stated the excellences and virtues of the blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم with his own blessed lips, and sometimes glorified their status and honour by mentioning their blessed names.

The most illustrious followers

Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ narrated, the Noblest Prophet   صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘اَكۡرِمُوا اَصۡحَابِي فَاِنَّهُمۡ خِيَارُكُمۡ’ i.e., ‘Respect my Sahabah (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم); they are the most virtuous people from you’.

(Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 413, Hadees 6012)

He further added: ‘خَيۡرُ اُمَّتِي اَلۡقَرۡنُ الَّذِيۡنَ يَلُوۡنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَلُوۡنَهُمۡ ثُمَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَلُوۡنَهُمۡ’ The best among people are of my Ummah (i.e., blessed companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم), then those after them (i.e., Taabi’een) then those after them (i.e., Tab’-e-Taabi’een رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی). (Sahih Muslim, Hadees 2535)

There are some distinguished Sahabah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم whose blessed names were specified with their unique qualities by the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

The most merciful and the kindest person of my Ummah is Abu Bakr, the best judge of my Ummah is ‘Umar Bin Khattab, the most honourable and the most modest person of my Ummah is ‘Usman Bin ‘Affaan, the wisest and the bravest person of my Ummah is ‘Ali Bin Abi Taalib, the most virtuous and the most trustworthy person of my Ummah is ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood, the most pious and the most truthful person of my Ummah is Abu Zar, the most worshipping and the most abstinent person of my Ummah is Abu Darda and the most tolerant and the most generous person of my Ummah is Mu’awiyah Bin Sufyan (رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم). (Kanz-ul-’Ummal, vol. 7, pp. 344, Hadees 33666)

Further he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: Salman is the first person to enter Jannah amongst the people of Faaras, Suhayb is the first person to enter Jannah amongst the Roomis and Bilal is the first person to enter Jannah amongst the people of Habshah. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 7, pp. 344, Hadees 33672)