We believe that Allah, the Exalted, chose the Companions of His Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and made them the best among His servants, after the prophets (peace be upon them), and He mentioned their traits and praised them in the Torah and the Gospel. Allah, Glorified be He, says: {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are firm against the disbelievers and compassionate among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking Allah’s grace and pleasure. Their distinguishing sign is on their faces from the effects of prostration. Such is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is like that of a seed that sprouts its shoot, then makes it strong; then it grows thick and stands straight on its stem, which delights the sowers – so that He may enrage thereby the disbelievers. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness and a great reward.} [Surat al-Fat'h: 29] Allah, Exalted be He, mentions His pleasure with them. He Almighty says: {As for the first forerunners of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in righteous deeds, Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them gardens under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the supreme triumph.} [Surat at-Tawbah: 100]
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that the noble Companions are the best generation ever. ‘Abdullāh reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "Who are the best among people?" He said: "My generation, and then those next to them, and then those next to them." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (6658), Muslim (2533), At-Tirmidhi (3859), and Ibn Mājah (2362)]
We believe the Muhājirūn (the Immigrants) are more meritorious than the Ansār (the Helpers) (may Allah be pleased with all of them). Hence, Allah Almighty mentions the Muhājirūn first in His Book, in the verse cited above, and also praises them in the verse that reads: {For the poor emigrants [there is a due share] who were driven out of their homes and their properties, seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure, and helping the cause of Allah and His Messenger. It is they who are the truthful.} [Surat al-Hashr: 8]
About the Ansār, Allah, the Exalted, says: {As for those who were settled in the city [of Madinah] and embraced Islam before them, they love those who migrated to them, and find no covetous desire in their hearts for what they were given. Rather they give them preference over themselves even though they may be in dire need. Whoever is protected from the covetousness of their souls, it is they who are successful.} [Surat al-Hashr: 9]
We believe that the best people within this Ummah, after the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), are Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) in this order; and their order in merit is like their order in assuming the caliphate.
We testify for the ten Companions given glad tidings of entering Paradise, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) testified for them, saying: "Abu Bakr will enter Paradise, ‘Umar will enter Paradise, ‘Uthmān will enter Paradise, ‘Ali will enter Paradise, Talhah will enter Paradise, Az-Zubayr will enter Paradise, ‘Abdur-Rahmān ibn ‘Awf will enter Paradise, Sa‘d will enter Paradise, Sa‘īd will enter Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāh will enter Paradise." [Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (3747), Ahmad in Al-Musnad (1675) and in Fadā’il As-Sahābah (278), and Ibn Abi ‘Āsim in Al-Āhād and Al-Mathāni (232)]
We believe that the people of Badr have such a merit that no one else possesses. In a Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Who knows, perhaps Allah has looked at the people of Badr and said: 'Do whatever you like, for I have forgiven you.'" [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3007), Muslim (2494), Abu Dāwūd (2650), and At-Tirmidhi (3305)]
Mu‘ādh ibn Rifā‘ah ibn Rāfi‘ az-Zurqi related that his father, who had participated in the battle of Badr, reported: Jibrīl came to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "How do you estimate the people of Badr amongst you?" He said: "(They are) among the best Muslims." Or he said a similar statement. Thereupon, he said: "And so are the angels who participated in Badr." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3992)]
We also testify for the people of the Ridwān pledge of allegiance as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) testified for them, saying: "There will not enter Hellfire anyone of those who gave the pledge of allegiance under the tree." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd (4653), At-Tirmidhi (3860), Abu al-Jahm in his Juz’ (1), Ahmad (14778), and An-Nasā’i in Al-Kubra (11444)] And we affirm that they obtained a remarkable gain with this pledge of allegiance about which Allah Almighty says: {Those who pledge allegiance to you [O Prophet] are indeed pledging allegiance to Allah; Allah’s Hand is over their hands.} [Surat al-Fat'h: 10] We know that Allah Almighty bestowed His pleasure upon them, saying: {Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you [O Prophet] under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down tranquility upon them and rewarded them with an imminent victory.} [Surat al-Fat'h: 18]
We believe that Allah Almighty endowed the Prophet's household with particular merits and rights. So, we are required to love them, show loyalty to them, and observe their rights. One of their rights set by our Lord is the fifth of the war spoils. Moreover, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to invoke Allah's blessings upon them along with our invocation for him. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Say: O Allah, bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed Your peace upon Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious; and bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed Your blessings upon Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious."
One of their merits is mentioned in the verse that reads: {O wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women: if you fear Allah, do not be complaisant in your speech, lest those with sickness in their hearts should be moved with desire; but speak in an appropriate manner. Stay in your homes and do not display your charms as was done in the former days of ignorance; establish prayer and give Zakah; and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only intends to keep evil away from you, O members of the [Prophet’s] household, and to completely purify you.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 32-33] Allah Almighty also says: {The Prophet has a greater claim over the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 6]
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) went out one morning wearing a striped cloak of the black camel's hair. Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali came, and he wrapped him under it; then Al-Husayn came, and he wrapped him under it along with him; then Fātimah came, and he wrapped her under it; then ‘Ali came, and he wrapped him under it; then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: {Allah only intends to keep evil away from you, O members of the [Prophet’s] household, and to completely purify you.} [Surat al-Ahzāb: 33]" [Narrated by Muslim (2424)]
Wāthilah ibn al-Asqa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, Allah chose Kinānah from the children of Ismā‘īl (Ishmael), chose Quraysh from Kinānah, chose Banu Hāshim from Quraysh, and chose me from Banu Hāshim." [Narrated by Muslim (2276)]
Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood up to deliver a sermon at a watering place known as Khumm situated between Makkah and Madīnah. He praised Allah, extolled Him, delivered the sermon, and exhorted us, and he said: "To proceed: O people, I am only a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Lord, and I will respond (to Allah's call). I am leaving among you two weighty things: the first is the Book of Allah, in which there is right guidance and light; so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it." He exhorted us to hold onto the Book of Allah and then said: "The second is the members of my household. I remind you of Allah with regard to the members of my family; I remind you of Allah with regard to the members of my family; I remind you of Allah with regard to the members of my family." [Narrated by Muslim (2408)]
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) recognized the rights and merits of the Prophet's family, so much that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the Prophet's relatives are dearer to me to uphold their ties than to uphold the ties of my relatives." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3508) and Muslim (1759)]
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade people from cursing his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them); he said: "Do not abuse my Companions, for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud, it would not be equal to a mudd spent by one of them, or half of it." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3673), Muslim (2541), Abu Dāwūd (4658), and At-Tirmidhi (3861)] The noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out that loving the Ansār is a sign of faith and hating them is a sign of hypocrisy. He (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The sign of Imān (faith) is love of the Ansār, and the sign of hypocrisy is hatred of the Ansār." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (17), Muslim (74), and An-Nasā’i (5019)]
Sa‘īd ibn Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, an incident which one of them would witness along with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), in which his face would be covered with dust, is better than the deeds one of you would do during all his lifetime, even if he was granted the lifespan of Nūh." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd (4650)]