Verses and Hadeeth that Cause People Confusion–2
By Zayd bin Muhammad Al-Madhkhalee (may Allah preserve him)
Question: Noble Shaykh, how do we merge the meaning in the ahaddeth mentioning the virtue of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) with these following Ahadeeth; The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “ The one who worships Allah during the time of fitnah will receive the reward of one hundred companions.” And in another narration the reward of fifty companions is mentioned. Also the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,” Tuba for the person who saw me, and believed in me. Tuba, Tuba, Tuba, for the person who believed in me although he didn’t met me”?
Answer: The superiority of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to those who succeed them is established in the Quran and Sunnah. The mentioned reward and supplication from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) doesn’t contradict the companions’ status and nobility.
Those hadeedth only furnish evidence of a great reward for clinging to the truth during the last days. The days when great evil will be widespread throughout earth, and people will be wicked. Those hadeeth don’t even suggest that the person adhering to the right path during the last days is better than the companions in virtue. The companions’ nobility and high status can never be reached by anyone who succeeds them.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ,” …if one of you spent (in the way of Allah) the equivalent of mount Uhud in gold, it would not reach a handful nor half a handful of what they spent (you will never reach their value).” (Al-Bukhari)
Taken from Al-‘Iqdul Munaddul Jadeed fil Ajwabati ala Mas’il fil Fiqhe wa Manahj wa Tawheed . Vol 1 page 186
Translated by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar 1431 ©