06-23-2008, 01:14 PM
Narrated under the authority of Emran Ibn Hassen may Allah be pleased with both of them that he said, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: The best among my Ummah are my companions (Qarni) then those who succeed them, and then those who succeed them, Imran said, I do not know if he specified after his Qarn two or three Qarn. Then, after you people will come who testify, but will not be requested to testify, who betray and shall not be trusted, who vow and shall not fulfill, and obesity shall be of their characteristic. (reported in Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Daoud, Termidhi).
In Muslim's narration, a sentence is added: Then comes the 4th generation, they will be asked: search can you find among them someone who lived one who lived one who lived the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam, they identify the man, an opening is achieved by him.
Narrated Anas Ibn Malik that two men of the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam went out during a dark night and they had something like two lamps illuminating between their hands, when they parted, each of them had one till he arrived to his family. (reported by Bukhari).
This is an exclusive advantage (karama) for them and extension to the miracles of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Those two men were Usaid Ibn Hodayr and A`bbad Ibn Basheer may Allah be Pleased with both of them.
Narrated under the authority of Abu Mussa Al Asha`ry that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said stars are a safeguard to the skies, when stars are gone, the sky shall bring forth what it was promised (the advent of the Day of Resurrection), and I am a protection to my companions, when I m gone, then my companions shall meet what they are promised, and my companions are a protection to my Ummah, when my companions are gone, my Ummah shall meet what it deserves". (reported by Muslim)
The tafseer of my companions shall meet what they are promised which is temptations (fitnah), division, and conflict. My nation shall meet what it is promised means: abandoning Islam, following self desires and competition for the Dunia (this world).
Narrated under the authority of Jaber Ibn Abdullah that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam while he was with Hafsah may Allah be Pleased with her said: Insh aAllah none of the companions who attended and made a pledge under the tree shall be admitted to Nar (hell), Hafsah may Allah be Pleased with her said, O Messenger of Allah but rather there will be, he told her off. She said Allah may He be Glorified say: There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); he - salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam – said and Allah may He be Glorified said after that: Then We shall save those who use to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the wrong-doers therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell)." (reported by Abu Daoud and Termdhi).
Narrated under the authority of Jaber Ibn Abdullah that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Nar (hell fire) shall not touch one who saw me, who saw those who saw me" (reported by Termidhi).
Narrated under the authority of Boraydah after his father that that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: Any of my companions dies in a certain land, he shall rise on the Day of Resurrections as a leader and light to them." (reported by Termidhi).
Prohibiting to slander or talk badly about the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam
Narrated under the Abdullah Ibn Moghaffal that he said the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam: Allah Allah for my companions, Allah Allah for my companions, refrain from making them a target after me, who loves shall do so through loving me, and one who hates them shall do so through hating me, and one who harms them, harms me, and one who harms me, harmed Allah, and one who harms Allah, Allah shall seize." (reported by Termdhi).
Explanation of the hadeeth: Allah Allah for my companions: fear Allah regarding my companions, refrain from making them a target: do not target them with your tongues slandering them and defaming them. Allah Shall seize: shall impose on his major destruction.
Narrated under the authority of Abu Said Al Khodry may Allah be Pleased with him that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: do not slander any of my companions for any of you spends an amount of gold as large as the mountain of Uhud, shall never attain the amount of Mud or half Mud of any of them." (reported by Bukhari, Muslim, Abou Daoud, and Termidhi).
Mud: An old weighing unit that ranges between 1.3 and two ounces according to the scholars estimation.
Narrated under the authority of Ibn Omar that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said: if you see those who slander my companions say: may Allah Curse your shirk (polytheism)" (reported by Termidhi and Ahmed).
Scholars of the Ummah used to give Fatwa according to those rules. A man asked Abdullah Ibn Al Mobarak: who is better Moa`wyah or Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz, Abdullah replied: Dust in the nostrils of Moa`wyah who accompanied the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam is better than Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz. A man came to Imam Abi Zar`a may Allah Have mercy on him and said: I hate Moa`wyah? He asked: why? He said because he fought Ali, Abu Zaraa said: The Rub (Lord) of Ali is a Merciful one, and the opponent of Moa`wyah is a generous one, why do you have to come in between. May Allah be Pleased with all of them.
The duty of a Muslim towards the companions of Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam
Sunnah scholars are consensus that all the companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam are credible and trustworthy, even those who experienced the temptation, they are still credible. Thus, we have to love all of them equally, not to differentiate between them, and maintain balance in the sense not to exaggerate in loving one or disown any of them. We must also hate those who hate them, those who slander them without a valid reason. We should only talk good about them. Loving them is part of practicing Islam and Ihsan (good deed) and hating them is Kufr, hypocrisy and transgression (Tahawaya creed).