CHAPTER 3: THOSE DISTINGUISHED BY CERTAIN QUALITIES – PART 2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, praised them for their unique characteristics:
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The most merciful of my Nation with my Nation is Abu Bakr; the strongest [in adhering to] Allah’s Religion is `Umar; the one with the most shyness is `Uthmaan; the best judge is `Ali ibn Abu Taalib; the most knowledgeable of the Quran is Ubayy ibn Ka’b; the most knowledgeable with regard to lawful and unlawful matters is Mu’adh ibn Jabal; the most knowledgeable with regard to inheritance is Zayd ibn Thaabit. Every nation has a custodian, and the custodian of this Nation is Abu `Ubaydah ibn Al-Jarrah.”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (3791) and Ibn Majah (155).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, affirmed their ingenious deductions:
Hanash ibn Al-Mu`tamir (a Follower; belonging to the generation following the Companions) reported that `Ali was in Yemen, they dug a hole trying to hunt a lion, and the lion fell in it. When they were overlooking the hole and crowding it, someone fell in. That person grabbed someone else, and that person grabbed someone else, and so on, until four people fell in the hole, and the lion wounded them while they were in there. One of them took a spear and killed the lion, and all of them died from their wounds. They differed over it so much so that they wanted to fight one another over it.
`Ali went to them and said: “Are you looking to fight, while the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is alive? I will judge between you, and if you agree, then that is the judgment, and if not, stop disputing with one another until you can go to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he can judge between you. Anyone who commits aggression after that will have no right. From the tribes that dug the hole, collect a fourth of the Diyah [blood money], a third of the Diyah, a half the Diyah and the entire Diyah.”
So he judged that the [rightful inheritors of the] first man should get a quarter of the Diyyah, the second a third of the Diyyah, the third a half of the Diyyah and the fourth the entire Diyyah. Some of them were pleased (with this judgment) while others rejected it. They took their dispute to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. When they went to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, they found him next to Maqaam (the station of) Ibraaheem (next to the Ka’bah) and told him what happened. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I will judge between you,” and sat down with his hands held around his knees. A man from them said: “Ali judged between us,” and they told him the story. The Messenger of Allah approved Ali’s judgment. (Reported by Ahmad (574).)
This is because the four men who were killed by mistake when the people crowded around the hole (to look at the lion) deserve the Diyah for being killed by mistake from those who were present. The first person who was killed, was killed because he was pushed down (and stepped on), but he caused the death of three others by pulling them down with him. He deserves the Diyah for being killed by mistake, but owes three-fourth of the Diyyah for the three whose death he caused. The second man deserves a third of the Diyyah but owes two thirds of the Diyah for the two whose death he caused. The third man deserves a half of the Diyah and owes a half because he caused the death of one man by pulling him down with him [so each of the three men pulled one man down with him, the first caused three men to die, the second two men and the third one man]. The fourth person deserves the entire Diyah because he did not cause the death of anyone.
Ibn Al-`Arabi said: “This is an ingenious deduction.”(Ahkaam Al-Qur’an (4/44) by Ibn Al-`Arabi.)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, paid close attention to his cousin, `Abdullaah ibn `Abbas, because he witnessed that he had attributes showing his distinction and intelligence:
`Abdullaah ibn `Abbas said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, hugged me to his chest and said: ‘O Allah, teach him wisdom.’”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (3756).)
In another narration, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to relieve himself, and he placed something for him to use to make ablution. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Who put this here?” When he was told, he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Allah, grant him understanding in the religion.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (143) and Muslim (2477).)
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was at the house of Maymoonah (the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Ibn ‘Abbas put some water for him to use as ablution at night, and Maymoonah said: “O Messenger of Allah, `Abdullah ibn `Abbas has placed this for you here.” He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Allah, give him understanding in the religion, and teach him the interpretation of the Quran.”(Reported by Ahmad (3024).)
Ibn `Abbas was one most famous exegetes of the Quran among the Companions, even though he was one of the youngest Companions. He was born three years before the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Madinah, and he accompanied the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, from a very young age. This is because he was closely related to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his wife Maymoonah.
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, died when Ibn `Abbas was thirteen years old.
His intelligence was manifest and the Commander of the Believers, `Umar knew that, so he would keep him close to him.
One of the distinguished Companions that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to give special care to was `Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood:
Ath-Thahabi (a scholar) said about him, “He was one of the foremost, and one of those who were superior in their knowledge.”(Siyar A’lam An-Nubala’ by Ath-Thahabi (1/461).)
He also said: “He was counted as being an intellectual, and a scholar.”(Siyar A’lam An-Nubala’ by Ath-Thahabi (1/462).)
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked him to read some parts of the Quran to him, and he read from the beginning of Chapter An-Nisa’.
`Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood said: “Once the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to me: ‘Read to me.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should I read to you while it has been revealed to you?’ He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Yes.’ So I started to read from Chapter An-Nisa’ until I reached this verse (which means): «So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and We bring you, [O Muhammad], against these [people] as a witness?» [Quran: 4:41] He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Stop here.’ When I looked at him, I found that his eyes were shedding tears.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (5050) and Muslim (800).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told people to learn the Quran from him saying: “Learn the Quran from four people: Ibn Umm `Abd [Ibn Mas’ood], Mu’adh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka’b and Saalim [Ibn Ma`qil] the servant of Abu Hudhayfah.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (3806) and Muslim (2464).)
Another individual whose memory was excellent was Abu Hurayrah:
Abu Hurayrah said:
“You all say that Abu Hurayrah reports many narrations from the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and you say, why do the Muhaajireen and Ansaar not report as much as Abu Hurayrah does? My brothers from the Muhaajireen were busy with their transactions in the markets, while I constantly accompanied the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while being content with whatever filled my stomach. I would be present when they were not, and memorized when they would forget. My brothers among the Ansaar were busy with their wealth, and I was a poor man from Ahl As-Suffah, and would remember when they forget.”
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to commend him for his keenness on learning:
Abu Hurayrah reported that he once said: “O Messenger of Allah, who will be happiest with your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?” The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded: “O Abu Hurayrah, I thought that none would ask me this question before you did, because of your keenness in acquiring narrations that I clearly see. The happiest with my intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those that said Laa Ilaaha Illaa Allah, while being sincere in saying that in their hearts.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari (99).)
Another of them was Ubayy ibn Ka’b:
As has preceded, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that the Quran should be learned from four people, and mentioned among them Ubayy ibn Ka’b. `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab said: “`Ali is the best judge among us, and Ubayy is the most knowledgeable in reading the Quran among us.”(Reported by Ahmad (20581).)
Among those who excelled at military strategy was Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed:
Abu Qatadah the knight of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:
“The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, sent the army of commanders [for the Battle of Mu’tah], and said: ‘Zayd ibn Haarithah is your commander; if Zayd is killed, then Jafar takes over, and if Ja`far is killed, then `Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah Al-Ansaari takes over.’
Ja`far stood and said: ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, I did not expect that you would appoint Zayd over me.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: ‘Proceed, because you do not know which is better for you.’
The army proceeded as much as Allah Willed, then the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood on the pulpit and ordered that the people be called to prayer. Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘I received good news, or something good happened. Should I not tell you about your army that has gone to war? They proceeded until they met the enemy, and Zayd was killed as a martyr, so ask Allah to forgive him.’
The people asked Allah to forgive him, then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued: ‘Then Ja’far ibn Abu Taalib took the flag and was very severe against the enemy, until he was killed as a martyr, so ask Allah to forgive him. Then, `Abdullaah ibn Rawaahah took the flag and was firm until he was martyred, so ask Allah to forgive him. Then, Khaalid ibn Al-Waleed took the flag, and he was not one of the commanders, but he put himself in that position.’
Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, raised his two fingers and said: ‘O Allah, he is one of Your swords, so grant him victory, or grant victory through him.’
Since then, he was called Khaalid the Sword of Allah. Then the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Go and help your brothers; none shall stay behind.’ So the people went forth in extreme heat, walking, and riding their beasts.”(Reported by Ahmad (22045).)
Conclusion:
A good leader is one who sees the positive traits of others and invests in them. This is exactly what the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did with his Companions. Regarding the virtues of the Companions and their exceptional contribution to Islam, Ibn Mas’ood said: “Allah looked into the hearts of His slaves, and He saw that the heart of Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was the best of people’s hearts, so He chose him for Himself and sent him with His message. Then He looked into the hearts of His
slaves after the heart of Muhammad, and He found that the hearts of his Companions were the best of people’s hearts, so He made them the supporters of His Prophet, who fought for His religion.”
There are many examples that show how the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, discovered where his Companions excelled and how he utilized their potentials and wisely nurtured them. If we were to list the attributes with which they supported the religion and the righteous deeds by means of which they deserved that high status, we would fill volumes. Their whole lives were spent for the sake of Allah The Almighty, to fill the world with goodness and righteousness.
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
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