Children’s Hadith
The Prophet’s Companions
Muhammad Javed Attari Madani
The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:
اَكْرِمُوا اَصْحَابِي فَاِنَّهُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ
“Respect my Companions as they are the best [people] amongst you.”[1]
A “Companion” (ṣaḥābī) is someone who met the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as a believer and later died as a believer.[2]
There are many virtues and excellences of the noble Companions. These are the people who saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with their eyes, absorbed his character, and remained ready to sacrifice their lives and wealth for him. The Companions submitted to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and obeyed his commands. How fortunate were the people who would put their minds and hearts at ease by simply looking towards the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.
They lived in the Prophet’s company and learned from him. By virtue of the Prophet’s company and their pure hearts, Allah made them superior to all other people and angels. A few moments in the Prophet’s company afforded them a rank which is unobtainable even through centuries of worship. No one can match them.[3]
Dear children, Islam and the Quran have reached us through the noble Companions. So, we must respect and revere them. Do not say anything that undermines their honour and dignity. Refrain from disrespecting the Companions, and do not go near those who dare to speak ill of them.
Abū Zurʿa al-Rāzī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said:
If you see someone faulting the Prophet’s Companions and attempting to diminish their rank, know that he is a heretic, devoid of faith. This is because the Quran and every statement of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم have reached us through the Companions. In essence, to attribute evil to them or to disapprove them is akin to the Quran and Hadith being void.[4]
Without doubt, all the Companions are destined for Paradise. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has spoken of this, and Allah Almighty has promised them goodness. So, we must respect these righteous and virtuous individuals and refrain from attributing evil to their names. We must only use good words whenever we talk about them.
May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to honour and respect the noble companions and protect us from disrespecting them.
اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
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