Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear friend,

How r u, There are a few things I would like to know from u. First of all tell me if u r a bohri. Second u spoke about Imam Ali and his comparative status to the other companions of the prophet. U mentioned that just as Imam Ali the other companions of the prophet also were held in equal status bythe prophet. But from all that u have said in this article u have not mentioned a single instance when the other companions of the prophet were spoken about in as much esteem as Imam Ali was. What I infer from this is that the more one is praised the higher his status. Give me ur views.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

ANSWER:

Position of the Prophets Sahabees

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your comment: First of all tell me if u r a bohri.

Yes, almost all the brothers on the forum were born and raised of Bohra parents. Allah blessed them to read and understand the clear guidance of the Holy Quran, and today, they have all left the invocation of graves and men, and united in the worship and invocation of the One Lord, Allah Alone!

Your comment: Second u spoke about Imam Ali and his comparative status to the other companions of the prophet.
U mentioned that just as Imam Ali the other companions of the prophet also were held in equal status by the prophet. But from all that u have said in this article u have not mentioned a single instance when the other companions of the prophet were spoken about in as much esteem as Imam Ali was. What I infer from this is that the more one is praised the higher his status.

Give me ur views.

The article written specifically asked about the position of Imam Ali (r.a.) and that is why only those quotations of the Prophet (saws) were related, which pertained to Hadrat Ali (r.a.). The Messenger of Allah (saws) praised and honored most of his close ‘sahaabees’ (companions) as and when the situation arose. If we were to relate all the authentic quotations which the Prophet (saws) said for each of his noble companions, it would indeed require a book! Not only has the Messenger (saws) praised his noble companions, individually and collectively, but Allah Subhanah Himself has honored the noble companions of the Messenger in the Holy Quran on several occasions.

At the time of the Treaty of Hudaibiyya, the Messenger of Allah (saws) took the allegiance from the believers under a tree, and this allegiance came to be known in History as the ‘bayt-ur-Ridhwaan’. After this allegiance, Allah revealed the following aayah in the Holy Quran:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 48 Surah Fath verses 18-19: Allah was well pleased with the believers when they were swearing allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts: therefore, He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with a victory near at hand, and much war-booty, which they will (soon) take. Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

Among the believers who took this allegiance were most of the noble companions of the Messenger (saws), including, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah, Abdur Rahman ibn Auf, Talha, Zubair, Ammar bin Yasser, etc. Allah Himself says in the Holy Quran that He is well pleased with them!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 100: Allah was well pleased with those Muhajirs and Ansaars who were the first to respond to the invitation to the Faith, and with those also, who followed them in their righteous conduct; and they too were well pleased with (the reward from) Allah. He has got ready for them Gardens underneath which canals flow and they will abide therein for ever. This is the Greatest Success.

Again, among the early reverts to Islam were such noble companions as Ali, Abu Bakr, Uthman, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, Umar, Talha, Zubair, Bilaal, etc. Allah Himself says that He is well pleased with them and has prepared for them Gardens in Paradise underneath which canals will be flowing and they will abide therein for ever!

It is indeed a pity that there are some sects in Islam who have the audacity and courage to curse and revile some of the noble companions of the Messenger of Allah (saws), whom Allah Himself has honored collectively in the Holy Quran. It matters very little if some mis-guided people love them or not, because the ones whom Allah is pleased with, are indeed the successful. And Allah has specifically mentioned that He is pleased with the early Muhajirs and the Ansaars, and especially those who took the allegiance with the Prophet under the tree (Bayt-ar-Ridhwaan).

Just to relate a few examples of the praises that the Messenger of Allah (saws) showered on some of his noble companions:

Hadrat Hassan ibn Thabit (r.a.):

This noble companion was a poet and used to answer the poetry of the dis-believers which they would make against Islam and the Messenger of Allah (saws). He was the only person whom the Messenger of Allah (saws) honored to stand along with him on his ‘mimbar’, and recite the answers to the disbelievers. This honor of standing together with the Prophet (saws) on his mimbar, was not given to any of the other companions.

Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah is the ‘ameen’ (most trustworthy) of this Ummah.”

Umar al Khattab (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said,: “If there were to be a Prophet after me, it would have been Umar.”

Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r.a.) :

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said,: “There are eight gates to Paradise, and Abu Bakr can enter from any gate he pleases.”

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said,: “All of you (his companions) who have done favors on me, I have repaid them, except to Abu Baqr as Siddiq.”

Zubair ibn al Awwam (r.a.):

The Messenger of Allah said,: “Every Prophet has a ‘hawwaree’ (helper in the Cause of Allah), and my ‘hawwaree’ is Zubair ibn al Awwam.”

Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (r.a.):

During the battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (saws) told this brave fighter to shoot his arrows with the following words which he did not use for any of the other noble companions ever. He (saws) said to Hadrat Saad, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you……”

Bilaal ibn Rabah (r.a.):

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) went to the heavens on the night of Mairaaj, he came back and told the companions that he heard the footsteps of Hadrat Bilaal in the highest heavens.

Saad bin Muadh (r.a.):

When this noble companion died, the Messenger of Allah (saws) paid a tribute to this companion and said, “On the death of this companion of mine, the Magnificent Throne of Allah, has been shaken!”.

Uthman ibn Affan (r.a.):

During the preparations of the Battle of Tabuk, when Uthman donated a lot of money for this Cause and Jihad in the name of Allah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, : “Whatever Uthman does after this day, he will never incur a loss with Allah.”

Almost all the above were amongst the 313 companions who fought in the Battle of Badr, (except Uthman ibin Affan, who was nursing his wife and the daughter of the Prophet (saws) on her deathbed, Ruqaiyya bint Rasool Allah). In later years, the Prophet (saws) said of those who fought the Battle of Badr: “Allah has forgiven their past and their future sins!”

And there are countless other quotations related from the Messenger of Allah (saws) in praise of his noble companions. The Messenger of Allah (saws) knew the strength of each of his noble companions, and when the time and need arose, he gave the responsibility of the deed to that companion. These noble companions spent their whole lives and their possessions in the service and cause of Allah and the deen, and therefore deserved the praise bestowed upon them. And the ones who showered them with this praise were none other than those who spoke nothing but the Truth: Allah, the Most High, and His beloved Messenger (saws).

It is indeed a pity and cause of grief for the believers, that some mis-guided muslims today revile and abuse some of the noble companions, and even the chaste wives of the Messenger of Allah (saws). The All-Mighty Allah, and his beloved Messenger (saws) are pleased with these noble companions, but some mis-guided muslims today have the audacity and the courage to revile and abuse them! Maybe they should read and understand this aayah from the Holy Quran:

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36: It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter, they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs. For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed into manifest error.

May Allah have Mercy on the Ummah of Islam and unite them and guide them all to the Siraat al Mustaqeem.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan