How Does the Qur’an Describe the Companions?

 

Ibn Hazm voices the opinion of many leading scholars: ‘All of the Companions will enter Paradise’.6 It is possible to find proofs in the Qur’an testifying to the truth of this opinion.

The Qur’an describes the Companions in the last verse of the sura al-Fath, as follows:

Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who are with him are hard against the unbelievers [they are implacable before them], merciful one to another. [They kept so long vigils that] you see them bowing, prostrating, seeking blessing, bounty (of forgiveness and Paradise) and good pleasure (of God). Their mark is on their faces, the trace of prostration. That is their likeness in the Torah, and their likeness in the Gospel: as a seed that puts forth its shoot, and strengthens it, and it grows strong and rises straight upon its stalk, pleasing the sowers, that through them it may enrage the unbelievers. God has promised those of them who believe and do deeds of righteousness forgiveness and a mighty wage [He will reward them in Paradise with the things that neither eyes will ever have seen nor ears heard]. (48:29)

The Qur’an again, describes them:

The Outstrippers, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in good-doing – God is well- pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him; and He has prepared for them gardens underneath which rivers flow, therein to dwell forever; that is the mighty triumph. (al-Tawba, 9.100)

Abu Hurayra never missed the discourse of God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings. He was always with him and stayed in the antechamber of the Prophet’s Mosque. He suffered hunger almost all the time. Once he went to God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, and told him that he had eaten nothing for days. Abu Talha took him as a guest but unfortunately there was little in his house to eat. However, he said to his wife, Umm Sulaym, ‘Get the children to sleep early at night, and put on the table whatever is in the house to eat. When we sit at the table, put out the candle pretending to make its light brighter. No one sees in the dark whether one is really eating or not. I will act as if I am eating, and thus our guest can satisfy his hunger.’

After the dawn prayer, God’s Messenger turned to them and smiled, saying: What did you do at that night? This verse was revealed concerning you:

Those who made their dwelling in the abode [Madina], and in belief, before them [the Emigrants] love whoever has emigrated to them, not finding in their breasts any need for what they have been given, and preferring others above themselves, even though poverty be their portion. Whoever is guarded against the avarice of his own soul, those – they are the prosperous. (Al-Hashr, 59.9)7

Again, we read in the Qur’an concerning the Companions:

God was well-pleased with the believers when they were swearing fealty to you under the tree, and He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down peace, calm and tranquility upon them, and rewarded them with a nigh victory. (al-Fath, 48.18)

The Companions swore many oaths of allegiance to God’s Messenger that they would do their utmost to protect him and carry, by God’s Will, Islam to ultimate victory. They kept their promise at the cost of all their belongings and lives. Most of them were martyred in the battles either during the life of the Prophet himself or in conveying Islam as far as possible during the reigns of succeeding Caliphs. It is still possible to find in almost every part of Muslim lands tombs where several Companions are buried. Also, they brought up numerous scholars in the fields of religious knowledge – jurisprudence, Tradition, Qur’-anic interpretation, and also in social sciences like history and the biography of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings. In the words of the Qur’an,

Among the believers are men who were true to their covenant with God; some of them have fulfilled their vow by death, and some are still awaiting, and they have not changed in the least. (al-Ahzab, 33.23)

 

6. I. Hajar, 1.10.

7. Bukhari, “Tafsir,” 59/6.

 

This article has been adapted from Risale- i Nur Collection.