13. THE POSITION OF THE SAHABAH (6) by Muhammad Amin Samad

13. THE POSITION OF THE ṢAḤĀBAH (6) Besides the Qur’ān, the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬also mentioned the merits of his ṣaḥābah, the muhājirīn and the anṣār. Among them are as follows: ِ ‫لَِّم ْؤم‬ ‫ن‬ ِ ‫لَِيحبُّه ِْمِإ‬ ِ ِِ‫صار‬ َِ ‫َعنِِ ْال َب َرا َِءِ َقا‬ َ ‫ِ َقالِال َّنبيِِﷺِاأل ْن‬,ِ‫ل‬ َِّ ِِ‫ضه‬ ‫ّللا‬ َِّ ِِ‫ِِ َمنِِْأَ َحبَّه ِْمِأَ َحبَّه‬,ِ‫لَِّم َنافق‬ ِ ‫لَِيبْغضه ِْمِإ‬ ِ ‫َو‬ َ ‫ضه ِْمِأَ ْب َغ‬ َ ‫ّللاِ َو َمنِِْأَ ْب َغ‬ (‫)رواهِالبخاريِوِمسلمِوِالترمذيِوِأحمد‬ Narrated al-Barrā’ r.a., the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said, “None loves the Anṣār (Supporters) but a believer, and none hates them but a hypocrite. So Allah will love him who loves them, and He will hate him who hates them (Reported by al-Bukhārī, Muslim, al-Tirmidhī, and Aḥmad) ‫ّللاِلكلِِ َنبيِِأَ ْت َباعِِ َوإ َّنا‬ َِّ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫صارِِ َياِ َرسو‬ ِْ َ‫َعنِِْ َزيْدِِبْنِِأَرْ َق َِمِ َقال‬ َ ‫تِ ْاألَ ْن‬ )‫اع َناِم َّناِ َف َد َعاِبهِِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫ّللاِأَنِِْ َيجْ َع‬ ََِّ ِِ‫كِ َف ْادع‬ َِ ‫َق ِْدِا َّت َبعْ َنا‬ َ ‫لِأَ ْت َب‬ Narrated Zayd ibn Arqam: The Anṣār said, "Every nation has his followers and we have followed you, so invoke Allah to let our followers be considered from us (as Ansar like ourselves)." So the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬invoked Allah accordingly (Reported by al-Bukhārī) ِ ِ‫ض ْواِالَّذيِ َع َليْه ِْم‬ َِ ‫َعنْ ِأَ َنسِ َقا‬ َ ‫صارِِ َفإ َّنه ِْمِ َكرشيِ َو َع ْي َبتيِ َو َق ِْدِ َق‬ َ ‫لِأوصيك ِْمِب ْاألَ ْن‬ ِ ِ)‫يِالَّذيِلَه ِْمِ َفا ْق َبلواِمنِِْمحْ سنه ِْمِ َو َت َج َاوزواِ َعنِِْمسيئه ِْمِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫َو َبق‬ Narrated Anas that the Messenger of Allah said: “I request you to take care of the Anṣār, as they are my near companions to whom I confided my private secrets. They have fulfilled their obligations and rights which were enjoined on them but there remains what is for them. So, accept the good (deeds) of the good-doers amongst them and excuse the wrong-doers amongst them. (Reported by al-Bukhārī) ِ ِِ‫صار‬ َِ ‫لِإنَِِّ َخي‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َقا‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َ ‫ْرِدورِِ ْاألَ ْن‬ َ ِِ‫َعنِِْأَبيِحميدِ َعنِِْال َّنبي‬ ِ ِ‫َدارِِ َبنيِال َّنجَّ ارِِث َِّمِ َعبْدِِ ْاألَ ْش َهلِِث َِّمِ َدارِِ َبنيِ ْال َحارثِِث َِّمِ َبنيِ َساع َدَِةِ َوفي‬ ِ َِِّ‫لِأَ َباِأ َسيْدِِأَلَ ِْمِ َت َِرِأَن‬ َِ ‫صارِِ َخيْرِِ َفلَح َق َناِ َسعْ دِِبْنِِع َبا َدَِةِ َف َقا‬ َ ‫كلِِدورِِ ْاألَ ْن‬

ِ ِِ‫كِ َسعْ د‬ َِ ‫ارِ َف َج َعلَ َناِأَخيرً اِ َفأ َ ْد َر‬ َِ ‫ص‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َخي‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫َرسو‬ َ ‫َّرِ ْاألَ ْن‬ َ ِ‫ّللا‬ ِ ِ‫صارِِ َفجع ْل َنا‬ َِّ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫لِ َياِ َرسو‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َف َقا‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َ ‫ّللاِخي َِرِدورِِ ْاألَ ْن‬ َ َِِّ‫ال َّنبي‬ ِ )‫ْسِب َحسْ بك ِْمِأَنِِْ َتكونواِمنِِْ ْالخ َيارِِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫لِأَ َولَي‬ َِ ‫آخرً اِ َف َقا‬ Narrated Abu Ḥumayd:The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said, "The best of the Ansar's families (homes) are those of Banu An-Najjar and then (those of) Banu 'Abdul Ashhal, then (those of) Banu al-Ḥārith bin Al-Khazraj and then (those of) Banū Sā‘idah; nevertheless, there is good in all the families (houses) of the Anṣār." On this, Sa‘d (bin ‘Ubādah) followed us and said, "O Abū Usayd! Don’t youI see that the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬compared the Anṣār and made us the last of them in ssuperiority?” Then Sa‘d met the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬and said: “O Messenger of Allah! In comparing the Anṣar families as to the degree of superiority, you have made us the last of them.” Then he replied: “Isn’t it sufficient that you are regarded amongst the best?” (Reported by al-Bukhārī) The above ḥadīths indicate that the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬ lovedthe ṣaḥābah in general, and the Anṣār in particular. ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِأَ َّن ِه‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫َعنِِْأ َسا َم َِةِبْنِِ َزيْدِِ َرض‬ َ ِِ‫ّللاِ َع ْنه َماِانَِِّال َّنبي‬ ‫نِ َف َيقولِِاللَّه َِّمِأَحبَّه َماِ َفإنيِأحبُّه َماِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫انِ َيأْخذهِِ َو ْال َح َس‬ َِ ‫) َك‬ Narrated Usāmah ibn Zayd r.a. that the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬ used to take him (i.e., Usāmah) and al-Ḥasan (in his lap) and say: “O Allah! Love them, as I love them.” (Reported by al-Bukhārī) The above ḥadīth indicates that the Prophet (‫’ )ﷺ‬s love for these young ṣaḥābah. ِ ِ‫ان‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِالن َسا َِءِ َوالص ْب َي‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َع ْنهِِ َقا‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫َعنِِْأَ َنسِِ َرض‬ َ ُِِّ‫لِ َرأَىِال َّنبِي‬ ِ‫ل‬ ِ ً ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِممْ ث‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِ ‫لِ َحسبْتِِأَ َّنهِِ َقا‬ َِ ‫ينِ َقا‬ َِ ‫م ْقبل‬ َ ُِِّ‫لِمنِِْعرسِِ َف َقا َِمِال َّنبي‬ )‫ثِم َرارِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫لِاللَّه َِّمِأَ ْنت ِْمِمنِِْأَ َحبِِال َّناسِِإلَيَِِّ َقالَ َهاِ َث َل‬ َِ ‫ِ َف َقا‬ Narrated Anas r.a. the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬saw the women and children (of the Anṣār) coming forward (the sub-narrator)

said, I think that Anas said, “They were returning from a wedding party”) the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬stood up and said thrice, “By Allah! You are from the most beloved people to mel” (Reported by al-Bukhārī) ِ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِم‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫َعنْ ِ َع ْمروِبْنِِ ْال َعاصِِ َرض‬ َ َِِّ‫ّللاِ َع ْنهِِأَنَِِّال َّنبي‬ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫كِ َقا‬ َِ ‫َب َع َثهِِ َعلَىِ َجيْشِِ َذاتِِالس َُّلسلِِ َفأ َ َتيْتهِِ َفق ْلتِِأَيُِِّال َّناسِِأَ َحبُِِّإلَ ْي‬ ِ‫لِث َِّمِع َمرِِبْن‬ َِ ‫لِأَبو َهاِق ْلتِِث َِّمِ َمنِِْ َقا‬ َِ ‫َعائ َشةِِ َفق ْلتِِمنِِْالر َجالِِ َف َقا‬ ِ )‫الِ(رواهِالبخاريِومسلم‬ ِ ً ‫ِ ْال َخ َّطابِِ َف َع َِّدِر َج‬ Narrated ‘Amr ibn al-‘Āṣ r.a. the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬deputed me to lead the army of Dhāt al-Salāsil. I came to him and said, “Who is the most beloved person to you?” He said, “’Ā’ishah,” I Asked, “Among the men?” He said, “Her father.” I said, “Who then?” He said, ‘’Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb,” He then names other men. (Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim) This ḥadīth indicates the high position of Abū Bakr, then ‘Umar among the ṣaḥābah, and among women, Ā’ishah. ِ ‫صع َِدِأح ًدا‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫ْنِ َمالكِِ َرض‬ َِ ‫سِب‬ َِ ‫َعنْ ِأَ َن‬ َ ِ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِم‬ َ َِِّ‫ّللاِ َع ْنهِِأَنَِِّال َّنبي‬ ِِ‫كِ َنبيِِ َوصديق‬ َِ ‫تِأحدِِ َفإ َّن َماِِ َعلَ ْي‬ ِْ ‫لِ ْاثب‬ َِ ‫فِبه ِْمِ َف َقا‬ َِ ‫َوأَبوِ َب ْكرِِ َوع َمرِِ َوع ْث َمانِِ َف َر َج‬ )‫َو َشهي َدانِِ(رواهِالبخاريِوأبوِداؤدِوالترمذيِوالنسائي‬ Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬ascended the mountain of Uhud and he was accompanied by Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman. The mountain shook beneath them. The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬hit it with his foot and said, "O Uḥud! Be firm, for on you there is none but a prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs. (Reported by al-Bukhārī, Abū Dā’ūd, al-Tirmidhī, and al-Nasā’ī) This ḥadīth indicates the high position of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmān, whereas the last two would be martyrs, among the ṣaḥābah. ِ ِ‫لِ َلوِِْك ْنت‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َقا‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫ِ َعنِِْابْنِِ َعبَّاسِِ َرض‬ َ ِِ‫ّللاِ َع ْنه َماِ َعنِِْال َّنبي‬ )‫صاحبيِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ ِ ً ‫ِم َّتخ ًذاِمنِِْأمَّتيِ َخل‬ َ ‫يلِ َل َّت َخ ْذتِِأَ َباِ َب ْكرِِ َولَكنِِْأَخيِ َو‬ Narrated ibn ‘Abbās r.a. the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:

If I were to take a khalīl (a bosom friend) among my followers I would have taken Abū Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam) (Reported by al-Bukhārī) ِ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َفأ َ َم َر َها‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ ِْ ‫لِأَ َت‬ َِ ‫ِ َعنْ ِج َبيْرِِبْنِِم ْطعمِِ َقا‬ َ َِِّ‫تِام َْرأَةِِال َّنبي‬ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫تِ َقا‬ َِ ‫كِ َكأ َ َّن َهاِ َتقولِِ ْال َم ْو‬ َِ ‫ْتِإنِِْج ْئتِِ َولَ ِْمِأَج ْد‬ َِ ‫تِأَ َرأَي‬ ِْ َ‫أَنِِْ َترْ ج َِعِإلَيْهِِ َقال‬ ِ )‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِإنِِْلَ ِْمِ َتجدينيِ َفأْتيِأَ َباِ َب ْكرِِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َ Narrated Jubayr ibn Muṭ‘im: A woman came to the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬who ordered her to return to him again. She said, "What if I came and did not find you?" as if she wanted to say, "If I found you dead?" The Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬ said, "If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr." (Reported by al-Bukhārī) The above two ḥadīths indicate the special position of Abū Bakr. ِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِفيِ َخ ْي َب َِر‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِ َّ‫انِ َعليِِ َق ِْدِ َت َخل‬ َِ ‫لِ َك‬ َِ ‫َعنِِْ َسلَ َم َِةِ َقا‬ َ ِِ‫فِ َعنِِْال َّنبي‬ ِ ِ‫ج‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َف َخ َر‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِِ‫لِأَ َناِأَ َت َخلَّفِِ َعنِِْ َرسول‬ َِ ‫انِبهِِ َر َمدِِ َف َقا‬ َِ ‫ِ َو َك‬ َ ِ‫ّللا‬ ِ ِ‫انِ َم َساءِِاللَّ ْيلَةِِالَّتيِ َف َت َح َها‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َفلَمَّاِ َك‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِ ‫َعليِِ َفلَح‬ َ ِِ‫قِبال َّنبي‬ ِ ِِْ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِ َألعْ ط َينَِِّالرَّ ا َي َِةِأَو‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِِ‫لِ َرسول‬ َِ ‫ص َباح َهاِ َقا‬ َِّ َ ِ‫ّللا‬ َ ِ‫ّللاِفي‬ ِ ِِ‫ّللاِ َو َرسولَهِِ َي ْف َتح‬ ََِّ ُِِّ‫لِيحب‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َو َرسولهِِأَوِِْ َقا‬ َِّ ِِ‫لِيحبُّه‬ ِ ً ‫لَ َيأْخ َذنَِِّالرَّ ا َي َِةِ َغ ًداِ َرج‬ ِ ِِ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َفإ َذاِ َنحْ نِِب َعليِِ َو َماِ َنرْ جوهِِ َف َقالواِ َه َذاِ َعليِِ َفأَعْ َطاهِِ َرسول‬ َِّ )‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِ (رواهِالبخاري‬ َِّ ِ‫ح‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َعلَيْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِالرَّ ا َي َِةِ َف َف َت‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ َ ِ‫ّللا‬ Narrated Salamah: Ali happened to stay behind the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬and (did not join him) during the battle of Khaybar for he was having eye trouble. Then he said, "How could I remain behind Allah's Messenger?" So 'Ali set out following the Prophet (‫)ﷺ‬. When it was the eve of the day in the morning of which Allah helped (the Muslims) to conquer it, Allah's Messenger said, "I will give the flag (to a man), or tomorrow a man whom Allah and His Messenger love will take the flag," or said, "A man who loves Allah and His Messenger; and Allah will grant victory under his leadership. "Suddenly came 'Ali whom we did not expect. The people said, "This is 'Ali." Allah's Messenger gave him the flag and Allah

granted victory under his leadership. (Reported by al-Bukhārī) The above ḥadīth indicates the special position of ‘Ali. َِ ‫ّللاِ َع َليْهِِ َو َسلَّ َِمِلَ َق ِْدِ َك‬ ‫ان‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ َِّ ِِ‫لِ َرسول‬ َِ ‫لِ َقا‬ َِ ‫ّللاِ َع ْنهِِ َقا‬ َِّ ِ‫ي‬ َِ ‫َعنِِْأَبيِه َري َْرَِةِ َرض‬ َ ِ‫ّللا‬ ِ )‫ونِ َفإنِِْ َيكِِفيِأمَّتيِأَ َحدِِ َفإ َّنهِِع َمرِِ(رواهِالبخاري‬ َِ ‫ِفي َماِ َق ْبلَك ِْمِمنِِْ ْاأل َممِِم َح َّدث‬ Narrated Abū Hurayrah r.a.: The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said, “Among the nation of Banī Isrā’īl who lived before you, there were men who used to be inspired with guidance, and if there is any of such persons amongst my followers, it is ‘Umar (Reported by al-Bukhārī) The above ḥadīth indicates that ‘Umar was inspired with guidance, as said by the Prophetِ)‫)ﷺ‬. ‫ّللاِ َلوِِْا َّت َخ ْذ َنا‬ َِّ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫لِع َمرِِ َوا َف ْقتِِ َربيِفيِ َث َلثِِ َفق ْلتِِ َياِ َرسو‬ َِ ‫لِ َقا‬ َِ ‫َعنِِْأَ َنسِِ َقا‬ ِ ِ"… ‫صلًى‬ ِْ َ‫صلًىِ َف َن َزل‬ َ ‫ت ” َوا َّتخذواِمنِِْ َم َقامِِإب َْراهي َِمِم‬ َ ‫ِمنِِْ َم َقامِِإب َْراهي َِمِم‬ ِ َِِّ‫ْنِ َفإ َّنهِِي َكلمهن‬ َِ ‫كِأَنِِْ َيحْ َتجب‬ َِ ‫تِن َسا َء‬ َِ ْ‫ّللاِلَوِِْأَ َمر‬ َِّ ِ‫ل‬ َِ ‫َوآ َيةِِا ْلح َجابِِق ْلتِِ َياِ َرسو‬ ِ ِ‫ّللاِ َع َليْه‬ َِّ ِ‫صلَّى‬ ِْ َ‫ْال َبرُِِّ َو ْال َفاجرِِ َف َن َزل‬ َ ِِ‫ِ َواجْ َت َم َِعِن َساءِِال َّنبي‬,ِ‫تِآ َيةِِ ْالح َجاب‬ ِ ‫َو َسلَّ َِمِفيِ ْال َغي َْرةِِ َعلَيْهِِ َفق ْلتِِلَهنَِّ َع َسىِ َربُّهِِإنِِْ َطلَّ َقكنَِِّأَنِِْي َبدلَهِِأَ ْز َواجً ا‬ ِ )‫تِ َهذهِِ ْاْل َيةِِ(رواهِالبخاريِوِأحمد‬ ِْ َ‫ِ َخيْرً اِم ْنكنَِّ َف َن َزل‬ Narrated Anas that ‘Umar said, “I have agreed with my Lord in three things: I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I wish we took the maqān Ibrahim as muṣallā,’ then it was revealed “and take you the maqam of Ibrāhīm as a place of prayer” [Q. 2:125] and the verse dealing with ḥijāb, I said, ‘O Messsenger of Allah, I wish you ordered your wives to wear ḥijāb, as good and bad people talked to them,’ then the verse about the ḥijāb was revealed, and the wives of the Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬agreed in their solicitude for him, so I said to them, ‘It may be if he divorced you [all] that his Lord would give him instead of you, wives better than you,’ then the verse about it was revealed (Reported by al-Bukhārī and Aḥmad).1 1

There is a story that a man in pre-Islamic Arabia had a son who was slow in speaking in poetry, even when he had reached the age of 12.

These are some ḥadīths indicating the high position of the Prophet’s ṣaḥābah, either the Muhājirīn or the Anṣār, with or without mentioning them by names or tribes. (CIVIC, 2 December, 2016) :‫المراجع‬ ‫المكتبةِالشاملة‬ (‫ِهـ‬013ِ.‫تفسيرِالطبريِ(ت‬ (‫ِهـ‬171ِ.‫تفسيرِالقرطبىِ(ت‬ (‫ِهـ‬777ِ.‫تفسيرِابنِكثيرِ(ت‬ Dr. Muhammad M. Khan. Summarized Sahīh Al-Bukhāri http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/showthread.php?t=220909 http://www.alaalsayid.com/index.php?artid=2644 http://montada.echoroukonline.com/archive/index.php/t280449.html http://i-cias.com/textarchive/bukhari/058.htm His father wanted him to start talking in poetry. So, he made him very thirsty and sent him to the desert accompanied by a young man carrying a jar of water. When they reached the desert the young man broke the jar in front of the boy, and the water ran to the earth. Seeing it, the boy ِ‫كسر ِالجرة ِعمدا ِوسقا ِاألرض ِشرابا ِ*ِقلت ِواألصنام ِدين ِيا‬start saying in poetry: “He broke the jar on purpose and he watered the earth as a ‫ليتنيِكنتِترابا‬ drink. I said while [worshiping] idols is [my] religion, I wish I would have “I wish I would have been dust” was ‫ َياِلَ ْي َتنيِك ْنتِِت َرابًا‬been dust.” The term found in Q. 78:40. He was then the first one who cited this verse before it was revealed. See http://www.alaalsayid.com/index. php?artid=2644. In another story, Abū Nuwās when he met suddenly the Caliph Hārūn alRashīd he threw the jar of wine he had to the ground and became broken. The Caliph would forgive him if he cited poetry about it. Then he cited: ‫“ كسر ِالجرة ِعمدا ِوسقا ِاألرض ِشرابا ِ*ِقلت ِواإلسلم ِديني ِيا ِليتني ِكنت ِترابا‬He broke the jar on purpose and he watered the earth as a drink. I said while Islam is my religion, I wish I would have been dust.” See, http://montada. echoroukonline.com/archive/index.php/t-280449.html. Another view is that Ibn al-Damāmīnī saw a broken jar, then cited: ِ ‫كسروا ِالجرة ِعمدا ِملؤوا‬ ‫“ األرض ِشرابا ِ* ِقلت ِواإلسلم ِديني ِيا ِليتني ِكنت ِترابا‬They broke the jar on purpose and they filled the earth as a drink. I said while Islam is my religion, I wish I would have been dust.” See, http://al-hakawati. net/arabic/ Civilizations/ book292a7. asp