully explain that it would have been inappropriate for Allah to personally involve Rasulullah (Sallalahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) in situations of dispute, power, theft etc that would undermine his noble status, the noble Sahabah were thus chosen for these tasks to show us how all situations need to be dealt with for all time to come.

The best stance in this regard is that of Imam Shams al-Din al-Dimashqi (d. 947 A.H). Somebody asked Imam Abu Hanifah concerning the battle between Sayyadina ‘Ali (Radiallahu ‘Anhu) and Mu’awiyah (Radiallahu ‘Anhu) due to which many were slain in the Battle of Siffin. He answered: “I fear to make such an utterance before Allah regarding which I will be questioned about. When Allah makes me stand before Him on the Day of Resurrection, He will not question me concerning these people (Sayyadina ‘Ali or Muawiyah) and those who were slain in the Battle of Siffin. However, Allah will question me regarding those aspects which I am responsible for. It is more appropriate for me to be preoccupied in preparation for those things.” (‘Uqud al Jaman, pg. 305)

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-’Aziz also guided us in this regard: “It is a matter which Allah has shielded your hands from, so what do your tongues know about it?” (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d vol. 5 pg. 297)

May Allah Ta’ala grant us true love for the Sahabah and the Ahlul Bait, save us from the cunning devises of the Shi’ah, and unite all sincere Muslims with the Sahabah in Jannat – Ameen.

By Maulana Khalid Dhorat