Sahaba-Sayings Of Imams

“Bismillahir Rahmannir Raheem”Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was Salaatu was- Salaamu ‘Alaa Sayidinaa Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa Asabihi Ajma ‘een (tauheed- risalat- ahkirat and islam-iman-ihsan)

ESTEEM STATUS OF SAHABA(RA) FROM THE WORKS OF GREAT PERSONALITIES

Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahu Llah (d. 150 A.H) states: We only mention the Sahaba with goodness Sharh al Fiqh al Akbar pg. 85

Nobody engaged in battle against ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu except that ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu was closer to the truth in that regard. If ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu did not interact with them in such a manner then nobody would have known how to react in an instance when there is a clash between Muslims. Manaqib Imam-e A’zam vol. 2 pg. 83-84

Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahu Llah (d. 150 A.H), Imam Abu Yusuf rahimahu Llah (d. 182 A.H) and Imam Muhammad rahimahu Llah (d. 189 A.H). 

“…and we love all the Sahaba of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. We do not go to the extreme in our love for any one of them nor do we discard any of them. We abhor anyone who harbours hatred or speaks ill about them. We only refer to them with goodness. Love for them is part of religion, Islam and piety. Hatred for them is tantamount to disbelief, hypocrisy and evil… Whosoever speaks well of the Sahaba of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, his wives and his family is free from hypocrisy. Al ’Aqidah al Tahawiyyah pg. 11-12

Imam Shafi’i rahimahu Llah states:Allah has kept our hands pure from such blood (which was spilt in the Battles of Siffin and Jamal), so we should also keep our tongues clean from it as well. Sharh al Mawaqif vol. 8 pg. 374, Maktubat Imam-e Rabbani letter: 251

Imam Al-Shaf’ee (may Allah be merciful to him) wrote in his book Al-Risalah:“The sahabah are superior to us in all knowledge, intelligence, faith, virtue, and every means through which knowledge or guidance is attained. Indeed, their opinion is more beneficial to us than our own is to us.” (Al-Fatawa; vol. 4, pp. 157-158)

Imam Malik rahimahu Llah (d. 179 A.H):Whosoever reviles the Sahaba should be disciplined. Whosoever says that any of the Sahaba, whether it be Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu, ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu, ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu, Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu or ‘Amr ibn al ’As radiya Llahu ‘anhu, were misguided should be executed. Whosoever is vulgar against any of the Sahaba should be severely punished. Rasaʼil Ibn ‘Abidin al Shami vol. 1 pg. 358

Maymuni reports that he heard Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal rahimahu Llah say:What is wrong with people that they speak ill about Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu? We beseech Allah for ease!” Then he said: “O Abu al Hassan! Whenever you see someone mentioning the Sahaba inappropriately, you should doubt his Islam.” 

Hassan al Basri rahimahu Llah (d. 110 A.H) says:These were battles that the Sahaba engaged in and we were not present. They were fully aware of all the circumstances relating to them and we are ignorant of that. We follow the Sahaba in whichever matter they were unanimous. We adopt silence concerning any matters about which they disputed. Jami’ al Ahkam al Qur’an by Imam al Qurtubi vol. 16 pg. 1322

Sheikh Mujaddid Alf-e Thani rahimahu Llah (d. 1024 A.H) states: The excellence of the companionship of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam supersedes all other virtues and accomplishments. It is for this reason that Uways al Qarni rahimahu Llah, who was the highest ranking Tabi’i, cannot reach the status of the lowest ranking Sahabi. Do not equate anything whatsoever to the status of the companionship of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Their iman was on account of the blessings of their companionship with Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. As a result of them witnessing the revelation descending they became eye-witnesses. Maktubat Imam-e Rabbani letter: 59

Sheikh ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani rahimahu Llah (d. 561 A.H) states regarding Sayyidina Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu:If I were to sit in the pathway of Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu and the dust from the hoof of the horse of Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu were to fall upon me, I would consider this as a means of my salvation  Imdad al Fatawa vol. 4 pg. 133

With reference to ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu engaging in battle against Talhah radiya Llahu ‘anhu, Zubair radiya Llahu ‘anhu, ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha and Muawiyah radiya Llahu ‘anhu; Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal rahimahu Llah has stated: “It is better to remain silent regarding all the conflicts, arguments and altercations which occurred between the Sahaba. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will free them from all these differences which occurred between them, as Allah states: “And We shall remove from their breasts any deep feeling of bitterness (that they may have). (They will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones. Ghunyat al Talibin pg. 77

Whosoever detracts from the footsteps of the pious predecessors, his efforts are wasted. Is it possible for a Muslim to stray from the footsteps of the pious predecessors? Qalaʼid al Jawahir fi Manaqib ‘Abd al Qadir pg. 41

In his commentary of Mishkat entitled- Mirqat, Mulla ‘Ali Qari rahimahu Llah (d. 1040 A.H) has quoted this statement of Imam Fakhr al Din al Razi rahimahu Llah (d. 606 A.H), which is the mark of distinction of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah:All praise is due to Allah, we the Ahlus Sunnah have boarded the ark of love for the Ahlul Bayt and we are guided by the stars of guidance which are the Sahaba. Thus, we are hopeful of attaining salvation from the terrors of the Day of Resurrection and from the trenches of the fire. We are hopeful of attaining that guidance which will make us deserving of the stages of Jannat and everlasting favours. Mirqat al Mafatih vol. 10 pg. 553

Al-Tahaawi said: “We love the Companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Nonetheless we do not go to extremes in the love of anyone of them, nor do we forsake anyone of them. But we hate him who hates them, and talks of them in an unseemly manner. As for us, we do not mention them but in good terms. Their love is religion, faith, and excellence. And their hatred is disbelief, hypocrisy and rebellion” [Al-Tahawiyah p. 689].

Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahu Llah (d. 728 A.H) writes: The Ahlus Sunnah befriend all the believers and they speak on the strength of knowledge and justice. They are not from among the ignorant, nor are they from among those who follow their whims. They are exonerated from the paths of both, the Rawafid and the Nawasib. They have a high regard for all the predecessors and acknowledge the lofty position, honour and virtue of the Sahaba. Together with all of this, they consider it necessary to fulfil the rights of the Ahlul Bayt, as has been established from the Shari’ah Minhaj al Sunnah vol. 1 pg. 165

Shaykh of Islam Ibn Taymiyah says in (Minhaj Al Sunnah) (1/306 – 307): “The Companions may do slight mistakes, sometimes they commit sins and they are not infallible but they do not lie deliberately against the Prophet (peace be upon him) and if anyone does, Allah reveals their plot.”

When I want to talk to allah I say prayers and when I want that he talk to me I recite quran- Hazrath Ali(ra)

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