The Merits of the Sahaabah (Companions)

[Qassami]

<BIG><BIG>The Merits of the Sahaabah (Companions)

</BIG></BIG>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=90>Author:
</TD><TD>Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>Source:
</TD><TD>His Book Sharh Lum’at-ul-‘Itiqaad (pg. 140-143)
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>Translator:
</TD><TD>abu maryam
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>Produced by:
</TD><TD>al-manhaj.com [August 2002]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=bodytext>A Sahaabee (Companion) is anyone that met the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) while believing in him, and dying upon that condition.

The Companions (Sahaabah) of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) are the best from all those that accompanied the prophets, due to the statement of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam): “The best of people are my Companions.” [1] Al-Bukhaaree and others have reported this hadeeth.



The best among the Sahaabah are the Muhaajiroon (those who performed the migration from Makkah to Madeenah), due to their combining between migrating and giving support (in Allaah's Cause). Then after them, are the Ansaar.



The best among the Muhaajiroon are the four righteous Khaleefahs: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan and ‘Alee.



Abu Bakr - He is "As-Siddeeq" ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Aamir from the Tribe of Taym bin Marrah bin Ka’ab. He was the first male to believe in the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). He was his companion in the migration (Hijrah) and his deputy during times of prayer and Hajj. He was his Khaleefah (designated suxxessor) for his nation. Five of those who were given the glad tidings of Paradise accepted Islaam through his hands.



They are ‘Uthmaan, Az-Zubair, Talha, ‘Abd-ur-Rahmaan bin ‘Awf and Sa’ad bin Abee Waqqaas. He died in Jumaadal-Al-Akhirah, in the 13th year of Hijrah, when he was 63 years old. The above five along with Abu Bakr, ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib and Zayd bin Haarithah form the eight that were the first of people to accept Islaam. Ibn Ishaaq stated this and what he meant by it, was that they were the first from amongst the males, after (the advent of) the Message.



‘Umar - He is Abu Hafs "Al-Faarooq" ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab from the tribe of ‘Adiyy bin Ka’ab bin Lu’aa. He accepted Islaam in the sixth year after the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was sent, after nearly forty men and eleven women (had accepted Islaam). The Muslims were overjoyed by that occasion and Islaam spread in Makkah afterward. Abu Bakr entrusted him with the leadership of the Muslim nation, and so he rose to the hardship of the Khilaafah in the best manner. This was until he was killed and died as a martyr in Dhul-Hijjah of the year 23H, at the age of 63.



‘Uthmaan - He is Abu ‘Abdillaah "Dhun-Noorain" ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan from the tribe of Umayyah bin ‘Abd-ish-Shams bin ‘Abd Manaaf. He accepted Islaam after the Prophet’s entrance into Daar-ul-Arqam. He was a rich and generous man. He was given the Khilaafah after 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (radyAllaahu ‘anhu), due to the agreement of the members of the governing body. He remained Khaleefah until he was killed and martyred in Dhul-Hijjah in the year 35H. He was 90 years old at the time of his death, according to one of several opinions.



‘Alee - He is Abul-Hasan ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib. The name of Abu Taalib was ‘Abd Manaaf bin ‘Abd-il-Muttallib. He was the first from the youth to accept Islaam. The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) gave him the banner on the Day of Khaibar and Allaah granted victory at his hands. He was given the Khilaafah after the murder of 'Uthmaan. Thus, he became the Khaleefah, governing until he was killed himself, and martyred in the month of Ramadaan in the 40H, at the age of 63.



The best of these four is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan, then ‘Alee. This is based on the report of Ibn ‘Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu): “We used to make preference between the people during the time of the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). So we preferred Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, then ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan.” This was reported by Al-Bukhaaree.[2] It is also based on (the hadeeth) in Abu Dawood: “We used to say, while the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was alive: The best of the Prophet’s ummah after him, is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan.” At-Tabaraanee added to this in his report: “The Prophet would hear that and he would not oppose it.” I did not find the wording that the author mentions, in which there is the addition of ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib. [3]



The most deserving from them of the Khilaafah, after the Prophet, was Abu Bakr (radyAllaahu ‘anhu). This is since he was the best of them and foremost to them in accepting Islaam. Also, the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) preferred him to lead the prayer. Furthermore, the Sahaabah agreed upon his superiority and upon giving him the oath of allegiance (bay’ah). And it is not befitting for Allaah to unite them in agreement upon an error. Then ‘Umar, since he was the best of the Sahaabah after Abu Bakr and because Abu Bakr entrusted the Khilaafah to him. Then ‘Uthmaan, due to his merits and due to his election by the Majlis Ash-Shooraa (governing body). They are the ones mentioned in this verse from a poem:





<CENTER>“’Alee, 'Uthmaan, Sa'ad and Talha.
Zubair and Dhu 'Awf -- members of the governing body.”</CENTER>

Then comes 'Alee, due to his merits and the consensus of the Muslims of his time upon it. These four are the rightly guided Khaleefahs, whom the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said concerning them: “Stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Khaleefahs after me. Bite onto it (the Sunnah) with your molar teeth.” And he (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Khilaafah after me will endure for thirty years.” Ahmad, Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhee reported this hadeeth and Al-Albaanee said that its chain of narration was hasan. Thus, the last part of it, was the Khilaafah of 'Alee. This is as the author has stated and it is as if he places the Khilaafah of Al-Hasan subordinate to his father's or just doesn't acknowledge it (i.e. Al-Hasan's Khilaafah) at all, due to his yielding it.



The Khilaafah of Abu Bakr (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) endured for two years, three months and nine nights, from the 13th of Rabee'-ul-Awwal 11H to the 22nd of Jumaadal-Akhirah 13H.



The Khilaafah of 'Umar (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) lasted ten years, six months and three days, from the 23rd of Jumaadal-Akhirah 13H to the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah 23H.



The Khilaafah of 'Uthmaan (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) lasted twelve years minus 12 days, from the month of Muharram 24H to the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah 35H.



The Khilaafah of 'Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) lasted four years and nine months from the 19th of Dhul-Hijjah 35H to the 19th of Ramadaan 40H.



Combined, the Khilaafah of these four (Companions) lasted twenty-nine years, six months and four days.



Thereafter, Al-Hasan bin 'Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) was given the oath of allegiance on the day that his father, 'Alee died. Then, in the month of Rabee'-ul-Awwal 41H, the command was given to Mu'awiyah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) and due to that, the signs which the Prophet (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) spoke of in his statement: “The Khilaafah after me will endure for thirty years” and his statement: “Indeed, this son of mine is a Sayyid (noble) and perhaps it will be that Allaah will bring peace between two large parties (i.e. that of Al-Hasan and Mu'awiyah) through him”[4] came to pass.



Al-Hasan was the grandson of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the fruit of his offspring. He was the Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen (Commander of the Believers), son of the Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen 'Alee bin Abee Taalib. He was born on the 15th of Ramadaan in the third year after Hijrah. He died while in Madeenah and was buried in the graveyard Al-Baqee' in Rabee-ul-Awwal 50H.



Al-Husayn was the grandson of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and the fruit of his offspring. He was the son of 'Alee bin Abee Taalib. He was born in Sha'baan in the fourth year after Hijrah and was killed at Karbala on the tenth of Muharram 61H.


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Footnotes:

[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet (no. 3651) and Saheeh Muslim: Book of the Virtues of the Companions (no. 2533) from the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood (radyAllaahu ‘anhu). It is also reported on the authority of ‘Imraan bin Husayn (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) in Al-Bukhaaree (no. 2561, 3650, 6438 & 6695) and Muslim (no. 2535). Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) also reported it in Muslim (no. 534) as well as others. Furthermore, this is a mutawaatir hadeeth. Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajr stated the correctness of it being mutawaatir in the introduction to his Al-Isaabah.

[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: Book of the Virtues of the Companions (no. 3655). And in another wording found in Al-Bukhaaree (no. 3697), it states: “During the lifetime of the Prophet, we used to not put anyone equal to Abu Bakr, then (the same was with) ‘Umar, then (the same was with) ‘Uthmaan. Then we left the (remaining) Companions of the Prophet alone, not distinguishing between any of them.”

[3] Isnaaduhu Saheeh: This is an authentic hadeeth reported by Abu Dawood (4628), At-Tirmidhee (3707) and Ibn Abee ‘Aasim in As-Sunnah (1190). Its chain of narration (isnaad) is authentic as has been stated by Al-Albaanee in his checking to As-Sunnah (2/567). As for the addition that Shaikh Ibn Al-‘Uthaimeen has mentioned, which is found in At-Tabaraanee, which is: “The Prophet would hear that and he would not oppose it”, then it is an authentic addition, which is established in many paths of narration found in Ibn Abee ‘Aasim (1194, 1195, 1196 & 1197), Ahmad (2/14) and others with authentic chains. Refer to the checking of Ibn Abee ‘Aasim’s As-Sunnah (2/568-569) as well as Fath-ul-Baaree (7/16-17)

[4] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: Book of Peace Making (no. 2704) from the hadeeth of Abu Bakrah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu).

[Qassami]

When I Grow Up I Wanna Be Abu Bakr
<!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/by.lbi" -->By Muhammad Al-Shareef<!-- #EndLibraryItem -->

<!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/horiz line khutbah.lbi" --><HR noShade> After groups of people had become Muslim, Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu- insisted to Rasul Allah - Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - that they– the Muslims – declare their Islam publicly and not hide. RasulAllah finally agreed and as a group they entered the courtyard of the Ka'bah, each taking a corner, and called out to the people about Islam. Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - was the first Khateeb to invite to Allah and His Messenger.

When the mob sitting there heard Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - and others speaking about Allah and Islam, they ignited in anger and began stoning and beating the Muslims. Utbah pounced on Abu Bakr -Radi Allahu Anhu - with his leather sandals, slapping him repeatedly in the face until Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - was knocked down. He then fell on top of Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - punching him in the stomach and continued the facial blows. Abu Bakr's tribe peeled Utbah off of him finally and swore that if Abu Bakr dies, they were going to chop off Utbah's head in revenge. Abu Bakr lay in the blood, his face indiscernible, unconscious.

It was only until nightfall that Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - began to show signs of life. Do you know what the first words he spoke were? "What happened to Rasul Allah? What happened to Rasul Allah?" His mother offered him food but he refused. "I shall not touch food until I am taken to Rasul Allah and am reassured that he is alright".

They carried him to Daar Al-Arqam and when he entered, Rasul Allah cried at the state that Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - was in and hugged him. He held the hug as the Muslims gathered around.

Role Models- In his book Risaalat Al-Mu'allim, Jamal Abideen tells us that at the age of 2 – perhaps earlier – the boy or girl begins habitually imitating all that they see. At age of 5 or 6 – when the child is in kindergarten and grade 1 – they reach a climax in imitating anything that they see, good or bad. Then this habit of imitating smoothes out but continues to play the most vital role in the child's upbringing.

Ibn Khaldoon writes in his Muqaddimah about this issue, "Children are influenced most by a role model. In there early years, children think that everything that adults do is correct and good. And that their parents are the best amongst the adults and the most perfect."

Children do not learn by being told, they learn by example. How much weight does a commandment to a child have to fast when the parent or teacher himself is eating a sandwich? For this reason, it is something hated and despised by Allah that a person should command good and he himself do other than what he commands. For indeed, his words will have little worth when the two – his actions and commandments - are contradictory.

1. Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allâh. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

2. O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?

3. Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do.]
- Surah Al Saff

And in Saheeh Muslim, the Prohet - Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "A man will be brought on the day or ressurection and be thrown into hellfire. The inhabitants of hellfire shall gather around him and say, `O so and so! What is wrong? Were you not the one that would tell people to do good and tell them to stay away from doing bad?' He shall say, `Yes, I used to command people to do good but I would not do it myself, and I would command people to stay away from bad and I myself would commit it.'"

The severity of this warning stems from the harmful scars that cut into a child's personality when he sees his role models doing wrong and not doing what's right. By us not following what we claim to believe in, we could be causing the destruction of dozens of lives on the day of resurrection.

It is in this search for our role models that we turn to the shining light – Abu Bakr as Siddeeq, Radi Allahu Anhu.

When the Prophet - Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - received the first revealations, the first man he approached was his best friend: Abu Bakr. When Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - heard that Muhammad had been chosen as a Prophet, he immediately announced, "I've never tasted a lie from you. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and you are the Messenger of Allah." Rasul Allah later said, "There is no one that I have spoken to about Islam that did not debate the issue with me except Abu Bakr."

With the few verses that he knew, Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - set off to invite to this Deen of Al-Islam. Soon, he was escorting by the hand the likes of Uthmaan, Az-Zubayr, AbdArRahmaan ibn `Owf, Sa'd, Abu `Ubaidah, and Talha – six of the ten people who were promised Jannah during their time on earth. And on the day of resurrection they shall all be written in the book of Abu Bakr's good works.

In the early days of Islam, Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - would walk around the markets and homes observing all the Muslim slaves that were being tortured. He would watch as Umayyah dragged Bilal out to the grilling desert at noon time – the hottest moments of the day. Umayyah would press Bilal to the scalding ground and place a boulder on top of his chest to increase the torture. Bilal would say nothing but, "Ahad, Ahad – One, only One". Abu Bakr would watch and whisper to Bilal, "YunJeeka AlWaahidul Ahad – The One (Allah) shall save you!"

Abu Bakr went to Umayyah and requested that he sell him Bilal for 5 uwqiyyah of gold. Umayyah was astonished at that amount and hurriedly agreed. "Take Bilal there is no good in him". After the deal was done, Umayyah snickered, "Had you refused to pay more than 1 uwqiyyah I still would have sold him to you." And Abu Bakr announced, "And had you refused to sell him for no less than 100 uwqiyyah I still would have bought him!"

Evil wishers – like always – spread rumors about Abu Bakrs freeing of Bilal, saying that he did it only because of a favor he owed him. In the Quran, in verses to be recited till the end of time, Allah lay clear the intentions of Abu Bakr:

[18. He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification,
19. And have in his mind no favor from anyone for which a reward is
expected in return,
20. Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the
Most High;
21. He surely will be pleased (when he will enter Paradise).]
- Surah Al-Layl

Read that last verse again. Allah is telling Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - that he is going to make him satisfied. Allahu Akbar! Imagine if Allah told you that. Would anything in the world be more valuable to you than that one ayah?

This was Abu Bakr, this was Khaleefatu Rasulillaah. When `Amr ibn Al- Aas became Muslim, Rasul Allah appointed him as a leader for one of the Muslim armies.

`Amr believed that this could only be so because Rasul Allah– Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – loved HIM the most. So after the army had returned, `Amr went and sat by Rasul Allah – Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – and asked him so that everyone would hear the answer: Who do you love the most. Rasul Allah replied, "Aisha". His wife. Startled, `Amr asked, "No, no, from the men who?" He said, "Her father!" Abu Bakr, Radi Allahu `Anhu.

Part II: Who are our role Models?

Have you ever sat with your children or some Muslim neighbor's children. Give them a basketball and lower the rim for them and listen to what they say. All – with few exceptions – will call out the name of a Kafir basketball player as they take the shot. You'll hear the name of Michael Jordan shouted out and others, a name that comes from their heart as they slam the ball in glee.

Listen carefully, they are innocently calling to the world, "I wanna be a Kafir basketball player, just like that kafir Jordan." Don't be surprised when they reach University, after they've lost their precious youth and they can spit a ball into a basket with unbelievable precision, but cannot read Al-Fatiha without fumbling like a baby.

On the day of Resurrection, these entertainment idols shall disown all those that took them as role models and imitated their sins. Interestingly, Reebok advertised one of these entertainment idols dunking a ball and at the end of the commercial he walks to the camera and says, "Just because I dunk a ball doesn't mean I have to raise your kids." Subhan Allah, if children and parents only understood what he said.

Look at the real models and the children that took thatm as their models. Aisha narrates that Rasul Allah used to visit them in the mornings and in the evenings. But one day he came at noon time – a time that signified something different was happening. Abu Bakr - Radi Allahu Anhu - opened the door and Rasul Allah announced that Allah had given him permission to do Hijrah to Madinah. Abu Bakr bounced out, "Together, Yaa Rasul Allah, together!" And Rasul Allah replied, "together." Abu Bakr began to cry.

Aisha comments, "I never believed that someone could cry from happiness until I saw my father that day cry when he found out he would be doing Hijrah with Rasul Allah."

Look at the Hijrah incident and you shall see that all the characters involved other than Abu Bakr were children. Aisha and her brother Abd ArRahmaan. Asmaa was slapped in the face by Abu Jahl when she refused to tell him where her father was. The guide that took them to Madinah was also a young boy. Subhan Allah, these children grew up to be amongst the greatest humans to ever walk this earth. How not when they had the greatest role models: Rasul Allah and Abu Bakr.

After over 10 years of Da'wah and Jihad in Madinah, when Rasul Allah passed away, Umar called all the people, sharpened his sword and spoke. "Muhammad is not dead. He went to his lord as Musa went to his lord and he shall come back as Musa did. When he does, he shall kill all those who said he was dead."

News reached Abu Bakr of the Prophet's death. He prepared himself and galloped on his horse to Rasul Allah's home. There Rasul Allah lay covered in a cloth. Abu Bakr raised the cloth and kissed the Rasul Allah. `Tibta Hayyan wa Mayyitan – you are blessed in life and in death.' He then stepped outside as Umar was addressing the people. " Sit down Umar," said Abu Bakr. He then praised Allah and began, "Whoever worships Muhammad let him know that Muhammad is dead, and whoever Allah let him know that Allah is alive and never dies." He then recited the verse, [Muhammad is nothing more than a Messenger. Messenger came and went before him. If he dies or is killed shall you turn on your heels?]

Umar said, "when I heard that verse, my knees became soft as I fell. I knew that Rasul Allah had died."

Soon after that, Abu Bakr sent out the army of Usaamah. Usaamah was 18 at that time, the age of one of our youth in grade 12. He led an entire Muslim army, fought the romans and came home victorious, breeding fear in all those that wanted to attack the Muslims in Madinah.

As Usaamah was leaving Madinah, Abu Bakr was escorting his horse as he walked along side it. Usaamah said, "you shall ride with me or I shall come down and walk." But Abu Bakr refused, "You shall not come down and I shall not ride. What harm does it bring me that I should dust my feet in the cause of Allah for an hour of the day." Indeed, Usaamah reached this position because of he had role models like Abu Bakr.

Muslims understood the seriousness of the role models their children had. `Amr ibn Utbah – Rahimahullaah – advised his son's teacher, "Let the first correction you do to my son be the correction of yourself. Verily, their eyes are locked into yours. Good to them is what you do, even if it is bad. And Bad to them is what you do not do, even if it is good."

Many parents have understood this issue of finding the correct role models for their children. Here is an example that we conclude with: In a kindergarten classroom, a non-Muslim teacher sat with the students and asked each one what they want to be when they grow up. One said, "I want to be a policeman." The other announced, "I want to be a fireman." Then a Muslim boy in the crowd spoke up, "I want to be a Sahaabi!" A what?

When parent teacher conferences came up, the teacher asked the parents about this Sahaabee that their son wanted to be when he grew up. They said, "Whenever they have the chance they read stories of the Prophet's companions to him. They have become his role models. And when he becomes older he wants to be just like the Sahaabi."

Isn't that what we want for our kids too?

[checkmate]

The Divine Caliphate (http://www.islam-is-the-only-solution.com/dc.htm)

<O:p</O:pBELIEFS CONCERNING THE SAHABAH [RADHIALLAAHU ANHUM رضى الله عنهم] (http://www.islam-is-the-only-solution.com/sahabah.htm)

All the Sahabah صحابه رضى الله عنهم و رضواعنه (Companions) are the people of Paradise, and they must be followed! (http://www.islam-is-the-only-solution.com/pop.htm)<O:p</O:p

[redsulphur]

:jkk:

[Hayaa]

JazakaAllah Khair...check out the following link:

http://www.sahaba.net/index.php

[Pheonix]

Assalaam Alaikum Wa Rehmatullahi Wa Barakatahau!
jazakallah kheirun! so true about the role models.kids try to imitate any adult they see around!!