From Allâh's mercy and kindness to His servants and from His
favor upon them is that He sent to them a Messenger from
amongst themselves, to convey to them the Message from their
Lord, to guide them to everything that benefits them, and to warn
them from everything that harms them.

Indeed the Prophet () fulfilled his duty of conveying the Mes-
sage in the most complete and perfect of manners - he directed

his Ummah towards every good, and he warned them against
every evil.
Allâh chose for accompanying him and taking knowledge from
him a people who are the best of this nation, which is itself the

best of all nations. Allâh honored them by allowing them to ac-
company His Prophet (). He favored them in this worldly life

by giving them the opportunity to see him and hear his hadîth
directly from his noble mouth. This is the bounty of Allâh which

He bestows upon whom He wills, and Allâh possesses the great-
est of bounties.

Indeed the Companions conveyed from Allâh's Messenger ()
that which he was sent with from guidance in the most complete
and perfect form. They will have the greatest of rewards due to
their companionship of Allâh's Messenger (), their fighting in
Jihâd along his side, and their noble actions in spreading Islâm.
And they will also accumulate the rewards of those who come
after them since they served as the intermediaries between them
and Allâh's Messenger (). This is due to his () saying:
“Whoever calls towards guidance, he will have a reward
equal to the reward earned by those who practice that

guidance after him, and it will not reduce anything from
their reward.”1
This hadîth has been related of the Prophet () by Muslim in his
Sahîh. Allâh praised the Companions in His Mighty Book, and
the Messenger of Allâh ( praised them in his purified Sunnah,
and this is enough for them as a virtue and honor.
Allâh says:
“And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirîn
and the Ansâr and also those who followed them in
goodness, Allâh is pleased with them and they are
pleased with Him. Allâh has prepared for them gardens

under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein for-
ever. That is the supreme success.” [Sûrah At-Tawbah:

100]
And He says:
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allâh. And those who
are with him are severe against the disbelievers, merciful
towards one another. You can see them bowing and
prostrating (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allâh and
(His) Good Pleasure. Their marks (of Faith) are on their
faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration. This is
their description in the Torah. But their description in
the Gospel is like that of a cultivated seed, which sends
forth its shoot, then makes it strong and becomes thick,
and it stands straight on its stem, pleasing the farmers,
that he may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allâh has
promised those among them who believe and do good

1 Sahîh Hadîth: Reported by Muslim (2674), Abu Dawûd (4609), At-Tirmidhî
(2676), Ibn Mâjah (206) and others.

deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward.” [Sûrah Al-Fat'h:
29]

In Allâh's saying concerning the Sahâbah, “...that he may en-
rage the disbelievers with them,” is the severest ruling, the

harshest threat and the worst of warnings for those who are en-
raged by the Sahâbah or those who have some hatred for them in

their hearts.
Allâh says:
“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought
before the Victory (Treaty of Hudaybiyah) [i.e. they are
not equal to those who came after the Victory]. They are
higher in degree than those who spent and fought (in
Allâh's Cause) afterward. But to all, Allâh has promised
the best reward. And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.”
[Sûrah Al-Hadîd: 10]
Concerning the distribution of war-booty, Allâh says:
“(And there is also a share in this booty) for the poor
emigrants who were expelled from their homes and
properties, seeking bounties from Allâh and looking to
please Him, and helping Allâh and His Messenger.
These are the truthful ones. * And (it is also) for those

who before them, had homes (in Madînah) and then ac-
cepted the Faith (Islâm). They are the ones who love

those who migrated to them, and they have no jealousy
in their hearts for that which they (Muhâjirîn) have been
given (of booty from Banu Nâdir). Instead, they give
them preference over themselves even though they had
more of a need for it than them. And whoever guards
himself from his own miserliness, then these will be the
successful. * And those who come after them say: ‘Our
Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who 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.’ ” [Sûrah Al-Hashr: 8-10]
The first of these three ayât from Surat Al-Hashr is in reference
to the Muhâjirîn (the Sahâbah who migrated from Makkah to
Madînah). The second ayah refers to the Ansâr (the Sahâbah who
resided in Madînah who helped and took in the Muhâjirîn). The
third ayah refers to those who will come after the Muhâjirîn and
the Ansâr, who seek Allâh's forgiveness for them and ask Him

not to put hatred in their hearts for them. There is nothing be-
yond these three groups except for one who deserts (them) and

falls into one of the traps of the Devil. This is why 'A'ishah ()
told 'Urwah Ibn Az-Zubair concerning the condition of some of
those who deserted and were forsaken: “They were commanded
to seek forgiveness for the Companions of Allâh's Messenger (),
but they (instead) reviled them.”

 Rulings regarding Eid and some common errors relating to it.