Next to the favourite
angels the most respectable and high ranking once are the companions of
the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and the members of his household
(May Allah be pleased with all of them). Among them are included.
1. HAZRAT BUTUL (Radi Allaho Anha), most beloved of the prophet, Lady
of the Paradise. Banu (Princess) of the world, boss of the women of faith
BIBI FATIMA ZAHRA (Radi Allaho Anha).
2. The two reverend princes of his holy daughter of the boss of the
two worlds. The HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). They were the
two stars within the divine sight of the Holy Throne.
They were the pieces of the moon of Imamat of the celestial globe. They
were the beautiful flowers of the garden of purification. Both were QURRAT-UL-AIN
(comfort of the eyes) of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).
They were the bountiful leaders and the fortunate martyrs. They were
righteous men and possessors of pious hearts. They were the two moons,
the two purified men of faith namely ABU MUHAMMAD HAZRAT IMAM HASSAN and
ABU ABDULLAH HAZRAT IMAM HUSSAIN (Radi Allah A'nhum).
3. The Mothers of the Ummat (Men of faith). The ladies of the HOLY PROPHET
(Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam), the pious wives (Radi Allah A'nhumah) of
the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). 4. All the Holy Companions
(Radi Allah A'nhum) of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) who
had the credit to see the holy countenance of the PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam) who lived like Muslims and died like Muslims, irrespective
of the fact whether they were men or women, adults or children. Then dignities
and ranks of these holy people can only be judged by those who know the
honour and the exalted position of the Chief of the PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam). The lights of discernment in fact illuminate the heart
of a Muslim and wisdom and his eyes possess the sight of the beauty of
Allah. He follows the truth and leads the life of truth and he dies of
the truth and it is his nature to always accept the truth and nothing less
than truth. He acquires bright inheritance from the midday sum. The true
lover of Allah after acquiring the divine power saves his beloved from
any bad company. And Allah is capable to do every thing and the HOLY PROPHET
(Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is His beloved and the boss of all other
men of Allah. In fact he is their chief, their boss and their crowed head.
And it is he who is capable to do every thing, as He will. Can He not appoint
assistants and friends of His most honourable and most esteemed beloved
PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)? Sure, He does; He is Almighty and
Omnipotent. So He had done the favour and has appointed and selected the
Holy companions of His PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam).
So beware! That any one who dares to taunt or reproach such reverend
persons then the denies the skill and the authority of Mighty Allah or
he regards his power to be defective and incomplete and tries to find fault
in the most exalted ranks and honourable status of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall
Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) which is bestowed upon him by Allah. It is indeed
an act of great rebellion and insolence against the most beloved PROPHET
(Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) of Allah.
The HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) said about his companions
"Allah, Allah is respect of my companions, do not made them targets
after me. So one who love them then he loves them for the sake of my love.
And one who is their enemy he is their enemy on account of enmity with
me. One, who troubles them then he troubles me an one who troubles me in
true he troubles Allah. And one who troubles Allah then it is near that
Allah will seize him (for torture)".
So Beware, O outcasts, O strayed people. You have built up hostility
and enmity in your hearts against the pious and illustrious Imams, (leaders)
about whom the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) had said in clear
words as cited above. Allah the Almighty has also revealed about them "Allah
is pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah". It means that
Allah accepted their obedience and sincerity {of the Holy Companions (Radi
Allah A'nhum)}. They offered thanks to Him for His favours and bounties
given to them So let the followers of other sects say whether Allah and
His PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has included only the names of
HAZRAT ALI IBNE TALIB (Radi Allaho Anho) and the holy grandsons of HOLY
PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) IMAM HASSAN AND IMAM HUSSAIN (Radi
Allah A'nhum) in the list of he Holy Companions and has excluded therefore
the name of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hazrat Umar Farooq, Hazrat Usman, the
month of Momins Bibi Ayesha Siddiqa, Hazrat Zubair and Hazrat Mua'awiya
(Radi Allah A'nhum)?
About Hazrat Talha (Radi Allaho Anho) the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam) said,
"This is Jibrael (Gabriel). He greets thee and says that on the
Day of Resurrection he will accompany thee during all the horrors of that
Day".
And about Hazrat Zubair (Radi Allaho Anho) the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam) said,
"This is Jibrael (Gabriel). He greets thee and states that he will
be with you on the Day of Resurrection until he turns away all the flying
sparkles of the Hell from your face".
Hazrat Jalauddin Sewti writes in his work "Jamaul-Jawamay"
that this Hadith (saying of Prophet) is authentic.
As regards Hazrat Mua'awiya (Raid Allaho Anho) was believe that he was
the first Monarch of the Mohammedan state for whom there is a reference
in Towret. Saying,
"Born is Mecca, the immigrant of Madina and King at Syria".
So Kingdom of Amir Mua'awiya (Raid Allaho Anho) is in fact the state
or dominion of Islam.
Has Allah excluded the other Holy Companions from the list of companions
and has the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has whispered in
the ears of other sects any such thing that the companions of HOLY PROPHET
(Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) actually mean the people other than those
who are mentioned above?
"O you outcasts, (Allah forbid) why you taunt and abuse them. Unfortunately
you do not know that this kind of enmity with the Holy Companions (Radi
Allah A'nhum) of the PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is in fact the
hostility against the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) himself
and infliction of any trouble on them means that you trouble Allah which
will be punished by the everlasting torture of Hell.
But O Allah let your blessings an everlasting bounty he bestowed upon
the sect of the pious followers of Sunnah who pays due regard and offers
the greatest honour to all the associates of the illustrious company of
the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). The Sunni sent has adopted
these things as a tradition. It is the doctrine of the Sunnis that the
Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) are the stars of the heaven of guidance
and the planets of the sky of honour. They believe that every member of
the class of Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) is the chief of the pious
and the righteous persons. They are men of justice and of life upright.
They are the crown heads of all their followers till the Day of Resurrection.
They include all the administrators of justice, lovers of justice, pious,
righteous and upright people.
Amy exalted saint irrespective of this spiritual elevation can not reach
to the lowest rant of the Holy Companion. None of the Holy Companions (Radi
Allah A'nhum) being to any low category.
The other members of Muslim Ummah who possess gold equal to mount of
Ohad may never be equal to the value of two kilograms of barely possessed
by the holy companions" So said the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) as a sort of comparison between the honour and esteem of the
ordinary Muslim and that of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum). The
nearness in the sight al Allah enjoyed by the companions is not at all
attainable by others. Whatever high ranks, the companions did enjoy could
not be acquired by any other Muslim. Therefore all the scholars of Sunni
sect and also all the Sunni (AHLE-SUNNAH) firmly believe that these companions
of Holy Prophet (peace be upon them) had been highly virtuous, pious and
God fearing and they were the righteous men. Therefore the members of Sunni
sect regard it to be unlawful to find fault and investigate into the life
events and other actions of the companions of HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam). If however any deed of a companion of HOLY PROPHET (Sall
Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) is found apparently to be objectionable according
to the ethical and religious values then the Sunnis regard that such deed
might have been performed by the companion with a sense of sincerity and
good intention, for Allah has said about them "Allah is pleased with
them".
So what right does any other person have to doubt in the divine utterance
(revelation) of Allah. Therefore the Sunni sect does not at all like to
investigate into the affairs of the Holy companions about whom the HOLY
PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) has said: "When my companions
are referred to, them be evasive". It means that we Muslims should
not have any mistrust or suspicion about the Holy Companions (Radi Allah
A'nhum) by means of investigation into their matters.
Hearing the order of our exalted boos (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
and listening to the strict warnings and severs threats, we the Sunnis
keep our tongues tried and made our hearts clean like mirrors in respect
of the actions, deeds and events of life Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum).
We think that our ordinary common sense and wisdom can not ex-compass the
transactions of these dignified, elevated and High-ranking people.
We are not capable to play the part of arbitrators or judge in respect
of contradiction and conflicts which cropped up between them because we
neither posses any authority nor the wisdom to indulge in such terms.
How can we use our humble tongues to criticize such beloved people of
Allah and His HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). We should not
take sides or favour a party out of them and start to rebuke the other
party or regard one of their groups to be materialist and lover of worldly
benefit. Appearance to the contrary we regard all of them to be the reformists
of the true religion. The exaltation and eminence of Islam and the Muslims
was their main motive and ideal of life. They were also Mujtahids, religious
directors (Interpreters of religious laws) and they had adopted what they
found to be prudent and advisable and befitting for the condition of Muslims
of their time. No doubt in their ljtehad (superintending/Interpreting the
religious laws) they committed some mistakes and could not comprehend a
few things but all of them strictly adhered to be truth (and only truth
and nothing except the trust) so all of them are respectable for us. Their
differences are similar to the differences which cropped up in the practical
parts of religious doctrines between the great scholars and Mujtahids (Interpreters
of religious laws) of the Sunni sect like "IMAM AZAM ABU HANIFA AND
IMAM SHAFAI (May Allah bless them) etc. Inspite of all the differences
between them they never regarded each other to be transgressors or enemies.
HAZRAT ALI (Radi Allaho Anho) said about his opponents "They are
out brothers who have rebelled against us". The Muslims should see
that all the companions of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
were his true bondmen and devoted followers. All of them are dignified
and exalted in the presence of Allah nd His PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) and they are the luminous stars of the heaven of guidance. So
following the commands of Allah and His ROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
the pious Muslim Sunni sect made it a doctrine that all the Holy Companions
(Radi Allah A'nhum) were good, steadfast, righteous, pure, virtuous and
also the favourites of Allah. Investigation about their mutual difference
and contradictions in any way send us astray and misleads us.
We regards that the companions of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) possessed the chastity like the innocent prophets. All the followers
of truth (followers of Islam) and members of the Sunni Sect therefore have
followed the highway of firm belief and a perfect faith which helps them
to reach their desirable destinations. In the other hand the followers
of falsehood are engulfed into such false details and are so badly led
astray that they have lost the true path. For example when such men of
ill intentions read this verse of Quran: "And Adam committed sin against
his Rab (Raiser) so he was strayed" form this they infer that HAZRAT
ADAM (peace be upon him) had disobeyed the command of Allah. Further when
they read the verse "For Allah is to pardon you what sins you have
went before and what you will send late. "From this they get an idea
as if Allah has referred to in this verse the sins committed by the HOLY
PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and their pardon (Let Allah forbid
such blunder). At another place in Quran when they come across the story
of HAZRAT MUSA (Moses) (Alaih-e-Salam) and the Qabti (member of Pharaoh's
nation) in which it is narrated that seeing the Qabti oppressing a man
of faith HAZRAT MUSA (Alaih-e-Salam) struck a blow to the Qabti and knocked
him down to death (They inferred that HAZRAT MUSA (Alaih-e-Salam) was a
murderer (Allah forbid). On another occasion they heard the story of HAZRAT
DOWOOD (David) (Alaihis Salam) and one of his followers, Riyah which was
in fact a story coined by the Jews and was largely advertised. (They star
thinking that he was an oppressor while dealing with Riyah).
Some of the commentators of Holy Quran have also narrated the entire
story. However, according to Imam Raza it was totally false and absurd.
However, the senseless people who heard this story started to discuss about
it and led away from submission to ALLAH and HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam). About such people Allah reveals' "You indulged into
absurdity as they involved in absurdity". Further he adds "The
word of torment proved to be true" in respect of the infidels. If
my Rab so wills no doubt he does what he intends".
Muslims should firmly believe that all the prophets of Allah were innocent
and that they had never committed any major sins, neither before the prophethood
period nor after being bestowed upon the prophethood they deliberately
committed any minor sin which can be regarded as scornful by the creatures
of Allah so that they had a reason to desert the prophets. "Oh Allah
(we beg you) make us firm on the admonition. No doubt you are the most
high and exalted.
Regarding the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) one thing should be
remembered that they were neither prophets nor the angels that they could
be regarded as to be totally innocents. Some of them no doubt committed
some mistakes. However to find fault with them is against the commands
of Allah and His HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam). Allah has
revealed in Surah, Hadid (Iron) that there are two classes of the Holy
Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum).
1. Those who spent in the way of Allah before the victory (of Makkah)
and participated in fighting.
2. Those who spent in the way of Allah afterwards and participated in
fighting.
The first category of the companions were those who embraced Islam before
the conquest of Makkah and they spent their wealth in the way of Allah
and fought the Holy war even though they were very small in number and
they were weak, poor and were not fully armed with the weapons of war still
they bore all the troubles bravely and risked their lives and spent whatever
they had in the service of Islam. They are the predecessors and (This includes)
first among the immigrants from Makkah and the Ansars (Supporters) of Madinah.
They were the most supreme and exalted in there ranks.
The second category of companions were those who embraced Islam after
the conquest of Makkah. They also spent in the way of Allah and took part
in the Holy war at a time when the Islamic State has been firmly established
and had grown strong. All the Muslims had grown rich and dignified by that
time. The Companions of this class however are not equal in rank to the
companions of the first class already mentioned.
So Allah preferred the first category of companions to the second category.
Then Allah reveals "Allah has promised good for all of them".
It means that both the categories will be rewarded paying due regard to
what they deserved. Allah reveals about them that, "They are kept
remote from the Hell, They shall never even hear of its sound (of burning
fire). They shall abide therein, as they desire. The great terror (of Day
of Resurrection) will not make them sad. The angels will welcome them (saying)
this is your day of which you were promised".
This is the honour of the companions of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho
Alaihe Wasallam) so one who taunts or abuses anyone of them hen actually
he disbelieves and denies Allah. Many of the stories coined against the
companions are baseless and far from truth so quoting such stories against
the revelation of Allah is not a right act of any man of faith. Allah has
in a way closed the mouths of ill speakers against the companions of the
HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) by revealing the relevant verses
of Surah Hadid (Iron). In addition to these verses Allah added, "And
Allah is aware with what you do". Knowing all about the companions
of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam) and all their deeds Allah
has proclaimed. His final verdict that He has promised to these eminent
people the reward of paradise, which is free from all kinds of tortures.
Further the promise included the grant of abundant requital to them
in Hereafter. Therefore, how can anybody now dare to taunt these Holy people
on any account? Do those who taunt them wish Allah to establish a dominion
other than the kingdom of Allah? If still somebody talks absurd things
about him or her then let him break his head and be the owner of Fire.
Allama Shahabuddin writes in NASEEMUR RIAZ (on illustration of Shifai Qazi
Ayaz), "One who taunts on Hazrat Mua'awiya (Radi Allaho Anho) he is
one of the dogs of the Hell". AN IMPORTANT WARNING
This is the firm belief of the followers of Sunni faith that "Whenever
there is any remembrance of the Holy Companions (Radi Allah A'nhum) then
it should be a remembrance with well wishing intentions (and fully protected).
They were the people who remained steadfast in faith and in following the
Sunnah (word and deeds) of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe Wasallam)
through out their lives. They were the people who did not coin any new
thing in the Islamic teachings to form a separate class or group in selfish
interest.
They never fought against the men of truth for selfish reasons. The
scholars of the religion agree on this point that in Battles of Jamal (Camel)
and Battle of Saffain the companions of the HOLY PROPHET (Sall Allaho Alaihe
Wasallam) who encountered with each other by mistake were in fact the victims
of erroneous Ijtehad (wrong superintending of religious matters). But in
the Battle of Nahr were involved those people whom denied the right of
rule of Hazrat Ali (Radi Allaho Anho) and rebelled against him. They were
in fact the real trouble makers and rebels who had established a new sect
namely Khawarij (The Out-Castes or the Revelators) which was responsible
for miscreancy and riots in the Muslim state and causing differences in
the Muslim brotherhood which are still existing among the Muslims of today.