THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH
The Sahabah are the foundation of this
Deen and were the first to
propagate it. They acquired the Deen from Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
and conveyed it to
us. They were the blessed group whom Allaah Jalla jalalahu had
chosen to be the companions of His beloved Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam They are
therefore most worthy of
being role models, whose example deserve emulation.
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood used to say,
"Anyone wishing to follow the (religious) ways of another should follow the ways of
those who had already left the world, namely the companions of Rasulullaah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
who were the best
people of this Ummah. Their hearts were pure, their
knowledge deep and pretentiousness (showing-off) was non-existent in their
lives. Allaah Jalla jalalahu has selected them to be the companions of Rasulullaah SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam and
to propagate HisDeen. You should thereforeacknowledge their virtue and
distinction. Follow in their footsteps and adopt their character and lifestyles
with all your strength because they were the ones on the path of guidance." ^
To understand the life of Rasulullaah SallallahuAlaihi Wasallam, it is only the
lives of the Sahabah that can be used as a criterion because they were
the fortunate group who benefited most from the lamp of Nabuwaat. The inspiring
rays from the sun of Nabuwaat shone directly on them without any screen. It is
impossible for
anyone after them to acquire the warmth of Imaan and the
spiritual illumination that they received. It was only the assembly of the Sahabah that the Qur'aan pays tribute to by declaring that Allaah ; is pleased with them, they are pleased with Him, and that they were rightly guided
people as well as guides for others. It is because of this that the Ummah has always
been unanimous about the fact that all the Sahabah without
exception were reliable and trustworthy. Any matter on which they all agreed is regarded
as an authoritative
law in the Shari'ah. Anyone who rejects their virtuousness
falls outside the fold of Islaam......................
(from foreword of book hayatus sahaba )
