Know the Companions – Introduction

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Everyone loves to know about the lives of the people who accompanied the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم – who saw, spoke and learned from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم – who ate, drank, travelled, and fought with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم – who sacrificed their wealth, lives and families for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and Islaam. They were the best of people, after the Messengers and Prophets عليهم الصلاة والسلام, to walk on the face of the earth. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The best people are those living in my generation, then those coming after them, and then those coming after (the second generation).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Very little is known about the Companions to the non-`Arabic speaking communities. Even though there are many books about the biographies of the Sahaabah, in the market and over the internet, for the English speaking people. Still, these books lacked a few things, which as students of knowledge, we ought to know.

The following were the main reasons for undertaking the task of translating the biographies of some of these companions:

1. Encouragement: Some time back, my Shaikh Muhammad al-Malky حفظه الله, started the duroos on “Buloogh al-Maraam” of Ibn Hajr al-`Asqalaanee. And from what he learned from his teachers was to give a brief description about the narrators. So in following their footsteps, he would, before beginning the Hadeeth, mention a brief biography of the Companion who was the narrator of that Hadeeth. There are five things that he would particularly concentrate on: a) The Companion’s name, b) When they accepted Islaam, c) their merits and virtues, d) the time of their death, and e) the number of Ahaadeeth they reported.

Acting on these guidelines, I chose to combine and translate four books:

“Siyar `Alaam al-Nubalaa’” of al-Dhahabee.

“Al-Isaabah fee Tamyeez al-Sahaabah” of Ibn Hajr al-`Asqalaanee.

“Usud al-Ghaabah fee Ma`rifat al-Sahaabah” of Ibn al-Atheer.

“Al-Isti`aab fee ma`rifat al-As-haab” of Ibn `Abdul Barr.

I began with those Companions who narrated the most Ahaadeeth; and al-Hamdulillaah, have managed to translate 10 of them to date. Inshaa-Allaah, the translation of the other Companions will follow accordingly.

2. Storybooks: Most of the books available are in the form of storybooks or novels. The authors tend to write in such a way as if they were actually present there when such things were happening. They try to mention the minutest of details as if all this happened right before their eyes. So, in order to assist their work, they exaggerate. And this is well known amongst the story-tellers. The more one exaggerates, the more the people are willing to listen to him.

I tried to avoid all this, and stuck with the general task of only translating the works, except that I tried to organize them topic-wise, which was not there in the original reference books.

3. Authenticity: With exaggeration comes inaccuracy. Moreover, in the field of Hadeeth, the Muhaddith took great pain and care to identify and separate the authentic Ahaadeeth from the unauthentic ones. But the ones who engaged themselves with collecting “Seerah” (biographies) only, did not pay much attention to the authenticity of such narrations. They would gather and write all that they know, irrespective of its authenticity.

During the process of the translation, I have tried my best to check and separate the authentic narrations from the unauthentic ones. For that, I have mostly relied on the works of Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله. So whatever could be verified as Saheeh or Dha`eef were marked accordingly. Some of the weak narrations were excluded from the translation while the others were still maintained. Then there were narrations which could not be verified, but they too were still maintained. So, not everything in this translation is authentic. But at least, the authentic narrations can be identified from the unauthentic ones.

4. Bipartisanship: A lot of books and other materials over the internet, especially in the English language disparage some of the Companions, especially Mu`aawiyah and those who were with him, like `Amr bin al-`Aas رضي الله عنهم اجمعين. Take for example the book: “Men around the Messenger.” The author of this book tried to defame Abu Dharr, `Amr bin al-`Aas, Abu Moosaa al-Ash`aree and Mu`aawiyah رضي الله عنهم. Then there are those who did not even feel shy to defame `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه. And Allaah’s help is sought.

As for us, our `Aqeedah is that all the Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم were `Adool (just) and Sudooq (truthful). We do not revile anyone of them, nor do we mention them except in goodness.

Whatever took place between `Alee, Mu`aawiyah and some of the other Companions, رضي الله عنهم اجمعين, then we remain silent about this. They will get twice the reward for their correct judgments and decisions, and they will still be rewarded for their incorrect decisions. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “If a judge gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is correct (i.e. agrees with Allaah and His Apostle's verdict) he will receive a double reward, and if he gives a verdict according to the best of his knowledge and his verdict is wrong, (i.e. against that of Allaah and His Apostle) even then he will get a reward.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

Those who speak ill of the Sahaabah, speak ill about Allaah and His Messenger. For verily, Allaah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم were pleased with them; but these evildoers were and are not.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allaah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mudd or even a half Mudd spent by one of them.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Haafidh `Abul Qaasim ibn `Asaakir has documented in Tareekh Dimashq that Imaam al-Nasaa’i was asked about Mu`aawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyaan رضي الله عنه. His reply was: “Islaam is like a house with a door. The door of Islaam is the Sahaabah. Whoever speaks ill of the Sahaabah seeks but to harm Islaam, just like one who knocks on a door to enter a house. As for Mu`aawiyah, whoever speaks ill of him seeks to find a way to speak ill of the Sahaabah.” [Tahdheeb al-Kamaal, vol. 1 p. 338-339]

And we have been instructed by Allaah to seek forgiveness for them:

{(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking bounties from Allaah and to please Him, and helping Allaah (i.e. helping His religion – Islamic Monotheism) and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Such are indeed the truthful (to what they say).

And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madeenah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Banû An-Nadeer), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.

And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.} [Surah al-Hashr (59): 8-10]

The first of these three aayaat is in reference to the Muhajireen (the Emigrants – who migrated from Makkah to Madeenah). The second ayah refers to the Ansaar (the Sahaabah who already lived in Madeenah and helped and accommodated the Muhaajireen). The third ayah refers to all those who will come after the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar till the day of Judgment, seeking Allaah’s forgiveness for them, and asking Allaah not to put hatred in their hearts for them. There is nothing beyond these three groups except for one who deserts them and falls into the trap of the Devil.

This is why `Aaishah رضي الله عنها explained to `Urwah bin al-Zubair the condition of some of those who deserted them and thus were forsaken: “O son of my sister! The Muslims were commanded to seek forgiveness for the Companions of Allaah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم but they reviled him.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Abu Zur`ah said: “If you see a man seeking to belittle anyone amongst the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, then know that he is a Zindeeq (heretic). This is because according to us the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم is true and the Qur’aan is true. And the only ones who brought this Qur’aan and the Sunan to us are the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger. They only wish to disparage and demolish our witnesses so that they can nullify the Book and the Sunnah, whereas they are more deserving of being disparaged for they are the Zanaadiqah (heretics).” [Taareekh Baghdaad (38/132)]

With this I would like to conclude that a lot of care was taken to translate the works, but still some typos might have crept in. It is advised to the readers that if they find some mistake to point it out for correction.

Whatever mistakes are there are from me and Shaitaan, and all goodness is from Allaah alone.

وصلى الله وسلم وبارك وأنعم على نبيينا وحبيبنا وقدوتنا محمد بن عبد الله وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين