Bismillalh
as salam alykom
As part of the motive behind starting this thread, that I actually enjoy updating much, is to present how Sunnah including the ahadeeth is part and parcel of Islamic legislation. How Ahadeeth can not be actually ignored or eliminated all together from Islam as a foundation. I m aware that the original post responded to those posters who actually rejected all types of worships. They actually came up with new Islam. But there still those Quranis or even common Muslims who are confused regarding how Sunnah can not be rejected.
In the following series of articles, translated from Arabic Friday surmons, we are going to address the issue step by step. In this, we only seek Allah's pleasure and satisfaction. We also seek to introduce and highlight the Sunnah of our beloved Messenger, leader, teacher Mohamed.
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Companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:
Introduction:
During the sixties of the last century, Al Ahram newspaper published a summary of a report issued by The Atheism Studies Institute in Soviet Union. The report addressed the problems that the atheism call is encountering in the Muslim countries. In brief, the report stated that calling for atheism was easily spread in the western countries, however, it suffers major difficulties in the Muslim countries. By nature, a Muslim is strictly committed to his/her religion. Even those who are not really practicing, they still never accept abusing Quran or slandering the Messenger of Islam. Thus, the report recommended that callers to atheism should refrain from attacking those two Muslim sanctities; Quran and the Messenger. But rather a caller should use a detour in order to achieve the objective of convincing a Muslim to disbelieve in Allah and abandon Islam. The initial part of this detour is destroying Muslim symbols which do not bear the same level of sanctity such as that of Quran or the Messenger. Examples include the companions or Imams of Islam. For this purpose, the caller should underline their faults, explain how they are just ordinary people who do not deserve such glorification. In case the Muslim – being called – was responsive, then the caller should move into the next stage of invalidating the authenticity of what they communicated after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. The caller should use and emphasis critical opinions of the narrations of those companions that represent a healthy phenomenon in Islam. For this purpose, the caller applies the positions of scholars regarding certain narrations to all the Ahadeeth narrated after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee was sallam. In this case, if scholars criticized a number of Hadeeth reported in Sahih Bukhari, thus, all Sahih Bukhari collection is discredited. Or in case some Hadeeth scholars categorized a number of Hadeeth as – narrated by a certain companion - Daief (weak), to them all narrations made by this companion are discredited. To promote their call, they tap on the ignorance of the majority Muslims regarding terms of Hadeeth. As soon as the caller to atheism receives an acceptance signal from the Muslim, he/she leaves the Muslim to process the thoughts on his/her own.
Having said that, we are going to try and respond to the following questions:
1. Who is to be classified as a companion (Sahabi)?
2. Are all the companions categorized to the same level?
3. What is the position of companions in Islam?
4. What is a companion's role in communicating the honored Sunnah Nabawaiay (Prophetic Sunnah) throughout the generations?
5. What is the credibility level of what we received after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and what was the documentation process?
In the next step, we are going to study a number of the companions who are Hadeeth narrator starting with Abu Horaira, Aaesha, Abdullah Ibn Abbas and Abu Dhar Al Ghaffari may Allah be pleased with all of them.
1. Who is to be classified as a companion (Sahabi)?
He/she is one who met the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, gave him pledge for Islam, believed in his prophethood and died as such. According to this definition, we calculate the number of companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam upon his death as 114 thousand including those who narrated after him and heard from him. However, they were not all on the same level of knowledge with the Sunnah and narration after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Some of them were full time devoted and in the company of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam such as Anas Ibn Malek may Allah be Pleased with him who was a servant to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, Abi Horaira who was also in the company of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam full time. Others took several occupations to generate income. Ibn Al Atheer, in his book "Asadel Ghabah", explained that about 1800 is the number of narrator companions whose narrations were communicated to us. Ahul Sunnah were consensus that after the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, the best people are Abu Bakr Assediq, Omar, Othman then Ali may Allah be pleased with all of them. The ten who are advantaged of glad tidings of being blessed with Jannah come next as follows: Al Zobair Ibn Al A`wwam, Talha Ibn Abdullah, Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas, Abu Obaida Ibnel Jarrah, Said Ibn Zaid, AbdurRahman Ibn A`waf may Allah be pleased with all of them and then the people of Badr who come to 313. The Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said about them:
"Allah may He Be Glorified Manifested to Ahul Badr (people of Badr) and Said do whatever you want I forgave you".
The number of companions who joined Bay`atu Radwan were about 1400 about whom Allah Revealed:
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"Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bai'a (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory," (Quran 48:18).
Then comes the companions who joined the army of A`ussrah (hardship) who were about few thousands. Quran explains about them:
"Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad) in the time of distress (during the Tabuk expedition, etc.)," (Quran 9:117).
All the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam are privileged with the advantage of the Messenger's company. Meeting, shaking hands and giving pledge to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam for Islam is an invaluable aspect. Allah may He be Glorified commended the companions in general in many positions of Quran including:
"Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision* They rejoice in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve." (Quran 3:169)
" But the Messenger (Muhammad) and those who believed with him (in Islamic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allah's Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful." (Quran 9:88).
" And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) 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." (Quran 9:100)
"(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 Allah and to please Him. And helping Allah (i.e. helping His religion) and His Messenger (Muhammad). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say);- And those who, before them, had homes (in Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Bani An-Nadir), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful." (Quran 59:8-9).