06-23-2008, 01:18 PM
Companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam were keen on preserving the Quran. For this purpose, they memorized it in their hearts, put it down in writing and communicated it to the second generation that in turn communicated it to the following generation and so on until we received it just exactly as it was revealed to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in terms of each word, letter and even the recitation methods. Companions were highly concerned to preserve both aspects of the Sunnah sayings as well as actions which generation after another worked on conveying to us. As for the sayings, they narrated the Ahadeeth of Rasullah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam while the actions were communicated by following footsteps of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. We can say that companions of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam were materialized Sunnah walking on earth. They used to blindly obey the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in each and every issue regardless of how large or small is the issue. In the following we are going to introduce a number of relevant examples:
Before Allah made gold wearing for men Haram (unlawful), the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam wore a gold ring. Next day, all men residing in Medina wore golden rings. As a result to the Messenger's pure instinct, he hated the ring and took it off. Without any question or discussion, all men followed suit and took the rings off.
The Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and other Muslims used to perform Salat wearing their shoes. At that time, the Masjed's floor was covered with gravel. One day the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam took off his shoes. Muslims followed and took off their shoes as well. After Salat, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam asked them, why did you take off your shoes. They replied, we observed that you did that so we followed. He explained saying Jebril informed me that my shoes had impure something.
From the above mentioned situations, we gather how far the companions were strongly keen on listening, preserving his talk, benefit of his guidance and enforce his orders as strictly as possible. They used to be very attentive while listening to him talking in order to fully comprehend. They also considered Sunnah as a trust that must be fulfilled, communicated and diffused from one generation to another. In this regard, they were motivated by Allah's Saying:
" Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers." (Quran 2:159)
" (And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it (the news of the coming of Prophet Muhammad and the religious knowledge) known and clear to humankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought." (Quran 3:187
The above mentioned Ayahs are further explained in sayings of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:
One who is present must communicate to the absent (excerpt of the Last Surmon of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam on the slaughtering day).
"You hear and others hear from you and others hear from those who heard from you" (Ibn Habban, Ahmed, Abu Daoud, Al Hakem).
"One who receives a question about knowledge and does not disclose it, on the Day of Resurrection, shall be bridled with a bridle made of fire" (reported by Ibn Majeh, Abu Daoud and Al Hakem)
Companions began taking much interest in preserving and documenting the Sunnah as of the era of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. In the following we are going to introduce examples of how keen they were:
Verification of the correctness of ascribing the hadeeth to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam:
In case a companion hears a hadeeth from another companion, he/she goes to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in order to ensure for himself that the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in fact said what he heard. Narrated under the authority of Annas Ibn Malek may Allah be pleased with him that a Bedouin came to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and said: O Mohamed your messenger came to us claiming that you claim that Allah Has Sent you. The Messenger said: truth is what he said, Bedouin replied who created sky? Messenger said Allah, Bedouin asked: who created earth? He said: Allah, Bedouin said who erected those mountains? Messenger said: Allah, Bedouin asked: who installed within it all those benefits? Messenger said: Allah, Bedouin said: in the name of One Who Created sky, earth, erected mountains and provided benefits within them, Did Allah Send you? He said yes. The Bedouin started asking about the five pillars of Islam and whether Allah Commanded him with it, each time, the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam replies yes (reported by Muslim and Al Hakem).
The above mentioned situation explains how this Bedouin was not satisfied only with what he heard from the messenger of the Messenger of Allah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. He took transportation to meet him personally, confirm and validate what he heard. On the other hand, as we see the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam did not object to the questions he raised about what he heard from his messenger although he is a trustworthy companion but he rather answered his questions.