THE PLACE OF FAHMUS SAHAABAH

(RADIALLAHU ANHUM)
The Understanding of the Sahaabah
(Companions of the Prophet)
May Allah Be Pleased With Them
A response to an inquiry

Abdul-Qaadir Abdul-Khaaliq

Some brothers here are not very clear on the concept of "Sahaabah's understanding" which I think is called in
Arabic; "Faham-us-Sahaabah". To put their arguments in an nutshell, these brothers reason by saying, that the
Qur'aan and the Sunnah are enough for the proper practice and implementation of one's Islaam, Sahabaah's
understanding is NOT a condition/requirement for the correct practice of our deen. They say that they (the
Companions) were men after all and they were not protected from error and wrong conclusions and judgments on
matters pertaining to the deen, therefore we are not obliged/required to follow their
understanding/Ijmaa/opinions/conclusions etc, on any given matter pertaining to the Deen.
In the light of the above brother, have you got any material which explains and deals with this subject, to my
limited info I am not aware of any book/article which deals with this subject in a detailed method, at best some
books may just make some brief comments on this subject without really explaining WHY one should accept the
understanding of the Companions(r), and its significance in the Shareeah, etc.
We would really appreciate any knowledge you could impart/disseminate to us in regards to this very vital
subject, the Faham-us-Sahaabah.
There are several books on this subject, mostly in the Arabic language. I will mention the basic argument and
premise for the requirement of looking at the understanding of the companions and their actions and opinions as
an argument in many cases and an example in general. I will then list the textual proofs for this premise and any
English source I can dig up for your reference, in shaa Allah.
The issue should actually be a simple one to understand. However, it has implications that pose problems for
anyone who may lean toward a type of "modernist" thinking and/or are confused about how to apply Islam in its
pristine purity to the times we are currently living in. Obviously if one states that we must in principle adhere to
the way of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and that of the first generations, a modernist will think, "O
my goodness. They are telling us to go back to riding donkeys! Throw away all our modern conveniences. Wear
those old clothes!!!" Well of course this is an extreme but it does reflect the type of misconceptions that people
have, not only about following the actions or understanding of the sahaabah (radiallahu 'anhum), but the
confirmed sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam).
There are numerous statements in the Qur'aan and from the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) that are used as
a basis by the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah to prove the necessity of looking to the Qur'aan, the sunnah (which
provides indispensable details not given in the Qur'aan), al-ijmaa' - the believers (i.e. the companions) specifically
the khulafaa ar-raashidoon (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Ali radiallahu 'annhum) and the wives of the Prophet
(sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) especially 'Aisha)and that point to the superiority of the first three generations of
Muslims (i.e. the companions, the taabi'een, the taabi' tabi'een).
I will assume you are already familiar with the basis of Islamic Law (i.e. Al-Qur'aan, As-Sunnah, Al-Ijmaa'
(consensus), Al-Qiyaas (analogy)). Al-'Ijmaa is indeed the consensus of the companions first and foremost. It is
not merely the consensus of the four schools of thought. Remember that historically, the four schools developed
after the passing of most of those first generations. Who indeed did the Muslims then refer back to as a clarifying
authority? Indeed, who did the great imaams refer to in order to come to many of the rulings that comprise their
madhhabs? They looked to the sources mentioned above although some did not rely or agree upon analogy to the
same extent if at all (See Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips Evolution of the Madhhabs).

WHY IT IS CRUCIAL TO LOOK AT THEIR UNDERSTANDING

Now the rationale behind the necessity of looking to the understanding or actions of the sahaabah, in addition to
the textual proof, which I will relate some of later, is the fact that since the companions were the closest to the
Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) they indeed best exemplified how men and women should implement

Islam. This point is actually not in dispute except among the extremists among the Shia who call most of the
companions apostates. A dangerous concept which may or may not be in the minds of the brothers you referred
to, but that is nevertheless present, is that "Since they were men like us and subject to error, we can be just as
correct as they were if not more because now we have more knowledge of science, geography etc. that they did
not possess." Another famous misstatement and misconception is that "The companions (as-Salaf) were more
religiously correct (ahkam) while those in latter times are more knowledgeable ('alam)."! The two statements
betray a great lack of understanding, and are contradictory and ultimately evil whether intended to be or not.
For one, if we were to agree that the companions were less authoritative or not superior in deen than those today
because of their lack of certain worldly sciences then we for one contradict what Allah has stated about them and
what His Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) has said of their great merit. Second if we were to state that they
were "less knowledgeable" then we actually have redefined the definition of knowledge in Islam. They cannot at
all assert with any real proof from the Qur'aan or the authentic sunnah that knowledge outside those two sources
(i.e. the Qur'aan and Sunnah) is of greater value or considered the most important type of knowledge. A standard
slogan of the modernist is that the 'scientists are the ulamaa! They go so far as to reinterpret the verse of the
Qur'aan that states: "Verily those who fear Allah most are the 'ulamaa." by saying it refers to the scientists and
not scholars of religion. This is in obvious contradiction to the facts of history or day to day reality and is often
espoused by those Muslims who quite frankly, suffer from a serious inferiority complex due to the lack of
development that has characterized their own countries and the state of the Muslim ummah in recent eras. It also
contradicts the most reliable and trusted commentaries of the Qur'aan that are based upon the statements of the
Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) and his companions. A lot of this type of thinking stems from the modernist
movements in Islam that flourished at the beginning of this century - and that is another story.
If we were to agree that the companions were merely superior in religion and not intellectually equal or greater to
those who came later, then we would not be distinguishing between intellect and knowledge as far as science or
geography, medicine, astrology etc. at that time as opposed to times later while some of the companions were no
doubt of the highest intellect and even geniuses. This also implies that their religion was not complete. It
additionally implies that anyone who is not "scientifically" knowledgeable has a shortcoming in his or her deen.
Where do they come off making such statements? Or are they ignorant of the implications of their words? Where
has Allah or His Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) characterized a lack of "scientific" knowledge as a
religious shortcoming? You see brother, this fundamental issue is actually tied with greater issues if one thinks
about it deeply and that is precisely why so many Muslims shun religious education in favor of "secular"
education and put far more emphasis on their children being doctors, engineers, scientists etc. than being
knowledgeable of their deen. But ask yourself, "If a man was the biggest genius and had all the knowledge it was
possible for a man to know but still disbelieved in Allah, would it save him from Hellfire?" (Someone needs to
put that one to Stephen Hawking)
The companions are the salaf (predecessors) of the ummah and were the best of men in every way. Yes, they were
of varying levels of knowledge and they did make mistakes. As the Muslims are the middle/balanced nation of the
nations of the world, Ahlus-Sunnah is the middle/balanced group among the sects of Muslims whom the Prophet
(sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) mentioned would number 73. Therefore, we do not mention their differences or
slips with the intention of blaming them, nor do we say they were infallible. We do not defame or censure them as
their sins are forgiven nor do we make them into saints that we cannot even think of looking into their actions or
discriminate between them in merit. The scholars of hadeeth for example, had to look into the character and
memories of the reporters of those hadeeth as a criterion for their verification. We hold that the best of the ummah
were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali - in that order - and we do not say that they disliked each other or cheated
each other or envied each other or that some of them even apostatized as the extreme Shiites say, or that some had
secret knowledge not given to others as do some Sufis.

The sahaabah were the closest and most beloved people to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam).
When they were mistaken he (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) corrected them or they corrected each other after his
death. Whatever he (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) ordered them, they obeyed. Whenever a dispute arose between
them they took it to Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam). They were utterly devoted to him
and were ready to sacrifice themselves and all they had for the sake of Allah and love of his Prophet (sallallahu
'alaihi was sallam) and upon their shoulders was the weight of establishing the deen for all mankind to come after
them and they indeed fulfilled that great mission (radiallahu 'anhum ajma'een). Remember they were the
transmitters not only of the hadeeth but the Quraan itself after the death of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam). The deen of Islam rested upon their shoulders! Their judgements and actions are a proof in religion
especially if there is not a clear statement or action of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) on a particular
matter. Their actions or statements do not however take precedence over those of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi
was sallam). Yes, they are indeed our examples after the Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi was sallam) and are most
admirable because they were men like us. However, how many of us come anywhere near them in practice and
piety and could we imagine being in their place? Allahu Akbar!

PROPERLY APPLYING THEIR UNDERSTANDING

A problem arises when misapply the principle of following the sahaabah (radiallahu anhum). For example, we
may look to the action or understanding of a sahaabi and use it as an argument to do the same or similar thing
today without also understanding the circumstances or the principle upon which the sahaabi acted. In that case,
we may misapply an action, attribute it to a companion, let the world know it and when people react badly to us
they will in turn misunderstand and think that the companion was at fault! For example, we know that the
companions were hard against innovations (bid'ah) and we should all agree that bid'ah is misguidance and in the
Fire and should be avoided at all cost due to its harm upon the individual and the ummah as a whole. So we may
read how a companion once started to pluck his underarm hair in the midst of a group of innovators to humiliate
them and show how they had strayed from the sunnah and to remove the hairs under the arm was the sunnah and
more worthy and honorable than what they were doing. So knowing this, a brother goes to the biggest masjid in
his hometown where they are having their dhikr circle and he takes off his shirt and starts plucking his underarm
hair. He is subsequently thrown out of the masjid, arrested, and labeled as mentally imbalanced! The people also
do all they can to avoid anyone who was known to be in that brother's company or anyone who looks like him
from that point on. They won't want to hear anything that any other guy with a beard or pants over his ankles has
to say! In other words, because of a misapplication of the action of a sahaabi and not taking into consideration the
circumstances or understanding the principle, the brother turns people away from the sunnah instead of toward it.
May Allah grant us knowledge and wisdom, ameen.
The following are just some of the statements used as evidence from the Qur'aan and sunnah to support what we
have summarized. There are innumerable statements of the scholars and pious men over the ages up until now in
this regard that cannot be fit into a single article. I would suggest that you and all of us sit with the men of
knowledge whenever possible and do our utmost to learn the details of our religion so that we are neither shaken
nor made to doubt any aspect of it, and may Allah reward you.
Whoever opposes the Prophet after the right way has been clearly shown to him, and follows other than
the believers way [i.e. the companions], we shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell,
and what an evil destination. [Soorah An-Nisaa 115]
Among the believers (i.e. the companions) are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah and
showed not their backs to the disbelievers, of them some have fulfilled their obligations and some of them are
still waiting, but they never changed (i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they
concluded with Allah) in the least. [Al-Ahzaab 33:23]

The best of the people are my generation, then those after them, then those after them. [Al-Bukhaaree]

Adhere to my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided Khulafaa', bite on to it with your molar teeth
and beware of newly invented matters, for verily every innovation (bid'ah) is going astray. [Ahmed]
Let none of you slander my companions. For Him in whose Hand is my life, 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. [Al-Bukhaaree]
My ummah will split up into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Fire except one and it is the Jamaa'ah.
It was said 'Who are they O Messsenger of Allah?' He replied, "That which I and my companions are upon
today." [At-Tirmidhee

Leave my companions and do not speak about them except good. [Ahmed]

Follow the example of those two after me, Abu Bakr and Umar [Ahmed, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah saheeh]
Follow the example of those two after me, Abu Bakr and Umar and be guided by the guidance of
Ammaar, and whatever Ibn Masood tells you accept it. [Musnad Abu Yala saheeh]
These are just some of the proofs and arguments to what is actually a long and detailed discussion found in the
books of fiqh and manhaj and I pray it was somewhat sufficient as an answer the question and may Allah reward
you. May Allah forgive us for our errors.

1999
References: A Glimpse At The Way Of The Companions, Al-'Aqeedah Al-Wasitiyyah, Evolution of the Madhhabs,
The Hadeeth Is Proof Itself In Belief And Laws, An Introduction To The Science Of Hadith, Al-Shafi'i's Risala