7/26/2019 Integrity of the Prophet's Companions

1/2

Integrity Of The Prophet's

Companions

By Muhammad Alkhider

Some people intentionally or unintentionally do refer to the meaning of Integrity and the concept ofInfallibility as synonymous, although the difference between them is crystal-clear. As such, they thinkthat attributing virtuousness to the companions of the Holy Prophet necessitates their infallibility. Whata grave mistake!

Integrity of the Prophets companions means that: they were neither hypocrites, liars, lewd, immoralnor infidels. Besides, they were righteous believers who would err sometimes and correct theirmistakes thereafter. They committed mistakes after which they hastened to repent and seekforgiveness from Allah Almighty. They obeyed God, the Most High, and expected His acceptance oftheir acts of devotion without an iota of doubt.

Infallibility requires of a person to be exalted from committing sins or perpetuating shortcomings. Bothhis mind and body should be immaculate of blemishes and shortcomings that can easily defame his

rank and traduce his status.

The difference between Integrity and Infallibility is crystal-clear in Islam. The Sunni Muslims do refer tothe companions of the Holy Prophet as straightforward, virtuous and honest but not infallible.Impeccability according to the belief of the Sunni Muslims is only attributed to Prophets andMessenger of God Almighty.

Regarding the source of integrity and the question whether it is a Philosophical theory or rather anIslamic fact that a host of texts has proved authentic, the answer is as follows:

A pondering and reflecting look at the Holy Quran and a study that Muslims render to the Book of Godand the authentic traditions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is able to provide a convincing answer to theaforementioned question. Allah, the Holy One, says in the Holy Quran: Allahs good pleasure was

on the believers when they swore Fealty to thee under the Tree: He knew what was in theirhearts, and He sent down Tranquility to them: and He rewarded them with a speedy victory.(48: 18)

God Almighty in the above-mentioned verse explained to His messenger and the entire believing folkthat His pleasure was on the believers, men and women, who plighted fealty to Prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him). He informed his messenger furthermore that He knew what was concealed intheir hearts regarding faith in Him and truthfulness. Hence, He sent down tranquility, peace, calm andsense of security and confidence to them. This suffices as testimony from God Almighty regarding theveracity of the companions faith, their truthfulness and sincerity. It has been proven that themessenger of God (PBUH) said: No one among those who swore their fealty to me under the tree

will be consigned to Hell except the owner of the red camel. ( Related by At-Tirmidhiy in Al-Manaqib [Virtues of the Companions], and Muslim in the same titled book)

The man who was doomed to Hell-fire according to the above-mentioned Hadith, was among the arch-hypocrites of Madinah called Al-Jaddubin Qais.

The number of the companions who swore their fealty to the Prophet (PBUH) was 1,400. According toother traditions it reached 1,500. God Almighty testified to their sincere and truthfulness and confirmedto His messenger that there was no grain of hypocrisy in their hearts except one man. The messengerof God (PBUH) eventually revealed his name to the companions. His name was Al-Jaddu bin Qais.He did not swear his fealty to the messenger of God as did the companions under the Tree of AllahsPleasure. Allah, Exalted in Might, says in the Holy Quran: Not equal among you are those whospent (freely) and fought before the victory (with those who did so later). Those are higher in

7/26/2019 Integrity of the Prophet's Companions

2/2

rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised agoodly (reward.) (57: 10)

God, the Most High, in the above-mentioned verse, promised the companions who spent freely beforeand after the speedy victory of the liberation of Makkah, a goodly reward. Moreover, He passed averdict regarding the ones He promised a goodly reward, that they would be safe from the torment ofthe Hell-fire on the Resurrection Day. He says in the Holy Quran: Those for whom the good(record) from Us has gone before, will be removed far therefrom. Not the slightest sound willthey hear of hell. What their souls desired, in that will they dwell. The Great Terror will bringthem no grief. (21: 101-103) Allah Almighty also says in the Holy Quran: Ye are the best of

peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believingin Allah. (3: 110)

However, it is incredible for a nation (People) that Allah Almighty has referred to as the best of peopleevolved for mankind, as testimony from Him to be as the Shiite Adherents and Sources maintain! Forthey say: The emigrants (from Makkah to Madinah) and the Ansar (those who welcomed, helpedand hosted the Prophet and his companions who came from Makkah) all of them recanted their religionexcept three. (Al-Kaafiy, 2/244)

Had it been true that they were really as described by the Shiite Sources, Allah Almighty would havenot praised and placed them in a lofty rank in the aforementioned verse and in many others. Themessenger of God (PBUH) says: Prophet Noah (on him be peace) is going to be summoned byGod Almighty on the Resurrection Day. He will say: Here I am at your service O my Lord!

Then God Almighty will ask him: Did you convey the message? Noahs response will be:Yes. Then God Almighty will ask Noahs people: Did he convey the message? They willapparently say: No Warner came to us. Then God Almighty will ask Noah (Peace be uponhim): Who will testify that you conveyed the message? Noah will obviously say: Muhammad(Peace be upon him) and his people (followers). Then the followers of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) will unanimously testify that Noah (on him be peace) delivered the message entrustedto him by God Almighty.

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) informed us of the aforementioned situation in hisinterpretation of the following verse: Thus have We made you an Ummah (nation, people) justlybalanced, that ye might be witnesses over yourselves. (2: 143)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the context of his interpretation of theaforementioned verse said: To be justly balanced means: to bestraightforward. Related by Al-Bukhariy

Thus the messenger of God (PBUH) confirmed the non-shaky integrity of his honest, truthful andsincere companions.