The superiority of the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings)

Quran and Prophetic narrations of the superiority of the companions of the Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) please continue reading:


“God has turned towards the Prophet and the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of difficulty, after the hearts of a part of them well-nigh swerved aside; then He turned towards them; surely He is Gentle to them, and All-compassionate.”
The Repentance 9:117

“God was well pleased with the believers when they were swearing oath to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquillity upon them, and rewarded them with a manifest victory.”
Victory 48:18

“And the Outstrippers, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in good-doing -- God will be well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him; and He has prepared for them gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein to dwell forever and ever; that is the mighty triumph.”
The Repentance 9:100

“It is for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their habitations and their possessions, seeking bounty from God and good pleasure, and helping God and His Messenger; those - they are the truthful ones. And those who made their dwelling in the abode, and in belief, before them; love whosoever has emigrated to them, not finding in their breasts any need for what they have been given, and preferring others above themselves, even though poverty be their portion. And whoso is guarded against the avarice of his own soul, those - they are the prosperous.”
Exile 59:8-9

“God has sent down the fairest discourse as a Book, consimilar in its oft-repeated, whereat shiver the skins of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of God. That is God’s guidance, whereby. He guides whomsoever He will; and whomsoever God leads astray, no guide has he.”
The Troops 39:23

“Only those believe in Our signs who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and proclaim the praise of their Lord, not waxing proud. Their sides shun their couches as they call on their Lord in fear and hope; and they expend of that We have provided them.”
The Prostration 32:15-16

“Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least; That Allah may reward the true men for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He will, or relent toward them (if He will). Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” The clans 33:23-24

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, "The best of the people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them."
Bukhari 2652 and Muslim 2533

Three generations mentioned here the companions, the successors and the followers of the successors.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessing upon him) said, "When my Companions are mentioned then refrain." (Tabarani)

This is the best policy when the companions are mentioned in an disrespectful manner.

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, "Do not abuse my Companions, do not curse my companions. I swear by Him who possess my soul, that if any of you were to spend gold equal to (mountain of) Uhud in charity, it would not equal a few handfuls of one of them or even half of that." (Bukhari 5 and Muslim 221)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, "The sign of faith is love of the Ansar and the sign of hypocrisy is the hatred of Ansar." Bukhari and Muslim.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, "Whoever abuses my Companions, upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people." (Tabarani)

Abdullah ibn Mughaffal narrates that the Messenger of God (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “Allah, Allah, refrain from using bad language about my Companions! Allah, Allah, refrain from using bad language about my Companions! Do not make them a target of your attacks after me! Whoever loves them loves them on account for his love of me; whoever hates them; hates them on account of his hatred to me. Whoever hurts them hurts me; whoever hurts me “hurts” Allah.” (Tirmidhi 58, Ibn Hibban 9:189, Imam Ahmed 5:57)

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, “The Stars are a means of security for the heavens. When they are scattered, what was promised from the heavens fall. I am the means of security for the companions. When I leave the world, what was promised for my companions will befall them. My Companions are a means of security for my nation. When they leave the world, what was promised for my nation befall them.” (Muslim 207)

The Prophet (may Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings) said, "Allah chose me and choose for me companions then made from them ministers from the helpers and the Asshar (son in laws); whoever curses them has the curse of Allah, the angels and the people upon them. And Allah will not accept anything from them on the day of judgement." (Al-Haytami in Al-Mujama Az-Zawaid, Tabarani and Al-Hakim).

These are some Quranic passages and Prophetic narrations that speak about the virtue of the Companions. This is by no means the only list, this is just an attempt to remind our hearts about their virtues. Individual narrations about the virtues of particular Companions would be enough to fill this blog up!

For further reading about the companions read the section on the Companions (from p.369 onwards) in M. Fethullah Gulen’s book Muhammad the Messenger of God (my Allah bestow upon him peace and blessings). Also try Encyclopaedia of Muhammad's Women Companions by Sheikh Hisham Kabbani and The Companions of the Prophet by Abdulwahid Hamid, it’s in two volumes.

Imam Ahmad said, "If you see anyone speaking ill of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, doubt his Islam."

Also note that cursing the companions is a major sin but someone does not leave Islam by doing such a wretched thing. They are like a ballet dancer on a knife edge spinning on the spot! The rank of the companion is something no one can attain because this has already been decided.

(The picture is of the grave of the Companion Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) in Turkey.)