The Sahabat: What made these stars shine so brightly?
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Creator: Mahvash Chaudhri
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Identifier: http://www.islamworld.net/sahaba.html
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Subject: companions
Title: The Sahabat: What made these stars shine so brightly?
Created on: Wed Jan 09 15:10:45 -0500 2008
Updated on: Wed Jan 09 15:10:45 -0500 2008
Version: 1
Abstract: ... be seen in the sahabi, Hanzala Al-Ghaseel. At the call to fight in the Battle of Uhud, Hanzala was just newly married, and he left his wife's bed immediately. He did not even spare the time for ghusl, and he ran to Al-Jihad. On the Battlefield he found his way to the idolator leader, Abu Sufyan, and had almost killed him, when Allah wrote his martyrdom. Hanzala was killed by Shaddad bin Al-Aswad. The Sahabat took great responsibility in their learning; they did not recite the Quran for acquiring culture, information or knowledge, enjoyment, or to solve any problems. They recited the Quran only for finding out what Allah (swt) had ordained for their lives, both individually and collectively. At the most they would recite ten verses, memorize them and then act upon them. As they looked to the Quran as an instruction of action, they also achieved remarkable levels of spiritual fulfillment and of knowledge. Continuing on this path, responsibilities became innate; their personalities became live examples of faith (Qutb, 13-14). BELIEF IN HEREAFTER The sahabat loved and felt a strong responsibility towards Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw). Their sense of responsibility, however, was founded upon their unshakable belief in the akhirah. Each of their dunya actions, whether large or small, were determined by the effect they would bring about upon the book that they would receive on the Day of Judgement. They knew that they would have to account for all of their deeds in front of Allah (swt). They also knew that their actions were paving their future destination (either towards Jannah or towards Jahannum). Thus, they had to rush to do good deeds so that they could attain the everlasting beauty of Jannah, and remain far from the unimaginable punishment of Jahannum. Allah (swt) says of them that they were even skeptical of the acceptance of their good actions: "… who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities, etc., have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord" (26:30). With such firm belief in the life to come, the Sahabat took the pains of this life lightly. The Quranic injunctions in regards to their personal conduct, worldly possessions, families, etc… were all new for them, but they were so ready in surrendering to Allah (swt) unquestionably that the difficult became easy for them because they were complying to the orders, and they knew of the reward that the Lord held for their efforts. Thus, when they had attained the highest pinnacle of moral development and become proof against the inducements of Satan and of their own baser self, when they had learned to prefer the future good to the immediate good and had been transformed into lovers of the Hereafter even while living in this world, when neither poverty could be a barrier in their path nor could riches make them vain, when they had become meek, yet unbending before power, and when they had come to be the dispensers of justice among men even though it might go against themselves, their own kith and kin, God made the whole world subservient to them and appointed them the Defenders of the Faith (Nadwi, 54). They knew that the weight of such afflictions was nothing in comparison to that of the hereafter. Such firm belief molded individuals who took lightly and in some cases even became completely indifferent to the hardships of life. Allah (swt) gave them the reward of being the leaders of this deen. An unmatchable reward waited for them in the akirah. The abode where they were to reside in forever and ever. A FRESH REVELATION Besides the belief in Allah (swt) and the Prophet (saw), the strong sense of responsibility, and the firm belief in the hereafter, the Sahabat had the blessing of living at the time of the Quran's revelation. They were the first receivers of the Message, and they obtained it in stages at the appropriate turns in life. At their times of trial, Allah (swt) sent to them a forceful message of support and encouragement. The Quran would inspire and arouse the believers to remain strong in their paths of endurance. Allah (swt) would remind of the fact that if one struggled in His Path and faced hardship, then He would help. "Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, 'When (will come) the Help of Allah?' Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" (2:214). Additionally, the test would come in every kind of situation, so as to determine if the individual strives continuously in placing his Lord above himself. The sahabat had the greatest of tests and the pains they experienced purified them by increasing their ability of self sacrifice. Allah (swt) says: "Alif-Lam-Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: 'We believe', and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test)" (29:1-3). The noble companions modeled their lives after the pure Quran. It was the only source from which they quenched their thirst, and it is this factor that made them distinct individuals in history (Qutb, 12). They had an untainted version of the Quran, which the Prophet (saw) did not allow any other source to be mixed with. For example, Umar (ra) brought some pages from the Torah to the Prophet (saw), and the latter was displeased, and said, "By Allah, even if Moses had been alive among you today, he would d have no recourse except to follow me." The companions desired to implement the injunctions of the Quran immediately. A prime example is that of Abu Talha (recorded in Bukhari), who was the wealthiest among the Ansar. Out of his date-orchards, his favorite was the one located in front of Masjid-I-Nabwi. Upon the revelation of (3:92), "By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love," Abu Talha went to the Prophet (saw). Abu Talha gave his favorite wealth - this orchard - in the Cause of Allah. The Prophet (saw) advised him to distribute it amongst his most needy relatives, which he did immediately. The sahabat experienced the Quranic revelation in front of their very eyes; they would see the Prophet (saw) break into sweat, after which the Prophet (s... [Full Article...]
