The Companions and the Prophet's family
Who the Companions (Sahabah) are, the four Rightly Guided Caliphs in their order, and the honour owed to the Prophet's ﷺ household.
After the prophets, the people Allah honoured most are the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ companions, called the Sahabah. A Sahabi is someone who met the Prophet ﷺ, believed in Islam, and died still believing. The Sahabah are greater than every other Muslim, and they deserve our respect and admiration.
A Muslim must believe that the Prophet's ﷺ companions are the best people after the prophets, and that the four Rightly Guided Caliphs rank in the order they became caliph: Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthman, then Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).
1234567The Prophet's ﷺ family is also very special and deserves great respect: his children and his wives. Among his children, his daughter Fatimah Zahra holds the highest honour. Among his wives, Khadijah al-Kubra and Aisha Siddiqa hold the highest respect. His grandsons, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain, are deeply honoured too, and are called the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
A Muslim must love and honour the Prophet's ﷺ family: his children, above all Fatimah; his wives, above all Khadijah and Aisha; and his grandsons Hasan and Husain, the leaders of the youth of Paradise (may Allah be pleased with them all).
1234567Speaking badly of any of the Prophet's ﷺ companions or family is a serious sin. Always think well of them and say "may Allah be pleased with them" when you mention them.
123After the prophets, the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ companions (Sahabah) are the most honoured people. The Sahabah are those who met the Prophet ﷺ while having faith in Islam, and who passed away as believers. They are greater than all other Muslims and saints, hold high ranks of honour, and deserve respect and admiration.
| Caliph | Note on rank |
|---|---|
| Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) | First caliph; the highest-ranking of all the companions; after the prophets, his rank is the greatest. |
| Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA) | Second caliph; holds the highest rank after Abu Bakr. |
| Hazrat Uthman Dhun-Nurayn (RA) | Third caliph; holds the highest rank after Abu Bakr and Umar. |
| Hazrat Ali Murtaza (RA) | Fourth caliph; holds the highest rank after the first three. |
These four hold honour in the same order in which they became caliph. Together with six other companions, they were promised Paradise by the Prophet ﷺ; the ten together are known as the Asharah Mubasharah ("The Ten Blessed Companions").
It is a matter of faith that the Sahabah are the most honoured people after the prophets, above all other Muslims and saints, and that the four Rightly Guided Caliphs rank in the order of their caliphate: Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Uthman, then Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all).
1234567The family of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his children and his wives, is likewise special and deserving of respect. Among his children, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (RA) holds the highest honour; among his wives, Hazrat Khadijah al-Kubra and Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (RA) hold the highest respect. His grandsons, Hazrat Imam Hasan and Hazrat Imam Husain (RA), are also deeply honoured and are called the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
Love and honour for the Prophet's ﷺ household is a matter of faith: for his children, foremost among them Fatimah Zahra; for his wives, foremost among them Khadijah al-Kubra and Aisha Siddiqa; and for his grandsons Hasan and Husain, the leaders of the youth of Paradise (may Allah be pleased with them all).
1234567Disrespecting any of the Prophet's ﷺ companions or family members is a major sin. They are to be mentioned with "may Allah be pleased with them" and held in good regard.
123After the anbiyāʾ, the Ṣaḥābah of the Prophet ﷺ hold the highest honour among people. A Ṣaḥābī is one who met the Prophet ﷺ believing in Islam and died upon that belief. The Ṣaḥābah surpass in rank every other Muslim and every walī, and are owed reverence and admiration.
| Caliph | Rank |
|---|---|
| Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq (RA) | First caliph and the highest-ranking Ṣaḥābī; after the prophets his rank surpasses all creation. |
| ʿUmar al-Fārūq (RA) | Second caliph; ranks highest after Abū Bakr. |
| ʿUthmān Dhū'n-Nūrayn (RA) | Third caliph; ranks highest after Abū Bakr and ʿUmar. |
| ʿAlī al-Murtaḍā (RA) | Fourth caliph; ranks highest after the preceding three. |
Their mutual precedence follows the order of their caliphate. Together with six further Ṣaḥābah they are al-ʿAsharah al-Mubashsharah, the ten given the specific glad tiding of Paradise by name.
Belief that the Ṣaḥābah surpass in rank every other Muslim and every walī, and that al-Khulafāʾ ar-Rāshidūn rank in the order of their caliphate, Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān, then ʿAlī (raḍiya'llāhu ʿanhum), is incumbent on every Muslim.
1234567The Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet ﷺ, his offspring and his spouses, likewise command singular honour. Among his children, Fāṭimah az-Zahrāʾ (RA) holds the foremost rank; among his wives, Khadījah al-Kubrā and ʿĀʾishah aṣ-Ṣiddīqah (RA) hold the foremost rank. His grandsons, al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn (RA), are honoured as sayyidā shabāb ahl al-Jannah, the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
Love and reverence for the Ahl al-Bayt is incumbent on every Muslim: for the Prophet's ﷺ offspring, foremost Fāṭimah az-Zahrāʾ; for his spouses, foremost Khadījah al-Kubrā and ʿĀʾishah aṣ-Ṣiddīqah; and for al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn, sayyidā shabāb ahl al-Jannah (raḍiya'llāhu ʿanhum).
1234567Disparaging the Ṣaḥābah or the Ahl al-Bayt (sabb aṣ-ṣaḥābah) is a grave sin and forbidden. They are mentioned with raḍiya'llāhu ʿanhum and held in good regard throughout.
123This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 372 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
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After the prophets, the Prophet Muhammad’s companions (Sahabah) are the most honored people.
1. The Sahabah are those who met the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) while having faith in Islam, and they passed away as believers.
2. The Sahabah are greater than all other Muslims and saints, and they have high ranks of honor. They deserve respect and admiration.
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The Four Great Sahabah, or “Rightly Guided Caliphs” (Khulafa-e-Rashideen)
Among all the companions, the four most honored are the “Rightly Guided Caliphs.” They are:
1. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) - He was the first caliph and is the highest-ranking among the companions. After the prophets, his rank is the greatest.
2. Hazrat Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) - He was the second caliph and holds the highest rank after Abu Bakr.
3. Hazrat Uthman Dhun-Nurayn (may Allah be pleased with him) - He was the third caliph and holds the highest rank after Abu Bakr and Umar.
4. Hazrat Ali Murtaza (may Allah be pleased with him) - He was the fourth caliph and holds the highest rank after the first three caliphs.
Note 1: These four companions have honor in the same order in which they became caliphs.
Note 2: These four companions and six other companions were promised Paradise by the Prophet. Together, they are known as the “Asharah Mubasharah” or “The Ten Blessed Companions.”
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The family of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is very special and deserving of respect. This includes his children and his wives.
1. Among his children, Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (may Allah be pleased with her) holds the highest honor. Among his wives, Hazrat Khadijah al-Kubra and Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with them) hold the highest respect.
2. Hazrat Imam Hasan and Hazrat Imam Husain (may Allah be pleased with them), the Prophet’s grandsons, are also deeply honored and are called the leaders of the youth in Paradise.
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Every Muslim should have love and respect for all of the Prophet’s companions and family members. When mentioning them, one should say “may Allah be pleased with them.” It’s important to keep good thoughts about them, as disrespecting them is a big sin.
Terms on this page
Related
- Belief in the angels What a Muslim believes about the angels, their nature, and the four angels of the highest rank.
- Belief in the prophets, and the life of the Prophet ﷺ What a Muslim believes about the prophets and their miracles, and a brief account of the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Jannat al-Baqi, Masjid Quba, and other places to visit in Madinah The graves in the Baqi graveyard, the martyrs of Uhud, and the historic mosques of Madinah, including Masjid Quba.
- Saints, jinn, and further matters of belief Sainthood (wilayah) and the miracles of saints (karamat), seeking a means of approach (wasilah), why no one is exempt from the sacred law (Shariah), the jinn, why we exist, and following a school of law (madhhab) and a Sufi teacher.