Devotion Beyond Comparison

 

Sahaba is the Arabic word for “Companions”. In Islam, the term “Sahaba” is used often to refer to the companions of our Prophet (pbuh). The companions are the people who lived during the time of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and witnessed his conversations.

As a matter of fact, the word “Sahaba” shaped and found its real meaning by the acts of Companions. It means devotion, determination, being the shining and also guiding star in the sky, fighting against disbelief in solemnity, sacrificing all belongings for the sake of Allah and Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh).

Were they the regular people or regular Muslims like us? Or what made them so special in the history of Islam? Can anyone reach to the same degree of the Sahaba? What made them that unique to be honored in the Quran by being mentioned too many times?

A person can reach to a perfect level in religion, but it is still impossible for him to act like Sahaba or feel like them, or carry the same responsibility. Sahaba were not like the regular people, they carried many special attributes. That they sacrificed a lot for Islam and played a major role in the establishment and laying the foundations of Islam made them so important and special. They are also honored in the Qur’an. Some of their names are mentioned in the Qur’an. There are some precise proofs showing us the reasons of their success.

Master Bediuzzaman enlightens us from a good perspective with the following sentences; “The conversation of the Prophet is such an elixir that someone who experiences it for one minute receives lights of reality equivalent to years of spiritual voyaging. For in conversation there is reflection and a being coloured. It is well-known that through reflection and following and imitating, and through the Sublime Light of Prophethood, a most high level may be reached.[1]“ This example shows that it is not enough for anyone to reach to the top without facing him once in his life.

On the other hand “The Companions cannot be reached in regard to virtuous actions, good deeds, and virtue pertaining to the hereafter. Because, just as in certain conditions in a frightening and important position, a soldier may gain in one hour’s watch the virtue of a year’s worship, and by being hit by a bullet may rise in one minute to a station similar to a degree of sainthood which can only by gained in at least forty years, so too, the Companions’ service in the establishment of Islam and propagating the decrees of the Qur’an and their declaring war on the whole world for Islam was so elevated that others cannot reach one minute of it in a year.”[2]

Consequently these two points clearly shows us that there are various aspects that our Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) declared his companions as the shining stars in the sky. They experienced the conversation of our prophet (pbuh). And they helped him and they help the cause of Allah in the hard times. They also dedicated themselves to the path of Allah so devotedly. Some left his family behind, some left his/her wealth, some witnessed even the murder of their mother and father in front of his eyes, and some fought against his brother in the war. No matter what happened, they didn’t leave the cause, they continued to walk on this path determinedly and devotedly. They stuck to it and Allah made the way for them. He opened windows for His servants. They are not like regular people. They are not like us. And this is also true, we cannot be like them. We cannot reach them in many aspects since we are not in those times and we cannot experience the conversation of our prophet; but as Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also says; “We can be their brothers/sisters. We can be their little brothers/sisters.” We can stick to Islam and we can take the Sahaba lives as models for ourselves as our prophet states in His hadith: “My companions are like (guiding) stars. Whomsoever you follow, you will be guided (on the right path).”

 

[1] Risale-i Nur Collection-The Words / 27th Word

[2] Risale-i Nur Collection-The Words / 27th Word

 

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