Why Do We Love the Companions?

Khaalid Abu Saalih

The love of the companions of the Prophet is one of the basic principles of faith according to the people of the Sunnah and the Community (of Muhammad).

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In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 
All the praises and thanks be to Allah Alone, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the last and seal of the Prophets.
 
The love of the companions of the Prophet is one of the basic principles of faith according to the people of the Sunnah and the Community (of Muhammad). This is because they are the elite people who are chosen by Allah to accompany His Prophet and to disseminate His religion. They are those who have preserved for us the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and conveyed them to us. In addition, without that group of righteous people, the teachings of Islam would have been lost just as the Jewish and Christian teachings have been lost. Hence, slandering the companions is slandering what they have conveyed for us from the revelation.
 
Many texts from the Quran and the Sunnah mentioned the virtues of the companions, to the extent that they obligated loving and defending them, along with hating their defamers.
 
Therefore, we love the companions for the following reasons:
 
1-     We love the companions because Allah Almighty has been pleased with them. He says, {Indeed, Allâh was pleased with the believers when they gave the Bai’ah (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) under the tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakînah (calmness and tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.} [Surat Al-Fath 48:18]
 
{لَّقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا} الفتح: 18
 
Transliteration: Laqad radiya Allahu AAani almumineena ith yubayiAAoonaka tahta alshshajarati faAAalima ma fee quloobihim faanzala alsakeenata AAalayhim waathabahum fathan qareeban
 
2-     We love the companions because Allah Almighty has attributed faith (belief) to them. He says, {He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers.} [Surat Al-Anfâl 9:62]
 
{ُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ} الأنفال: 62
 
Transliteration: Yahlifoona biAllahi lakum liyurdookum waAllahu warasooluhu ahaqqu an yurdoohu in kanoo mumineena
 
3-     We love the companions because Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has commended them. He has described them of being the successful. He has also promised them Paradise. Allah says, {But the Messenger (Muhammad) and those who believed with him (in Islâmic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allâh’s Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful. (88) For them Allâh has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.} [Surat At-Tawbah 9:88-89]
 
{لَـٰكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ جَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ ۖ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ أَعَدَّ اللَّـهُ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ} التوبة: 88-89
 
Transliteration: Lakini alrrasoolu waallatheena amanoo maAAahu jahadoo biamwalihim waanfusihim waolaika lahumu alkhayratu waolaika humu almuflihoona (88) aAAadda Allahu lahum jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu khalideena feeha thalika alfawzu alAAatheemu
 
4-     We love the companions because Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has said, {You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad) and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind;} [Surat Al-Imrân 3:110]
 
{كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّـهِ ۗ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ} آل عمران:110
 
Transliteration: Kuntum khayra ommatin okhrijat lilnnasi tamuroona bialmaAAroofi watanhawna AAani almunkari watuminoona biAllahi walaw amana ahlu alkitabi lakana khayran lahum minhumu almuminoona waaktharuhumu alfasiqoona

Ibn Abbas said, “They are the people who migrated with Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.
 
5-     We love the companions because Allah, Glorified and Exalted, loves them. He says, {Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him;} [Surat Al-Mâ’idah 5:54]
 
{فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِي اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّونَهُ} المائدة: 54

Transliteration: fasawfa yatee Allahu biqawmin yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu
 
Al-Hassan said, “By Allah, it (this verse) is not for the people of Harûrâ’. It is meant for Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and their companions.
 
6-     We love the companions because Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has attributed faith (belief) to them. He says, {And those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard in the Cause of Allâh (Al-Jihâd), as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid - these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karîm (a generous provision i.e. Paradise).} [Surat Al-Anfâl 8:74]
 
{وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَالَّذِينَ آوَوا وَّنَصَرُوا أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ} الأنفال:74
 
Transliteration: Waallatheena amanoo wahajaroo wajahadoo fee sabeeli Allahi waallatheena awaw wanasaroo olaika humu almuminoona haqqan lahum maghfiratun warizqun kareemun
 
7-     We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has made loving them the sign of faith, and hating them the sign of hypocrisy. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The sign of Belief is to love the Ansar (the Supporters), and the sign of hypocrisy is to hate the Ansar.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 
«آية الإيمان حبُّ الأنصار، وآية النِّفاق بغض الأنصار» رواه البخاري ومسلم
 
8-     We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has prohibited mentioning them with evil. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When my companions are mentioned, hold your tongues. When the stars are mentioned, hold your tongues. When Fate is mentioned, hold your tongues.” [It is classified as authentic by Al-Albani 545 in Sahih Aj-Jami’]
 
«إذا ذُكِر أصحابي فأمسكوا، و إذا ذُكِرتِ النُّجوم فأمسكوا، و إذا ذُكِرَ القدر فأمسكوا» صححه الألباني
 
9-     We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has made them the security of the nation. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The stars are a source of security for the sky and when the stars disappear there comes to the sky (it meets the same fate) as it has been promised (it would plunge into darkness). And I am a source of safety and security to my Companions and when I go away, there would fall to the lot of my Companions as they have been promised with. And my Companions are a source of security for my nation and as they go, there would fall to the lot of my nation as (its people) have been promised.” [Reported by Muslim 2531]
 
«النُّجوم أمنة للسَّماء، فإذا ذهبنَّ النُّجوم أتى السَّماء ما توعد، وأنا أمنة لأصحابي، فإذا ذهبت أتى أصحابي ما يوعدون، وأصحابي أمنة لأمَّتي، فإذا ذهب أصحابي أتى أمَّتي ما يوعدون» رواه مسلم
 
10- We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has made them the most righteous and the best of people. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The best of my nation are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries). And then those who will follow the latter, and then those who will follow the latter.” [Reported by Muslim 2532]
 
«خير أمَّتي القرن الّذين يلوني ثمَّ الَّذين يلونهم ثمَّ الَّذين يلونهم» رواه مسلم
 
11- We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has prohibited abusing them. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Do not revile my companions, do not revile my companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as (the Mountain of) Uhud, it would not amount to as much as one ‘mudd’ (half bushel, a dry measure) on behalf of one of them or half of it!” [Reported Muslim 2540]
 
«لا تسبُّوا أصحابي لا تسبُّوا أصحابي، فوالَّذي نفسي بيده لو أنَّ أحدكم أنفق مثل أحدٍ ذهبًا، ما أدرك مدَّ أحدهم ولا نصيفه» رواه مسلم
 
12- We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has cursed those who reviled them. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Allah has cursed those who reviled my companions.” [It is classified as good by Al-Albani 5111 in Sahih Aj-Jami’]
 
«لعن الله من سبَّ أصحابي» حسنه الألباني
 
13- We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has told us that victories and conquering were due through their hands and those of their followers. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “A time will come when the people will wage holy war, and it will be asked, ‘Is there any amongst you who has enjoyed the company of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ Then victory will be bestowed upon them. Then, they will wage holy war again, and they will be asked, ‘Is there any among you who has enjoyed the company of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ Then victory will be bestowed upon them. Then, they will wage holy war again, and they will be asked, “Is there any among you who has enjoyed the company of those who accompanied the companions of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him?” They will say, ‘Yes.’ And then victory will be bestowed upon them.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
 
«يأتي على النَّاس زمانٌ يغزو فئام من النَّاس فيقال لهم: فيكم من رأى رسول اللهفيقولون: نعم، فيفتح لهم. ثمَّ يغزو فئام من النَّاس. فيقال لهم: فيكم من رأى من صحب رسول الله؟ فيقولون: نعم، فيفتح لهم. ثمَّ يغزو فئام من النَّاس، فيقال لهم: هل فيكم من رأى من صحب من صحب رسول الله؟ فيقولون: نعم. فيفتح لهم» رواه البخاري ومسلم
 
14- We love the companions because they are the ministers of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and his supporters.
 
15- We love the companions because loving them is evidence of our love to the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and hating them is evidence on hating the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.
 
16- We love the companions because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has made preserving (honoring and following their lead) them, as preserving him, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. He, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Preserve me through preserving my companions, then their followers, then the followers of the latter.” [Reported by Ibn Majah 1927, and classified as authentic by Al-Albani]
 
«احفظوني في أصحابي ثمَّ الّذين يلونهم ثمَّ الّذين يلونهم» رواه ابن ماجه وصححه الألباني
 
17- We love the companions because they are the people of knowledge, virtue, morals, and truth. The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The most compassionate person from my nation upon my nation is Abu Bakr and the most sever in the religion of Allah is ‘Umar. The most truthful in shyness is ‘Uthman and Ali is the best judge. The most dutiful is Zaid ibn Thabit. The most reading is Abbeyy. The most knowing of the permitted and forbidden is Mu’âdh ibn Jabal. For every nation there is a man of trust and the man of trust of this nation is Abu ‘Ubaida ibn Aj-Jarrah.” [Classified as authentic by al-Albani 868 in Sahih Aj-Jami’]
 
«أرأف أمَّتي بأمَّتي أبو بكر، وأشدُّهم في دين الله عمر، وأصدقهم حياء عثمان، وأقضاهم علي، وأفرضهم زيد بن ثابت، وأقرؤهم أبي، وأعلمهم بالحلال والحرام معاذ بن جبل، ألا وإنَّ لكلّ أمَّة أمينًا، وأمين هذه الأمَّة أبو عبيدة بن الجراح» صححه الألباني فى صحيح الجامع
 
Ibn Mas’ûd describes the companions of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him
 
Ibn Mas’ûd, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Allah has looked unto the hearts of the slaves. He has found that the heart of Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, is the best heart of the slaves, therefore, He has chosen him for Himself. Then, He has sent him with His Message. After that, He has looked unto the hearts of the slaves and found out that the hearts of his companions are the best hearts of the slaves. Therefore, He has made them the ministers of His prophet; fighting for His religion.” [Reported by Ahmad and declared good by Al-Albani]
 
«أنَّ الله نظر في قلوب العباد، فوجد قلب محمَّدٍ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- خير قلوب العباد فاصطفاه لنفسه، فابتعثه برسالته، ثمَّ نظر في قلوب العباد، فوجد قلوب أصحابه خير قلوب العباد، فجعلهم وزراء نبيَّه، يقاتلون على دينه» رواه أحمد وحسنه الألباني موقوفًا
 
 
The words of the Imam of the People of the Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal
 
He, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “It is from the clear argument and known evidence to mention the virtues of all of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. In addition, it is sound argument to stop mentioning their disadvantages and the disagreement and disputes between them. Whoever insulted the companions of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, or anyone of them, defamed, disparaged, brought their faults into light, or discredited any of them is a malicious innovator Rafida (deserter). Allah will accept from them neither the obligatory nor the voluntary acts of worship. Rather, loving them is from the Sunnah, supplicating for them is an act of worship, to follow their way is a means, and to grab their traditions is a virtue. The companions of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, are the best people, no one should mention any of their defects, defame or discredit them.” (The Book of As-Sunnah, p. 78)
 
The words of Imam Al-Ajiri, may Allah have mercy on him
 
He, may Allah have mercy on him, said “As Allah Almighty has facilitated for me writing the Book (Ash-Sharî’ah), He has facilitated that I drew the virtues of our Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.
 
After that I mentioned the virtues of his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, who have been chosen for him by Allah, Glorified and Exalted. Allah has made them his ministers, his in-laws, and his supporters. They were the caliphs after him for his nation; they are the immigrants and the supporters. Allah Almighty has described them in His Book with the best and most beautiful description. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has told us in His Book that He has describe them in the Torah and the Bible with the best attributes, giving them the most beautiful description. That is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills, and Allah is the Owner of Mighty Grace.
 
 
The Immigrants
 
As for the immigrants, may Allah be pleased with them, they believed in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. They accompanied their faith with actions. They were patient with Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, in every hardship. They preferred that for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to glory with other than Allah. They preferred hunger for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to satiety with other than Him.
 
They had enmity with the near and far, for the sake of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. They migrated with Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and parted with their parents and children, families and clans. They left the money and homes, and came out as poor. All of that is because of their love to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and to His Messenger Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.
 
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and His Messenger Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, were preferred for them to anything we have previously mentioned, with sincere faith, supporting minds, generous souls, sound opinion, and fitting patience. All of which is by the grace of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. He says, {Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful.} [Surat Al-Mujâdilah 58:22]
 
{رَ‌ضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَ‌ضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّـهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّـهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ} المجادلة: 22
 
Transliteration: radiya Allahu AAanhum waradoo AAanhu olaika hizbu Allahi ala inna hizba Allahi humu almuflihoona
 
 
The Supporters
 
As for the Supporters, may Allah be pleased with them; they are the people who are chosen by Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to support His religion and to follow His Prophet. They believed in him in Mecca, and gave him their allegiance. They were true in their pledge; they loved and supported him. Moreover, they followed the light, which he has been sent down with. They wanted to get him out (from Mecca) with them to Medina; out of their love to him, however, Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, asked them to leave him to another time. They left to Medina, told their brothers about their faith, so, they believed in Islam and believed it.
 
When Prophet Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, emigrated to them, they cheered. His arrival pleased them, so they received him with hospitality and they honored him. They knew that this was a grace from Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to them.
 
After that, the immigrants came to Medina. The Supporters were glad by their arrival that they treated them with the best generous dignity. They left them some rooms in their houses, and preferred them to their families and children. They loved them greatly and became brothers in Allah, Glorified and Exalted. Their hearts have been united by the grace of the Beloved, after they were enemies.
 
Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says to His Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, {He it is Who has supported you with His Help and with the believers. (62) And He has united their (i.e. believers’) hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allâh has united them. Certainly, He is All-Mighty, All-Wise.} [Surat Al-Anfâl 8:62-63]
 
{هُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِ‌هِ وَبِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٦٢﴾ وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ جَمِيعًا مَّا أَلَّفْتَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّـهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ} الأنفال: 62-63
 
Transliteration:huwa allathee ayyadaka binasrihi wabialmumineena (62) Waallafa bayna quloobihim law anfaqta ma fee alardi jameeAAan ma allafta bayna quloobihim walakinna Allaha allafa baynahum innahu AAazeezun hakeemun
 
Then, Allah Glorified and Exalted says to all His slaves, {and remember Allâh’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it.} [Surat Al-Imrân 3:103]
 
{وَاذْكُرُ‌وا نِعْمَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَ‌ةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ‌ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ} آل عمران: 103
 
Transliteration:waothkuroo niAAmata Allahi AAalaykum ith kuntum aAAdaan faallafa bayna quloobikum faasbahtum biniAAmatihi ikhwanan wakuntum AAala shafa hufratin mina alnnari faanqathakum minha kathalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum ayatihi laAAallakum tahtadoona
 
Therefore, they all joined in the love of Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and the love of His Messenger, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him. They joined in supporting him, obeying him in difficulty and relief. They do not take into consideration, for the sake of Allah, the reproaches of the blamers.
 
Therefore, Allah Glorified and Exalted has described the Immigrants and the Supporters in many places in His Book with every beautiful and good attribute. He has promised them an eternal paradise. Furthermore, He has told us that He has been pleased with them, and they have been pleased with Him. Allah says, {Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful.} [Surat Al-Mujâdilah 58:22]
 
{رَ‌ضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَ‌ضُوا عَنْهُ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّـهِ ۚ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّـهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ} المجادلة: 22
 
Transliteration: radiya Allahu AAanhum waradoo AAanhu olaika hizbu Allahi ala inna hizba Allahi humu almuflihoona
 
(The book of Ash-Sharî’ah by Al-’Acirc;jiri. 1631/4 –1633)
 
 
The words of Imam Az-Zahabi, may Allah have mercy on him
 
He, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “The virtue of the companions is known through contemplating their condition and stories. It is known through their legacy in the life of the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, and after his death. Their hastening to faith, fighting the infidels, spreading Islam, making apparent the rituals of Islam, upholding high the word of Allah and His Messenger, and teaching his obligations and Sunnah are all from the virtues of the companions. Nevertheless, but for them, neither a basic origin nor a branch of religion would have reached us; we would have not learned anything from the Sunnah or obligations, traditions or news of Islam.
 
Therefore, whoever discredits or dishonors them is out of the pale of Islam and Muslims. Discrediting them is through the conviction of their disadvantages, having grudge against them, and denying what Allah Almighty has mentioned, in His Book, about their praise, virtues, good attributes, and love.
 
In addition, they are the most accepted means of the transmitted and reported. Discrediting the means is discrediting the originals. Furthermore, disparaging the reporter is disparaging the reported. This is obvious to whoever looks into it, and whoever is free from hypocrisy, heresy and atheism in his faith.” (The Major Sins, p. 274)
 
Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Ayyâdh said, “The love of the companions of Muhammad is a treasure which I preserve. May Allah have mercy on those who ask Him to mercy the companions of Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.
 
Ibn Al-Mubârak said, “I hope from Allah that whoever enjoys the following two characteristics to be saved (from Hellfire); honesty and the love of the companions of Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.” (The book of Ash-Sharî’ah 1688/4)
 
Abu Bakr At-tayyib chanted the lines of a poet saying,
 
I have chosen ‘Ali for a role model in knowledge
As I have chosen ‘Atîq, your companion in the Cave.
And I have chosen Abu Hafs and his followers
And I have not accepted the killing of the Sheikh in the house.
All the companions are my example in knowledge
Is it a shame to say so?
If You know that I love them only
For Your Sake, then free me from Hellfire.
 
Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
 
 
Prepared by Khalid Abu Salih
Madar Al-Watan
Slightly modified