Islamic Information Center

The Status of the

Sahaba

& the Importance

of Following
their Manhaj
By Shaykh Abu Zaid Zameer

Strong Foundations Course

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

Chapter 1: The Status of the Sahaba1

1. The Sahaba

were on guidance.

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ale Imran 3:164,

Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers

When He sent among them a Messenger from themselves,
- Reciting to them His verses and
- Purifying them and
- Teaching them the Book and wisdom,
Although they had been before in manifest error.2
Who are these believers among whom Allah sent the Messenger (s)? They are the
Sahaba.
Allah has said, -Teaching them the Book and wisdom the Prophet (s) himself was their
teacher. Ibn Kathir says, Book and Wisdom means, Quran and Sunnah. Hence, we
get the smell of the Prophethic wisdom from the Statements of the Sahaba.
Allah has said, - they had been before in manifest error in this Allah has given witness
about their being on guidance after the coming of the Messenger (s).3

2. Proof of the Imaan of the Sahaba

followed the Prophet
.

and that they truly

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:143

1 The Sahaba are the companions of the Prophet. They are those who saw the Prophet (s) in the state
on Imaan and died also in the state of Imaan.
2 The Quran translation quoted is from the English translation by Saheeh International, available in print
by Al-Qaasim Publishing House, also available on the internet at www.islamsmessage.com
3 The explanations are by Brother Zaid Patel. They can be distinguished by a smaller font size. All point
headings and points are by Shaykh Abu Zaid. If there is any good in these notes then it is only due to
Allah, any mistakes are due to human failings and Shaitan. If you come across any mistake in these notes
then, please give the correction at the center or email at islamsmessage@gmail.com.

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

And thus we have made you a just community

That you will be witnesses over the people
And the Messenger will be a witness over you.
And We did not make the qiblah which you used to face
Except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger
From who would turn back on his heels.
And indeed, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided.
And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith.
Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.
The word Wasat in the Ayah means the best and the most honored. [Ibn Katheer in
his commentary of this verse]. Narrated Al-Bara' (bin 'Azib): When the Prophet came
to Medina, he stayed first with his grandfathers or maternal uncles from Ansar. He
offered his prayers facing Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months,
but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka'ba (at Mecca). The first prayer which he
offered facing the Ka'ba was the 'Asr prayer in the company of some people. Then one
of those who had offered that prayer with him came out and passed by some people in
a mosque who were bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing
them, "By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah's Apostle facing Mecca (Ka'ba).'
Hearing that, those people changed their direction towards the Ka'ba immediately
[SAHIH BUKHARI 1:39 Book of Imaan]
From this we know that Allah tested the Sahaba to make evident who would follow the
Messenger from who would turn back on his heels. The Sahaba passed this test about
which Allah says, it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. In this verse
there is a testimony about the Imaan of all of those early Sahaba present at that time.

3. Proof of
(a) The completeness of the Imaan of the Sahaba
(b) Their being merciful to each other and
(c) Their efforts in Ibadah and
(d) Their sincerity
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al- Fath 48:29,

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah;

And those with him are forceful against the disbelievers,
Merciful among themselves.
You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer],
Seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure.
Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration.
That is their description in the Torah.
And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its
offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their
stalks, delighting the sowers
- so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers.
Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them
forgiveness and a great reward.
Allah Himself has mentioned the Sahaba in this verse after the Prophet (s). Today there
are people who allege that the Sahaba had enmity among themselves. This is proven
false when Allah has mentioned about them that they are, Merciful among
themselves. They were mentioned in the Torah and the Injeel long before they actually
came. They stood with the Prophet (s) in his Mission supporting him through difficulties
and ease. They faced enemity from their own relatives, people and all Arabs.
Allah says so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers
Relying on this Ayah, Imam Malik stated that the Rawafid are disbelievers because
they hate the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. Malik said, "The
Companions enrage them, and according to this Ayah, he who is enraged by the
Companions is a disbeliever.'' Several scholars agreed with Malik's opinion, may Allah
be pleased with them.[TAFSEER IBN KATHEER IN COMMENTARY OF THIS VERSE]

4. The Statement of Allah about their being truthful, Allah is

pleased with them and Allah knows what is in their hearts
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Fath 48:18-19,

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers

When they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree, And
He knew what was in their hearts.
Saeed bin Al Musayyib

narrated from Jabir

1500 Sahaba took the oath of allegiance to the Prophet

day of Hudaibiyah.

on the
4

[NARRATED BY SAEED BIN AL MUSAYYIB

, RECORDED IN SAHEEH BUKHARI 5:474 , BOOK
OF MAGAZI: CHAPTER ON THE GAZWA OF HUDAIBIYAH]

From the Quranic Verse above we know that, Certainly was Allah pleased with the
believers, when they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree. Who
were these believers, with whom Allah is pleased? They are the Sahaba. The incident
referred is at the time of the treaty of Hudaibiyah in 6 Hijri when the Prophet (s) took
this oath of allegiance. How many Sahaba pledged allegiance? 1500 as we know from
the Hadith of Bukhari quoted above. Hence for these 1500 Sahaba Allah has declared, Allah is pleased with them. When Allah is pleased with them, then can we be angry
about them? No! Some people claim that later these Sahaba turned away from Islam.
However Allah has also said, He knew what was in their hearts. Would Allah not know
whom to be pleased with? Loving whom Allah loves is a sign of Imaan.

5. The mention of the sincerity of the Muhajireen and the Ansaar

and their help to the Prophet
and their giving
preference to the Prophet even over themselves.
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Hashr 59:8-9,

4 All References from Saheeh Bukhari are from the English translation by Muhammed Mohsin Khan (9
volumes) printed by Kitaab Bhavan also available on the internet at www.islamsmessage.com

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

For the poor emigrants

Who were expelled from their homes and their properties,
Seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval
And supporting Allah and His Messenger, [there is also a share].
Those are the truthful
And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah
And [adopted] the faith before them.
They love those who emigrated to them
And find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given
But give [them] preference over themselves,
Even though they are in privation.
And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul
- It is those who will be the successful.

6. All the Muhajirs will be in Jannah.

The Prophet

said,

Indeed the poor among the Muhajireen will enter into Jannah 500 years
before the rich among them
[NARRATED BY ABU SAEED
; RECORDED IN IBN MAJAH, AUTHENTICATED (HASAN)
IN DHAEEF AL JAAMI: 1886, ALSO AUTHENTICATED (HASAN) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH IBN MAJAH:
3327]

7. The Virtues of the Ansaar

The Prophet

said,

Love for the Ansar is a sign of faith and hatred for the Ansar is a sign of
hypocrisy."
5

[NARRATED BY ANAS
; RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMED, SAHEEH BUKHARI : 1: 16,
6
SAHEEH MUSLIM : 137, NASAI, AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI: 15]
5

All References from Saheeh Bukhari are from the English translation by Muhammed Mohsin Khan (9 volumes)
printed by Kitaab Bhavan also available on the internet at www.islamsmessage.com
6

All References from Saheeh Muslim are from the English translation by Abdul Hamid Siddiqi (4 volumes with
continuous numbering) printed by Kitaab Bhavan also available on the internet at www.islamsmessage.com

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

8. The 10 who have received the glad tidings of paradise during

their lifetime.
The Prophet

said,

Abu Bakr will be in Paradise,

And Umar (bin Khattab) will be in Paradise,
And Uthman (bin Affan) will be in Paradise,
And Ali (bin Abu Talib) will be in Paradise,
And Talhah (bin Ubaydullah) will be in Paradise,
And Zubair (bin Awwam) will be in Paradise,
And Abdur Rahman bin Awf will be in Paradise,
And Sad (bin Abi Waqqas) will be in Paradise,
And Saeed (bin Zaid) will be in Paradise,
And Abu Ubaydah bin Jarrah will be in Paradise
[NARRATED BY SAEED BIN ZAID
; RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMED, ADH-DHIYA, ALSO
NARRATED BY ABDUR RAHMAAN BIN AUF RECORDED IN TIRMIDHI, AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH)
BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI 50]

9. The Sahaba were the best of people Prophet Muhammed

has given witness about them.
The Prophet

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said,

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

The best of you (people) are my generation, then those who will follow
them, and then those who will follow them."
Imran (the narrator) added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned
two or three (generations) after his generation.
He
added, 'Then will come some people who will make vows but
will not fulfill them; and they will be dishonest and will not be trustworthy,
and they will give their witness without being asked to give their witness,
and fatness will appear among them."
[NARRATED IMRAN BIN HUSSAIN
, RECORDED IN SAHEEH BUKHARI 8:686 (BOOK OF
OATH & VOWS) ALSO SAHEEH BUKHARI 5:2 (BOOK OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET),
ALSO RECORDED IN SAHEEH MUSLIM]

10. The difference between the righteous deeds of the Sahaba

and the righteous deeds of anyone else.
The Prophet

said,

"Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to
Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud
spent by one of them."
[NARRATED BY ABU SAEED
SAHEEH

RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMED, SAHEEH MUSLIM, AND

BUKHARI 5: 22, ABU DAWOOD, TIRMIDHI, ALSO NARRATED BY ABU HURAIRAH

RECORDED IN SAHEEH MUSLIM, IBN MAJAH, AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH
AL JAAMI 7310]

11. The sin of abusing the Sahaba.

The Prophet

said,

Whoever abuses my Companions, then on him is the Curse of Allah, the

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

angels and all of mankind.

[NARRATED BY IBN ABBAS
; RECORDED IN AL KABEER BY TABARANI,
AUTHENTICATED (HASAN) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI 6285]

12. The departure of the Sahaba was a calamity for the

Ummah.
The Prophet

said,

Stars are the security for the heavens. When the stars will perish those
things will happen in the skies which have been promised (i.e the Day of
Judgement).
And I am the security for my Sahaba. When I go from this world then my
Sahaba will have to face all those things which they have been promised.
And my Sahaba are the security for my entire Ummah. When they go away
(i.e. die) then all those things will come on my Ummah which they have
been promised.
[NARRATED BY ABU MUSA
, RECORDED IN SAHEEH MUSLIM: 6147, MUSNAD AHMED,
AUTHENTICATED (SAHEEH) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI: 6800]

Chapter 2: The Importance of following the

Manhaj7 of the Sahaba.
1. The Aqeedah8 of the Sahaba is the standard until the day of
Judgement.
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Baqrah 2:137,

So if they believe in the same as you believe in,

Then they have been [rightly] guided;
7
8

Manhaj way, methodology

Aqeedah - Belief

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

But if they turn away, they are only in dissension,

2. The Virtue of the Muhajireen, the Ansaar and those who follow
them in good.
Allah says in the Quran in Surah At-Tawbah 9:100,

And the first forerunners (in faith) among the Muhajireen and the Ansaar
and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with
them and they are pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them
gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is
the great attainment.

3. The way of the believers.

Allah says in the Quran in Surah An-Nisa 4:115,

And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to
him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what
he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.

4. Whatever the Sahaba agreed about is good (Khair).

Abdullah bin Masud

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narrated,

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

Indeed,
Allah
saw
into
the
hearts
of
all
his
slaves.
So He found the heart of Muhammed
the best heart among all
his slaves.
So He chose him for Himself and sent him with His message.
Then He saw the hearts of all his slaves after that. So he found the hearts
of his companions (the Sahaba) the best and made them the ministers of
His Prophet. They fight along with him for his religion.
So whatever these Muslims consider to be good then that is good also in
the sight of Allah. And whatever they saw to be bad then that is bad in the
sight of Allah also.
[NARRATED BY ABDULLAH BIN MASUD
AUTHENTICATED
(HASAN)
BY
ALBANI
DHAEEFAH:VOL.2:PAGE.17:HADITH.533]

RECORDED IN MUSNAD AHMED: 3418,

IN
SILSILAH
AHADEETH
ADH-

5. The sign of the saved group.

The Prophet

said,

My Ummah will be divided into 73 sects. All of them will be in the fire
except one sect. They asked, Which one is it, O messenger of Allah? He
said, The one on which I and my companions (the Sahaba)
are.
[NARRATED BY IBN AMR
; RECORDED IN TIRMIDHI: 56 (ALIM), AUTHENTICATED
(HASAN) BY ALBANI IN SAHEEH AL JAAMI 5343]

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The Status of the Sahaba and the Importance of Following their Manhaj

HereAfter THE KNOWLEDGE

Conclusion:
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Al-Hashr 59:10,

"And those who come after them say:

'Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren
Who have preceded us in Faith,
And put not in our hearts any hatred
Against those who have believed."

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