Justice Of The Companions Of The Prophet (s): Difference between revisions

* [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] states that anyone who accompanied the [[Prophet (s)]] and saw him for a year, a month, a day, or even a moment is considered one of the Prophet's Companions.<ref>Abu Ali Farra al-Hanbali, al-Udda fi Usul al-Fiqh, vol. 3, p. 988, quoted in ''Shi'ashinasi:pasukh bi shubahat'' by Ali Asghar Ridwani, vol. 1, p. 319.</ref>   

* [[Sa'id b. al-Musayyib]] considers only those who were with the Prophet (s) for at least one or two years and participated in one or two [[Ghazwa]]s with him as his Companions.<ref>Same reference.</ref>   

2. Social exclusion of critics of the Companions: If anyone finds fault with or criticizes the Companions, do not eat or drink with them, and do not perform [[prayer]] over their funeral.<ref>Ya'qub, Ahmad Hussein, Research on the Justice of the Companions, translated by Mohammad Qazi Zadeh, Dar al-Thaqalayn Publications, first edition, 1997, p. 34, quoting Al-Kaba'ir by Al-Dhahabi, p. 238.</ref>   

== Arguments of the Proponents ==   

Verses that praise the Ummah of the Prophet (s), such as:   

* {{Quran|You are the best nation ever brought forth for mankind.|Surah=Al-Imran|Ayah=110}}   

* Some Sunni interpretations consider "just nation" as evidence for the justice of the Companions.   

Ahl al-Sunnah cite several hadiths in favor of the Companions' justice:   

* The Prophet (s) said: "Do not revile my Companions. If any of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not amount to even a handful or half a handful of what they gave."<ref>Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 159.</ref>   

* Another narration states: "If you see people criticizing my Companions, say: May God’s curse be upon your worst ones."<ref>Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, vol. 5, p. 359.</ref>   

===In the Qur'an===

Some Sunni scholars claim that all the companions of the Prophet (s) were just and free from any wrongdoing. However, they have overlooked several Quranic verses that criticize the actions of some companions:

* {{Quran|یَا أَیُّهَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَکُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَیَّنُوا أَنْ تُصِیبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَیٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِینَ|Translation=O you who have believed, if a wicked person comes to you with information, investigate it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become regretful for what you have done.|Surah=Al-Hujurat|Verse=6}}   

{{Quran|وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ یَلْمِزُکَ فِی الصَّدَقَاتِ فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا مِنْهَا رَضُوا وَإِنْ لَمْ یُعْطَوْا مِنْهَا إِذَا هُمْ یَسْخَطُونَ|Translation=And among them are those who criticize you concerning the distribution of alms. If they are given some of it, they are pleased; but if they are not given any, they become enraged.}}   

{{Quran|وَإِذْ یَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِینَ فِی قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا|Translation=And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, "Allah and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion."}}   

{{Quran|وَ مَا کَانَ لِنَبِیٍّ أَنْ یَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَنْ یَغْلُلْ یَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَةِ|Translation=It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully. And whoever betrays will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection.}}   

1. Those whom Allah is pleased with. <ref>Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 100</ref>   

2. Believers who committed sins but later repented. <ref>Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 102</ref>   

4. Those who outwardly accepted Islam but had no faith in their hearts. <ref>Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 14</ref>   

5. The hypocrites. <ref>Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 101</ref>   

All these five groups are considered companions of the Prophet (s) according to Sunni belief.   

The claim of the absolute justice of all companions is further challenged by the fact that some of them were punished during the Prophet's time and afterward:   

== References ==

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