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:

One of my friend is receiving the daily sabaks from your web site and i have read some of them and found that they are in line with the teaching of Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammad (saws). I am pretty much amazed by the name of Dawoodi Bohra in your emails, because what i know from my experience is that Dawoodi bohra follows totally different things as compared to the teachings of the prophet himself. I am saying that because i have lived with them from last 20 years. I want to subscribe to your site but my main concern is what are your views about Hadrat Abu Bakr(RA), Hadrat Umar(RA) and Other Companions which shia's accuse of treachry (May allah forgive me for using this word)?

(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:

What is your view about Hadrat Abu Bakr, Umar and other 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.

Jazaak Allah Kheir and Baarik Allah Feek for realizing the truth that our emails our in line with the guidance of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (saws). Bhai, that is the absolute truth.

Brother, like I have mentioned in some of my prior emails, we were born in the Dawoodi Bohra community, and lived a good part of our lives in that community, with all its practices of ‘shirk’ and disobedience to Allah. Then Allah guided us to read and understand His Divine Message, the Al Quran, and everything became clear. Now, our duty is to invite our Bohra brethren, who are otherwise some of the nicest people on this earth, to read and understand the Holy Quran, and then decide for themselves whose word they want to trust … Some leader whom they have created themselves, or the Lord of the World.

Your specific question asks regarding our views of Hadrat Abu Bakr, adrat Umar, and the other noble companions of our Prophet (saws)…. (may Allah be pleased with all of them, ajmae’en).

Brother, my views are the views of the Holy Quran and our beloved Prophet Mohamed (saws). The Holy Quran has honored the Prophet’s (saws) companions with words that brings tears to our eyes!

Allah says Himself in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verse 8, in appreciation of the early companions of the Holy Prophet who migrated for Islam,: They (the companions who migrated from Makkah to Medina) seek Allah’s bounty and His goodwill, and are ever ready to succour Allah and His Messenger. They indeed are the truthful.

Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.), were undoubtedly amongst the companions who migrated to Medina, and Allah has called them the ‘sadeqoon’ (truthful). How can we possibly dishonor someone whom Allah Himself has honored till the Day of Judgement in His Book. These words will be read by muslims till the end of time, Insha Allah, no matter what one says! It is a historical fact that the Prophet (saws) chose and honored his best friend Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) to accompany him on the Hijrah from Makkah to Medina.

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

Again Allah Himself says He is pleased with the Muhajirs and Ansaars who were the first to accept Islam, and there is no doubt that Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.) were amongst the earliest reverts to Islam! Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, is pleased with them! He has prepared for them Gardens, underneath which canals flow, and they will abide therein for ever!!! How can a human being be displeased with someone, after Allah is pleased with them!!

Brother, I know some misguided sects of Islam revile some of the most prominent and noble companions of the Holy Prophet (saws) for their own political mileage…. They can say what they want, for it makes no difference. Just see what Allah has to say about these people…. And there are several hadiths, where our Prophet (saws) has praised these very companions and even gave some of the them the good news of Paradise in their own lifetimes, and Hadrat Abu Bakr (r.a.) and Hadrat Umar (r.a.) are definitely amongst them.

When these misguided people revile the companions or even wives of our beloved Prophet (saws), little do they realize that they are reviling the Prophet (saws) himself … (I see refuge in Allah from saying this!!!). They have just not recognized the Prophet of Allah (saws). What kind of a leader these assume our Prophet (saws) to be if he could not even choose his close companions and wives properly…. The man whom Allah chose to lead mankind out of the darkness of ignorance could not even choose a good team for himself!!!

So brother, please note that we love every noble companion of the Holy Prophet (saws). May Allah be pleased with them all. We love them because they loved Allah and His Messenger (saws) with all their hearts, wealth, and lives. They gave unlimited sacrifices in the cause and victory of Islam. May Allah reward them from His bounty with the highest grade in Paradise….

I will conclude this answer with an authentic hadith of our beloved Prophet (saws). Allah's Messenger (saws) said: “Do not revile my Companions, do not revile my Companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my life (Allah), if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as Uhud, it would not amount to as much as one (handful of) mud on behalf of one of them, or even half of it.”

The Prophet (saws) says that even if one who became a muslim later, spends gold as much as the mountain of Uhud, in the eyes of Allah, it would not even amount equivalent to a handful of dust the companions of the Prophet (saws) spent in the Way of Allah!!! Subhan Allah. That is the position and honor the noble companions of the Prophet (saws) were held in the eyes of Allah and His Messenger (saws). Now who can be more misguided than the one who goes against the commandments of Allah and His Messenger (saws). Allah is enough to take retribution from the slander these misguided people spread in the name of Islam.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam. May Allah take you and us all in His infinite Protection and Mercy. Ameen.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam.

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 in Islam,

Burhan