Respecting the Companions

The ruling regarding those who disrespect the Companions.

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There are many ahaadeeth that describe the great merits of the Companions.
The Prophet ﷺ sternly warned people not to curse them, abuse them or make fun of them.
There is a clear hadeeth that describes how the presence of the Companions & is a source of security for the Muslim Ummah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his head towards heaven as he always used to do and said,

النجوم أمنة للسماء فإذا ذهبت النجوم أتى السماء ما توعد ، وأنا أمنة لأصحابي فإذا ذهبت أتى أصحابي ما يوعدون ، وأصحابي أمنة لأمتي فإذا ذهب أصحابي أتى أمتي ما يوعدون (مسلم)

“The stars are a source of security for the sky. And when the stars go, what has been promised will come to the sky. And I am a source of security to my Companions. And when I go, what has been promised will come to the Companions. And my Companions are a source of security for my Ummah. And when my Companions go, what has been promised will come to my Ummah.” (Muslim)

What has been promised for the Ummah after the Companions is bid’ah and the division of the Ummah into sects. This hadeeth points to the fact that the existence Companions protected the religion of Islam, held the people together and prevented any bid’ah from being introduced into the religion.
This hadeeth proves that the Companions must be respected and loved. In no way should they be disrespected, abused or made fun of. This is because all the Muslims coming after the Companions learned the religion from them.
Disrespecting the Companions is equal to hating those who Allah ﷻ trusted to record the Qur’aan and transmit ahaadeeth. Disrespecting the companions is also a sign of disregarding and rejecting the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ .
The pious predecessors never disrespected the Companions. In fact, they always praised them.
Examples of pious predecessor praising the Companions are Imaam Aboo Dawood and Imaam Maalik.
Aboo Dawood said that the Companions & had sincere intentions and did righteous deeds. All those who looked at them liked their appearance and conduct.
Imaam Maalik was told that those Christians who saw the Companions in Ash-Shaam commented that they were better than the Disciples of ‘Eesaa
The Companions were mentioned in an honorable way in the previously revealed Divine Books as the best and most honored members of the Muslim Ummah. Allah ﷻ mentions how He has prepared a great reward for them because of the high level they reached in Islam.
However, there are many ahaadeeth that mention the great merit of the Sahaabah. In both Saheeh al-Bukhaari and Saheeh Muslim, there are chapters written about the excellence of these and other Companions. The following is a hadeeth that mentions who the Prophet ﷺ loved the most. ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas said:

«فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ قُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ قَالَ أَبُوهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَن قَالَ عُمَرُ فَعَدُ رِجَالًا، (البخاري ومسلم)

I came to him (the Prophet ﷺ) and said: “Who is the most beloved person to you?” He said, “Aa’ishah.” I asked, “Among the men?” He said, “Her father.” I said, “Then who?” He said, “Then ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab.” He then named other men. (al-Bukhaari & Muslim)

This hadeeth shows how dear ‘Aa’ishah, her father Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab were to the Prophet ﷺ . He loved them more than any other person on the face of the earth.
If people claim to be true in their love of the Prophet ﷺ , then they should also love the Com- panions. Allah ﷻ used the Companions to preserve the religion of Islam. Hating them goes against all the teachings in the Qur’aan and the authentic sunnah of the Prophet.

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