بسم الله وحده والصلاة والسلام على من لا نبي بعده
Ālimah Siddiqa al-Fārsiyyah
Student, Takhassus Fil Hadith
Checked and Approved:
Mufti Ismail Moosa
www.ulumalhadith.com
In this article, Shaykh ‘Abdullah Siraj ad-Din discusses the love that the Sahaba (radhi Allahu ‘anhum) had for the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam); a love that exceeded the love they had for their wealth, families, and even themselves. He also mentions various explains of how the Sahaba scarified themselves for the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and how his demise was the most difficult event of their lives, which no later calamity could surpass.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Qur’an {Say, “If your fathers and your sons and your brothers and your spouses and your clan and the wealth you have earned and the trade you apprehend will recede and the homes you like are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and Jihād in His way, then, wait until Allah comes with His command. Allah does not lead the sinning people to the right path.”} [Qur’an 9:24] In this verse, we see that Allah Ta’ala warns those who give preference to their spouses, clans, wealth, etc., over Allah, His Messenger and Jihad in His path, thus making incumbent upon the Muslims to love Allah and His Messenger over all other things.
The greatest manifestation of this love towards Allah and His Messenger were from the Sahaba (radhi Allahu ‘anhum). ‘Ali (radhi Allahu ‘anh) was asked, “How was all of your love for the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)?” He replied, “The Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was more beloved to us than our wealth and children, and father and mothers, and more than cold water in the state of thirst.”
This love that they had for the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), had many aspects:
- They gave preference to the love of the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) over themselves: like the story of Zayd ibn ad-Dathina related by Imam al-Bayhaqi from ‘Urwa (radhi Allahu ‘anh), when the mushrikun wanted to kill Zayd, they asked him if he would like it if Muhammad (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) was in his place right now, and he was free with his family, he replied in the negative, and even said that he would not want even a thorn to prick the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)! Hearing this, Abu Sufyan, who had not accepted Islam yet said: “I had not seen anyone love someone like the love of the companions of Muhammad for Muhammad!”
- They did not bear to stay away from his company, and they found the coolness of their eyes in seeing him: like the story of Thawban, the freed slave of the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), who would become very impatient when he would not see the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and his complexion would change. In one of the days, he expressed his worthy to the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) that in the Afterlife, he will not see him because the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) would be raised with the prophets, whilst he will be at a lower level of Jannah. Hearing this, the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) got revelation, in which Allah Ta’ala says: {Those who obey Allah and the Messenger are with those whom Allah has blessed, namely, the prophets, the Siddiqīn, the Shuhadā’ and the righteous. And excellent are they as companions.} [an-Nisa 4:69]
- They preferred his company over the whole world, and its gold and silver: when the Ansar said: “In the hour of distress it is we who are called (for help). but the spoils are given to other people besides us.” This remark reached the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and he gathered them in a tent and said: “What is this news that has reached me on your behalf?” They kept silence. Upon this he said: “O people of Ansar, do you not like that people should go away with worldly riches, and you go away with Muhammad taking him to your houses?” They said: “Yes, happy we are, Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “If the people were to tread a valley, and the Ansar were to tread a narrow path, I would take the narrow path of the Ansar.” [Sahih Muslim 1059]
- Their zeal to accompany him in this world and the next: when Rabi‘a ibn Ka‘b said: “I was with Allah’s Messenger at night, and when I brought him his water for ablution and what he required, he told me to make a request. I said, “I ask to accompany you in paradise.” He asked if I had any other request to make, and when I replied that that was all, he said, “Then help me to accomplish this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration.” [Sahih Muslim 489]
- They cried at the demise and departing of the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), at the remembrance of his gatherings and the descending of revelation upon him.
It was narrated by Anas bin Malik (radhi Allahu ‘anh): “Abu Bakr and al-‘Abbas passed by one of the gatherings of the Ansar who were weeping then. He asked, “Why are you weeping?” They replied, “We are weeping because we remember the gathering of the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) with us.” So Abu Bakr went to the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and told him of that. The Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came out, tying his head with a piece of the hem of a sheet. He ascended the pulpit which he never ascended after that day. He glorified and praised Allah and then said, “I request you to take care of the Ansar as they are my near companions to whom I confided my private secrets. They have fulfilled their obligations and rights which were enjoined on them but there remains what is for them. So, accept the good of the good-doers amongst them and excuse the wrongdoers amongst them.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 3799]
In another hadith, Anas (radhi Allahu ‘anh) reported that after the death of the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), Abu Bakr said to ‘Umar: “Let us visit Umm Ayman as the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to visit her. As we came to her, she wept. They (Abu Bakr and Umar) said to her: What makes you weep? What is in store (in the next world) for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is better than (this worldly life). She said: I weep not because I am ignorant of the fact that what is in store for the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is better, but I weep because the revelation which came from the Heaven has ceased to come.” This moved both of them to tears and they began to weep along with her. [Sahih Muslim 2454]
This was the same attitude of the tabi‘un, in that they loved the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and showed great respect and reverence to his hadiths. Mus‘ab ibn ‘Abdullah mentioned that whenever Imam Malik (rahimahullah) would mention the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), the colour of his face would change, out of reverence. This was the same for Muhammad ibn al-Mundhir, Ja’far as-Sadiq, Imam az-Zuhri, Imam Qatada the exegete, and many other tabi‘un. One of the prime reasons why we read, write and reflect upon the noble character traits of the Sahabah and pious predecessors is so that we may inculcate the same qualities and noble characteristics in ourselves; so that we may also attain the mercy and blessings of Allah Ta‘ala, and be resurrected among them, and honoured with their company in Jannah.
The article can be accessed here.