The Sahaba & Sahabiyya – MPAC Nigeria

“Do not curse the Companions, for by the One in Whose hand is my soul, if any one of you spent the equivalent of Mount Uhud in gold, he would not attain the level of any one of them, or even reach half way.” Narrated by Sa’eed Al-Khudri, Sahih Al-Bukhari #3673. Also narrated by Abu Hurairah, Sahih Muslim #2540

The Sahaba (female: Sahabiyya) were the companions of the Prophet (). They are described in glowing terms by him () as the following hadith from Sahih Muslim (Book 30, Number 6159) shows:

Narrated by Aisha:
A person asked Allah’s Apostle () as to who amongst the people were the best. He said: Of the generation to which I belong, then of the second generation (generation adjacent to my generation), then of the third generation (generation adjacent to the second generation).

The Prophet () was also reported to have said about his companions: “My Companions are like stars. Whomsoever from amongst them you follow, you will have acquired guidance.” and “As regards my Companions, fear Allah, fear Allah. Don’t make them the target of reproach after me. So, whoever loves them, he would love them on account of his love for me, and whoever shows enmity towards them would do so on account of his being an enemy to me.”

Mothers of the Believers (The Prophet’s Wives)

Aisha bint Abu Bakr

The life of Aisha is proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is proof that a woman can exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and leadership. Her life is also proof that the same woman can be totally feminine and be a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband.

She did not graduate from any university as there were no universities as such in her day. But still her utterances are studied in faculties of literature, her legal pronouncements are studied in colleges of law and her life and works are studied and researched by students and teachers of Muslim history as they have been for over a thousand years.

The bulk of her vast treasure of knowledge was obtained while she was still quite young. In her early childhood she was brought up by her father who was greatly liked and respected for he was a man of wide knowledge, gentle manners and an agreeable presence. Moreover he was the closest friend of the noble Prophet who was a frequent visitor to their home since the very early days of his mission Read more on Aisha (RA) and other wives of the prophet ().

The Sahaba/Sahabiyya (Prophet Companions)

1. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, `Atiq ibn Abi Quhafa, Shaykh al-Islam, `Abd Allah ibn `Uthman ibn `Amir al-Qurashi al-Taymi (d. 13), the Prophet’s intimate friend after Allah, exclusive companion at the Prophet’s Basin (hawd) and in the Cave, greatest supporter, closest confidant, first spiritual inheritor, first of the men who believed in him and the only one who did so unhesitatingly, first of his four Rightly-Guided successors, first of the ten promised Paradise, and first of the Prophet’s Community to enter Paradise. More>>>

2. Umar Ibn Al-Kathab (RA)

As a child, Umar used to graze the animals under his charge in the grazing ground Dajnan, about ten miles from Mecca. When Umar became the Khalifa, he happened to pass through Dajnan. Turning to his companions he said:

“Gracious heavens! There was a time when I used to roam about this desert as a camel-herd, wearing a felt jacket, and whenever I sat down tired my father beat me. Now the times have changed. There is now none save God as my superior.”

Among the Quraish of those days, reading and writing was not in vogue. In spite of that Umar received education in reading and writing. It is related that among the Quraish of Mecca only seventeen persons could read and write, and Umar was one of them. That has to be acknowledged as a great attainment. Umar’s father was an authority in tracing genealogies. Under the guidance of his father, Umar also acquired matchless skill in the matter of the study of pedigrees. Umar knew intimately as to who was who among the Quraish. He was also well versed in the knowledge of the history of Arabia. More>>>

3. Uthman Ibn Affan (RA)

Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Affaan al-Qurashi (RA) was an illustrious Sahabi of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). He was born in Makkah 47 years before the Hijrah. Of noble lineage, wealthy and extremely handsome, he accepted Islam at the hands of Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) shortly after the Nubuwwah (Prophethood) of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). He was thus among those people regarding whom Allah declares: ‘Allah was pleased with them and they with Him.’ He was also honoured with being a scribe of Wahy (revelation) for Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) for some time. He was the third Khalifah of Islam and one of the distinguished Asharah Mubashsharah whom Nabi Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) informed would enter Jannah. He was one of the chief counsellors and sincere confidants of the previous two khalifas, Abu Bakr and Umar (RA). More>>>.

4. Ali Ibn Abu Talib (RA)

`Ali ibn Abi Talib `Abd Manaf ibn `Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn `Abd Manaf, Abu al-Hasan al-Qurashi al-Hashimi (d. 40), Amîr al-Mu’minîn, the first male believer in Islam, the Prophet’s standard-bearer in battle, the Door of the City of Knowledge, the most judicious of the Companions, and the “Possessor of a wise heart and enquiring tongue.” The Prophet nicknamed him Abu Turâb or Father of Dust. His mother was Fatima bint Asad, whom the Prophet called his own mother and at whose grave he made a remarkable intercession. He accepted Islam when he was eight, or nine, or fourteen, depending on the narrations, but it is established from Ibn `Abbas that he was the first male Muslim after the Prophet, Khadija being the first Muslim. He was killed at age fifty-eight. From him narrated Abu Bakr, `Umar, his sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn, Ibn `Abbas, `Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, and countless others. More>>>

5. Abdullah ibn Masud (RA)

When he was still a youth, not yet past the age of puberty, he used to roam the mountain trails of Makkah far away from people, tending the flocks of a Quraysh chieftain, Uqbah ibn Muayt. People called him “Ibn Umm Abd”–the son of the mother of a slave. His real name was Abdullah and his father’s name was Masud.

The youth had heard the news of the Prophet who had appeared among his people but he did not attach any importance to it both because of his age and because he was usually far away from Makkan society. It was his custom to leave with the flock of Uqbah early in the morning and not return until nightfall.

One day while tending the flocks, Abdullah saw two men, middle-aged and of dignified bearing, coming towards him from a distance. They were obviously very tired. They were also so thirsty that their lips and throat were quite dry. They came up to him, greeted him and said, “Young man, milk one of these sheep for us that we may quench our thirst and recover our strength.” more >>>

Below is a partial list of some of the companions of the Prophet (). Their lives remain a source of inspiration for the later generations of Muslims, including today’s. May Allah be pleased with all of them.