Indeed Allaah تعالى made the Sahaabah an example for those after them

The Sahaabah showed us the principles that one should adopt while believing in the matters of Unseen.

They showed us the way to true servitude. 

They showed us that pure hearts are the ones that easily submit.

When desires prevail, truth becomes obscure.

The Sharee`ah is complete and perfect for all times and places till the coming of the Hour.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Hadeeth of al-Dajjaal the Companions asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: How long would he stay on the earth? The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝For forty days, one day like a year and one day like a month and one day like a week and the rest of the days would be like your days.❞ We said: Allaah's Messenger, would one day's prayer suffice for the prayers of day equal to one year? Thereupon he ﷺ said: ❝No, but you must make an estimate of time (and then offer the prayers).❞

[Saheeh Muslim (7015)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

The length of his (the Dajjaal’s) stay on the earth will be forty days only, one day will be like a year, and one day like a month, and one day like a week, and the remaining days will be like the ordinary days of ours. This is what the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had conveyed. The Companions رضي الله عنهم said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Will one day’s prayer suffice us in this day which will be like a year? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝No, but you must make an estimate of time (and then offer the prayers accordingly).❞

Look at this exemplary behavior; we should learn a lesson from it – how they, the Companions, confirmed and complied with everything which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم informed them about? They did not go about distorting the meaning, or misinterpreting it, or saying: “It is not possible for a day to grow longer because the Sun runs in its orbit and it does not change. It may (seem) long due to the hardships and the great (trials) involved on that day. Its length may be because it will be a difficult (day).” The Companions never misinterpreted it in such a way like how some wiseacres do. Rather, they believed that the day will really be equal to twelve months, without Tahreef (distorting the meaning) or Ta’weel (misinterpreting it). Such is the reality of the Believer; he becomes submissive to everything that Allaah and His Messenger report of the Unseen, even if he cannot comprehend it. So it is a must to know that Allaah and His Messenger’s reports never contain something that is illogical/impractical, rather it (may have) what mystifies the human mind, due to its lack of apprehension.

[TN: The Belief of the Sahaabah was different from belief of Ahl al-Kalaam (people of theological rhetoric), the Ash-`arees, the Jahmees, the Mu`tazilees and their likes from the deviated sects.

Whenever the Sahaabah heard something from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, they would be in the state of سمعنا وأطعنا (we hear and we obey). They believed in whatever was conveyed to them about the matters of the Unseen (al-Ghaib) and the future events. They did not doubt the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم or questioned his truthfulness. Apart from this Hadeeth, another great example was set by Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq رضي الله عنه, who was the first one to believe in al-Israa wal-Mi`raaj (the Prophet’s night journey to Jerusalem and his ascension to the Heaven), while the people were belying the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He said: “If Muhammad had said it, then it is the truth.”

Unlike the deviants, who used their logic to accept or reject a Text pertaining to the matters of the Unseen. If it conformed to their logic, they accepted it. But if it was not in conformity with their logic or when they could not comprehend it, they either denied it completely, or distorted its meaning, or misinterpreted it.

Moreover, the Companions did not bother with the “how” of it. They did not question the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about how a day will become like a year, or a month, or a week; because the moment they heard it from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, they believed it straight away. So their main concern was not “how” the day will fold, but rather, they were concerned with “how” they should carry about their acts of worship during those days. They were more concerned about their actions. This is true servitude.

These are the principles which the Sahaabah رضي الله عنهم أجمعين taught us - that in the matters of the Unseen, and especially in the matters pertaining to Allaah’s Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes – we believe in them without Takyyeef (describing the HOW of it), without Tamtheel (equating it with the creation), without Tashbeeh (comparing it with the creation), and without Ta`teel (denying it), and without Tahreef (changing its meaning).]

But as for those who came afterwards, those who claim to be the real “intelligent” ones, were they to come across this Hadeeth, they would say: “The length mentioned here is a metaphorical one (i.e. it is only a figure of speech). (It will seem long) only because of the difficulties and hardships involved on that day. As the days of happiness are short and the days of hardship are long.”

Whereas the Companions رضي الله عنهم, due to the purity (of their heart) and their (readiness) for acceptance, submitted on the spot. (They would say): “The One who created the Sun, and made it run (in its orbit) in twenty-four hours in a day and night*, is also capable of making it run in a day (the length of which) is twelve months; for the Creator is One and He عز وجل is capable of doing it.” Thus they submitted (willingly) and said: “How should we pray?” They did not ask about the universal event because they knew that Allaah تعالى has power over all things. Rather, they asked about the Shar`ee (religious) duties that they have been ordered to fulfill and that is the Salaah. This is, By Allaah, true Inqiyaad (submission) and Qabool (acceptance). And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied to them saying: ❝you must make an estimate of time (and then offer the prayers accordingly).❞

If one were to contemplate, he will find that the Deen is completed and perfected. Till the Day of Judgment, there will be no issue for which the people need guidance except that they will find the basis for it (in the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم). Don’t you see how Allaah تعالى made the Companions to speak and ask this question? So that this Deen is perfected and is not in need of completion (by anyone else thereafter). The people now are in need of this (ruling), especially those living near the poles, where the nights are for six months and then the days are for six months. They are in need of this Hadeeth. See how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave the ruling even before this thing happened. As Allaah تعالى said in His Book:

﴿الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا﴾

{This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion.} [Surah al-Maaidah (5): 3]

By Allaah! If we were to contemplate on this phrase: {I have perfected your religion for you}, we will never ever find any deficiency in the Deen. It is perfect from every angle. Rather, the deficiency is in us – either shortcomings in our intellect, or understanding, or knowledge. So whenever one only wants to support his statement, then the truth will be concealed from him. We ask Allaah for our wellbeing.

If one were to look (into the Sharee`ah) with knowledge, and understanding, and insight, and good intention (and sincerity), he would find that the Deen is not in need of anyone else to perfect it (as it has already been completed and perfected by Allaah during the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) – and all praise is for Allaah alone. There is not a situation (or an issue) – big or small – except that he would find its solution in the Book and the Sunnah.

But when the desires increase and prevails over many people, it causes the Truth to become obscure and concealed from them. So when some specific incident occurs amongst them, which might not have happened before in the exact manner – but there precedes an incident of a similar nature – you will (still) find them differing more (in numbers) than the fingers (on their hands); this is because the desires have prevailed over the people nowadays. Otherwise, if one were to have sincere intention, clear understanding, vast knowledge, and great insight, such things would not happen.

[Sharh al-Mumti` of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (3/194-196)]

*[TN: Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen and Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمهم الله were of the opinion that the Sun revolves around the earth.]