STATUS OF THE NOBLE COMPANIONS رضي الله عنهم

By 

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

Truly, the Companions of the Prophet رضي الله عنهم were not equal to the preceding prophets of Allah عليهم السلام. They were not even anywhere near them. However, what made them personalities of the best generation of human beings on earth was their close relationship with the best of mankind (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) and their exemplary conducts. They did not only join hands with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to establish an ideal society and a model of an Islamic state based on sound 'aqeedah and manhaj, they occupied precious place in the heart of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم with their collective and individual qualities. Regarding these noble people, Allaah says:

(وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ)

"And (as for) the foremost (in spiritual rank, outstripping others in faith and righteous actions) and the first (to embrace Islam) from among the Emigrants and the Helpers and those who followed their example in the best possible manner, Allâh is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him, He has provided for them Gardens served with running streams (to keep them green and flourishing). They will abide therein forever. That indeed is the most sublime achievement". [Surat At-Tawbah 100]

If you really know who the Sohaabahs رضي الله عنهم are, you will not undermine the position they occupy as far as Islaam is concerned. So, if you think any of your Shuyuukh is better than these people in sight of Allaah, you may need to examine yourself properly. That your ideology is fundamentally defective and lack basis in the Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. 

According to one of the scholars,

وهم خير خلق الله بعد نبيهم** بهم يقتدي في الدين كل من اقتدى

"They are the best of Allaah's creatures apart from the prophets, they are the best anyone can follow in the affairs of the religion"

This is the simple logic behind the guidance of practising Islaam according to the Sunnah based on the understanding of the salaf us-saalih. We owe ourselves the duty to continue to explain the path of Sunnah and manhaj salaf in different ways so that many Muslim can understand that Da'watus Salafiyyah is not a movement or strange phenomenon. It was neither founded by Ibn Taymiyyah nor Muhammad Ibn 'Abdilwahab رحمهم الله as some people ignorantly claim. It was not also a creation of Nasruddeen Al-albaaniy or Ibn 'Uthaymeen or Ibn Baaz رحمهم الله. Sticking to the path of the Companions رضي الله عمهم is an integral part of Islaam with numerous evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah. The Sunnah and the Manhaj Salaf is nothing but a means of liberating the Muslim Ummah from the inevitable tribulations. In the popular of hadith 'Irbaad ibn Saariyah رضي الله عنه, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

"‏ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا عَرَفْتُمْ مِنْ سُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ 

"I urge you to adhere to what you know of my Sunnah and the path of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, and cling stubbornly to it with your side teeth" [Sunan Ibn Maajah].