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:

8. Allah (swt) sent 124,000 Prophet's to guide mankind. Is there any proof that on the deaths of any one of these Prophet's his companions failed to attend his funeral preferring to participate in the selection of his successor? If no such precedent exists then why did the Prophet (saaws)'s companions follow this approach? "the Sahaba viewed the appointment of the Imam as so important that they preferred it to attending the Prophet's funeral"

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Answer:

Why companions chose Amir

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever 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.

It has indeed been reported in an authentic narration that Allah sent in excess of 124,000 Prophets to guide mankind, but only about 24 of them are mentioned in the Holy Quran. In light of the Holy Quran, it is evident that most of the habitations on whom the Prophets were sent by Allah did not believe, and subsequently Allah destroyed those habitations. And most of the Prophets of Bani Israel were appointed by Allah during the life of the existing Prophets, so the question of choosing a successor did not even arise!

The truth is that all the companions who were in Medina at the time of the Prophet’s death, attended his ‘janaaza’ (funeral). It is absolutely inconceivable to think that the noble companions, who loved their leader and their Prophet all their lives would all become renegades immediately at his death! The noble companions loved Allah and His Messenger (saws) to such an extent, that on one command, they were willing to sacrifice their lives and their possessions.

At the time of the Prophet’s (saws) death, Islam had spread far and wide in Arabia; and to control such a big empire, it became imperative that the muslims should have a leader at the center to control this vast empire. This was the training that the Messenger of Allah (saws) had himself implanted in the believers. This training of choosing an ‘Ameer’ was so well entrenched in the believers, that if two of them traveled anywhere, the Messenger of Allah (saws) advised them to choose an Ameer amongst them! Even today, when a leader or king dies, you will see that a successor or new leader will be immediately appointed, otherwise there is a good chance of a revolt or chaos in the empire. Thus, it became imperative for the believers to name a leader as soon as possible to control the vast empire that had embraced Islam by the time of the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

To think that any of the companions did not attend the Prophet’s funeral is absurd! Each and every companion and believer who was present in Medina at the time, attended the Prophet’s funeral! To allude that companions like Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman, etc. did not attend the funeral is not only absurd, it is a lie! Hadrat Abu Bakr and Hadrat Umar were the father-in-laws of the Prophet, and Hadrat Uthman was the former son-in-law (two of the Prophet’s daughters were married to Hadrat Umar, and both of them died during the life of the Prophet (saws)); thus they were part of the family. And Prophet Mohamed, incidentally died in the house of Hadrat Aisha bint Abu Bakr, and was subsequently buried in her house. Thus it is nothing but a lie to allude that the noble companions did not attend the funeral of the Prophet (saws).

The deen of Islam was completed, the Quran revealed, and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) was established at the time of the death of the Prophet (saws). Whatever happened after the death of the Prophet (saws) is the History of the Muslims, and this is in the knowledge of Allah Alone. Allah will not hold us accountable for the deeds of these people, nor ask us about them on the Day of Judgment. We will be asked about our deeds and what did we do for the cause of Islam.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 134: They were a people who passed away. They shall receive the reward of what they earned, and you shall have the reward of what you will earn. And you will not be questioned as to what they did.

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