Lessons from the Prophet’s Companions

Instructive Incidents from the Lives of the Prophet’s Companions

It is obligatory for every Muslim to spend their entire life according to the excellent example (Usva-e-Hasana) of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), as stated by Allah:

{لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيْ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ اُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللّٰهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيرًا}

"Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often."

[Surah Al-Ahzab: 21]

And if a Muslim wishes to live according to the excellent example of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), they should particularly study the lives of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all). This is because the heavens have never seen a group of people who followed the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), and lived their lives according to his excellent example like the Companions did. This is why, in many places in the Holy Quran, the Lord of the universe has specifically praised the companions of the Prophet of the universe, Muhammad (ﷺ). He has made it obligatory for all believers of the universe to present faith like that of the Companions to Allah, otherwise, their faith will not be accepted in His court. Allah says:

{فَإِنْ آمَنُوْا بِمِثْلِ مَا آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِيْ شِقَاقٍ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللّٰهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ }

"So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been [rightly] guided; but if they turn away, they are only in dissension, and Allah will be sufficient for you against them. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing."

[Surah Al-Baqarah: 137]

In this brief article, with the help and guidance of Allah, I have presented a few instructive incidents from the lives of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) with authentic references and important benefits, along with the Arabic text. This is so that, in the light of these events, a true spirit of following and obeying the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), may be kindled within us, and it may become easier for us to live our lives in the light of the Prophet’s example (ﷺ).

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1. The Faith-Inspiring Incident of a Bedouin Companion’s Ideal Martyrdom

عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ الْهَادِ، اَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْاَعْرَابِ جَاء َ إِلَي النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَآمَنَ بِهِ وَاتَّبَعَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ:اُهَاجِرُ مَعَكَ، فَاَوْصَي بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْضَ اَصْحَابِهِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَتْ غَزْوَةٌ غَنِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَبْيًا، فَقَسَمَ وَقَسَمَ لَهُ، فَاَعْطَي اَصْحَابَهُ مَا قَسَمَ لَهُ، وَكَانَ يَرْعَي ظَهْرَهُمْ، فَلَمَّا جَائَ دَفَعُوهُ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ:مَا هٰذَا؟، قَالُوْا:قِسْمٌ قَسَمَهُ لَكَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَاَخَذَهُ فَجَائَ بِهِ إِلَي النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَال:مَا هٰذَا؟ قَالَ:قَسَمْتُهُ لَكَ، قَالَ:مَا عَلٰي هٰذَا اتَّبَعْتُكَ، وَلَكِنِّي اتَّبَعْتُكَ عَلٰي اَنْ اُرْمَي إِلَي هَاهُنَا، وَاَشَارَ إِلَي حَلْقِهِ بِسَهْمٍ، فَاَمُوتَ فَاَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَالَ: إِنْ تَصْدُقِ اللّٰهَ يَصْدُقْكَ، فَلَبِثُوا قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَهَضُوا فِي قِتَالِ الْعَدُوِّ، فَاُتِيَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحْمَلُ قَدْ اَصَابَهُ سَهْمٌ حَيْثُ اَشَارَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:اَهُوَ هُوَ؟ قَالُوا: نَعَمْ، قَالَ:صَدَقَ اللّٰهَ فَصَدَقَهُ، ثُمَّ كَفَّنَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي جُبَّةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ قَدَّمَهُ فَصَلَّي عَلَيْهِ، فَكَانَ فِيمَا ظَهَرَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ: اللَّهُمَّ هٰذَا عَبْدُكَ خَرَجَ مُهَاجِرًا فِي سَبِيلِكَ فَقُتِلَ شَهِيدًا اَنَا شَهِيدٌ عَلٰي ذَلِكَ۔

Translation: It is narrated from Shaddad bin Al-Had (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man from the Bedouins came to the Prophet (ﷺ), believed in him, and followed him. Then he said, “I will emigrate with you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) entrusted him to some of his companions. When there was a battle, the Prophet (ﷺ) acquired some spoils of war and distributed them, allocating a share for him as well. He gave the share to the companions to whom the man had been entrusted. The man used to graze their animals. When he returned, they gave him his share. He asked, “What is this?” They replied, “A share that the Prophet (ﷺ) allocated for you.” He took it and went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, “(O Messenger of Allah!) What is this?” He replied, “I have allocated it for you.” The man said, “This is not why I followed you. I followed you so that I might be struck by an arrow right here (and he pointed to his throat), then I would die and enter Paradise.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If you are true to Allah, He will be true to you.” They waited a short while, then rose to fight the enemy. He was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ), being carried, having been struck by an arrow exactly where he had pointed. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, “Is it him?” They replied, “Yes.” He said, “He was true to Allah, so Allah was true to him.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) shrouded him in his own jubbah (garment), placed him in front, and prayed the funeral prayer over him. Part of his prayer that was heard was: “O Allah, this is Your servant who went out as an emigrant in Your cause and was killed as a martyr, and I am a witness to that.”

[Sunan An-Nasa’i: 1953, Book of Funerals: Chapter on Praying over Martyrs]

Benefits:

1. The part of the hadith, “فَآمَنَ بِهِ وَاتَّبَعَهٌ” (he believed in him and followed him), proves that the Bedouin companion’s faith and followership were extremely pure and of the highest degree.
2. The phrase “اُهَاجِرُ مَعَكَ” (I will emigrate with you) shows that the Bedouin companion had immense love for Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ).
3. The statement “فَاَوْصَي بِهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْضَ اَصْحَابِهِ” (The Prophet (ﷺ) entrusted him to some of his companions) demonstrates that the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), cared deeply for this Bedouin companion.
4. The companion’s words, “مَا عَلٰي هٰذَا اتَّبَعْتُكَ، وَلَكِنِّي اتَّبَعْتُكَ عَلٰي اَنْ اُرْمَي إِلٰي هَاهُنَا، وَاَشَارَ إِلَي حَلْقِهِ بِسَهْمٍ، فَاَمُوتَ فَاَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ” (This is not why I followed you. I followed you so that I might be struck by an arrow right here (and he pointed to his throat), then I would die and enter Paradise), are clear evidence that the sole purpose of the Bedouin companion’s life was to sacrifice his life and wealth in the path of Allah to be honored with martyrdom and enter Allah’s Paradise.
5. The text, “ثُمَّ كَفَّنَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي جُبَّةِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ قَدَّمَهُ فَصَلَّي عَلَيْهِ، فَكَانَ فِيمَا ظَهَرَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ:اَللّٰهُمَّ هٰذَا عَبْدُكَ خَرَجَ مُهَاجِرًا فِي سَبِيلِكَ فَقُتِلَ شَهِيدًا اَنَا شَهِيدٌ عَلٰي ذَلِكَ” (Then the Prophet (ﷺ) shrouded him in his own jubbah, placed him in front, and prayed the funeral prayer over him. Part of his prayer that was heard was: ‘O Allah, this is Your servant who went out as an emigrant in Your cause and was killed as a martyr, and I am a witness to that.’), is a clear proof that this Bedouin companion of the Prophet was so fortunate that he achieved martyrdom in the path of truth, received the Prophet’s (ﷺ) own garment as his shroud, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) led his funeral prayer, made a special supplication for him, and bore witness to his martyrdom before Allah.

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2. The Exemplary Sense of Sin of a Companion of the Prophet (ﷺ)

عَنْ اَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ:كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَجَائَ هُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ، إِنِّي اَصَبْتُ حَدًّا فَاَقِمْهُ عَلَيَّ، قَالَ: وَلَمْ يَسْاَلْهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: وَحَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ، فَصَلَّي مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَلَمَّا قَضَي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةَ، قَامَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ:يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ، إِنِّي اَصَبْتُ حَدًّا، فَاَقِمْ فِيَّ كِتَابَ اللّٰهِ، قَال: اَلَيْسَ قَدْ صَلَّيْتَ مَعَنَا قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قَالَ:’’فَإِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدْ غَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ، اَوْ قَالَ:حَدَّكَ ‘‘۔

Translation: It is narrated from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) when a man came and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an act deserving a prescribed punishment (Hadd), so inflict it upon me.” The Prophet (ﷺ) did not ask him about it. He said, then the time for prayer came, and the man prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ). When the Prophet (ﷺ) finished the prayer, the man stood up again and said, “O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an act deserving a prescribed punishment, so apply the Book of Allah to me.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Did you not just pray with us?” He said, “Yes.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Then Allah has forgiven your sin,” or he said, “your mistake or your Hadd.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari: 6823, Book of Prescribed Punishments. Chapter: If someone confesses to a Hadd offense without specifying it, can the ruler conceal it for him?]

Benefits:

1. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not ask the companion which sin he had committed. This indicates that Allah had informed the Prophet (ﷺ) through revelation that it was a minor sin, not a major one.
2. The part of the hadith, “اِنِّي اَصَبْتُ حَدًّا، فَاَقِمْ فِيَّ كِتَابَ اللّٰهِ” (I have committed an act deserving a prescribed punishment, so apply the Book of Allah to me), proves the companion’s firm belief that the punishment of the Day of Judgment is far more severe than any punishment in this world.
3. One should conceal the sin of a sinner and guide them towards reform, because the Prophet (ﷺ) neither scolded the companion nor asked for details of the sin.
4. One who repents from a sin becomes like one who has not sinned at all.
5. This companion had not committed a major sin that required a prescribed punishment (Hadd), which is why the Prophet (ﷺ) did not enforce it upon him. If he had committed a sin requiring a Hadd, the Prophet would have enforced it.
6. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did not persist in sin, because persisting even in minor sins makes the sin major.
7. If a sin is committed, one should hasten to repent.
8. Performing the obligatory prayers according to the Sunnah expiates minor sins.
9. The religion of Islam is extremely easy and a mercy for all of humanity.

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3. The Beautiful and Exemplary Playfulness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) with a Bedouin Companion

عن اَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضي اللّٰه عنه اَنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ اَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ كَانَ اسْمُهُ زَاهِرًا، وكَانَ يُهْدِي رسول اللّٰه صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْهَدِيَّةَ مِنَ الْبَادِيَةِ، فَيُجَهِّزُهُ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اَرَادَ اَنْ يَخْرُجَ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:’’إِنَّ زَاهِرًا بَادِيَتُنَا، وَنَحْنُ حَاضِرُوهُ‘‘وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحِبُّهُ، وَكَانَ رَجُلًا دَمِيمًا، فَاَتَاهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا وَهُوَ يَبِيعُ مَتَاعَهُ، فَاحْتَضَنَهُ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ، وَهُوَ لَا يُبْصِرُهُ الرجلُ، فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ اَرْسِلْنِي، مَنْ هٰذَا؟ فَالْتَفَتَ، فَعَرَفَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَجَعَلَ لَا يَاْلُو مَا اَلْصَقَ ظَهْرَهُ بِصَدْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حِينَ عَرَفَهُ، وَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:’’مَنْ يَشْتَرِي الْعَبْدَ؟‘‘فَقَالَ:يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ، إِذًا وَاللّٰهِ تَجِدُنِي كَاسِدًا، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّي اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:’’لَكِنْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ لَسْتَ بِكَاسِدٍ‘‘اَوْ قَال’’لَكِنْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَنْتَ غَالٍ‘‘

Translation: It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man from the countryside named Zahir bin Haram used to bring gifts for the Prophet (ﷺ) from the desert. When he was about to return, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would provide him with provisions. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Zahir is our desert, and we are his city.” The Prophet (ﷺ) loved him, though he was a man of unattractive appearance. One day, the Prophet (ﷺ) came to him while he was selling his goods. He embraced him from behind, and the man could not see him. The man said, “Let me go! Who is this?” He then turned and recognized the Prophet (ﷺ). Upon recognizing him, he began to press his back even closer to the chest of the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) started saying, “Who will buy this slave?” Zahir said, “O Messenger of Allah, then by Allah, you will find me to be of no value.” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “But in the sight of Allah, you are not without value,” or he said, “But in the sight of Allah, you are precious.”

[Musnad Ahmad: 12648, Sahih Ibn Hibban: 5790, Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah: Vol. 2, p. 452. Allamah Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has authenticated this narration.]

Benefits:

1. The aforementioned Bedouin companion used to bring gifts to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Madinah that were not available there, because he loved the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), immensely. Giving gifts fosters love, as stated in another hadith: “Exchange gifts, you will love one another.”
2. In this incident, a beautiful scene of love for the Prophet (ﷺ) is visible. When the Bedouin companion realized that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had lovingly embraced him from behind, he pressed his back even closer to the Prophet’s (ﷺ) chest to deepen the love for the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), in his heart and to receive more blessings from him.
3. When the other companions witnessed this beautiful scene, they must have wished that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had embraced them instead of Zahir.
4. When the Bedouin was about to return, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would prepare his travel provisions, meaning he would give him some special items from Madinah in return for his gift, which were not available in the countryside.
5. This hadith is a great testament to the humility of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ). According to the wording in Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, Zahir bin Haram (may Allah be pleased with him) was “وكان دميما” (was very unattractive). Despite this, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave him full attention, accepted his gifts, loved him, joked with him, and gave him gifts in return. When the Prophet (ﷺ) said about him, “Who will buy this slave of mine?” he, considering himself lowly, said, “I am very cheap,” meaning he had no value. The Prophet (ﷺ) consoled him by saying, “No, in the sight of Allah, you are very precious.”
6. Joking and having fun with family, friends, and children is not a flawed or bad thing, but rather a Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet, provided that the joking is within the bounds of Sharia.
7. In the sight of Allah, a person’s status and rank are not due to their beauty, race, or stature, but due to their love for Allah and His Messenger, their faith, and their righteous deeds. Allah’s command is, “Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” This incident is clear proof that the Bedouin companion, Zahir bin Haram, was a sincere servant of Allah who loved Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ). That is why he was granted this high rank by Allah.

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4. A Beautiful Scene of the Gratitude of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all)

عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ: ’’إِنْ كُنَّا لَنَفْرَحُ بِيَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ، كَانَتْ لَنَا عَجُوزٌ تَاْخُذُ اُصُولَ السِّلْقِ، فَتَجْعَلُهُ فِيْ قِدْرٍ لَهَا، فَتَجْعَلُ فِيهِ حَبَّاتٍ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ، إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا زُرْنَاهَا فَقَرَّبَتْهُ إِلَيْنَا، وَكُنَّا نَفْرَحُ بِيَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ مِنْ اَجْلِ ذَلِكَ، وَمَا كُنَّا نَتَغَدَّي، وَلاَ نَقِيلُ إِلَّا بَعْدَ الجُمُعَةِ، وَاللّٰهِ مَا فِيهِ شَحْمٌ وَلَا وَدَكٌ‘‘۔

Translation: Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We used to be very happy on Fridays because there was an old woman who would take the roots of chard and cook them in her pot, adding some grains of barley to it. When we had prayed the Jumu’ah prayer, we would visit her, and she would serve this food to us. We were very happy on Fridays for this reason. We would not have our lunch or our siesta until after the Jumu’ah prayer. By Allah, there was no fat or grease in it.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari: 5403, Book of Foods. Chapter: Chard and Barley]

Benefits:

1. When the emigrants (Muhajirun) came to Madinah, the early period of life there was a very trying time of hardship and poverty. In such times, even simple and sincere invitations like this felt very pleasant to them, and for this, they would thank Allah from the bottom of their hearts. Today, despite eating countless types of starters and rich foods, instead of truly thanking Allah, we are always complaining.
2. The incident shows that if you mix things like barley with a vegetable like chard to make a porridge, it can become a delicious kind of stew (khichra).
3. An invitation from any Muslim brother should not be considered insignificant; rather, it should be accepted. The companions would happily accept and eat the food from the poor old woman on Fridays.
4. It is not necessary for an invitation to include meat, fish, or only rich foods. Invitations can also be for simple and common foods.
5. The Companions generally used to eat their meals and take a siesta (qaylulah) on Fridays after the Jumu’ah prayer.
6. The Companions would be very happy on Fridays after the Jumu’ah prayer, much like on the day of Eid, and would eagerly eat something sweet or delicious.
7. The elderly women of the past were very hospitable and were also very skilled in cooking excellent types of food.

These were, in brief, a few authentic and instructive incidents from the lives of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ), in which we find unparalleled and shining examples of their love and adherence to the Prophet (ﷺ). If we desire success and prosperity in both worlds, we too must love the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ), and follow him in the same way the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) did.

In the end, I pray that the Lord of the Worlds grants all of us Muslims the ability to love our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and truly follow him, just as the Companions did, and that He grants us a good end. Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds. And by His grace, righteous deeds are completed.

Abu al-Bayan Rif’at al-Salafi

Reference:  https://ahlussunnah.net/?p=3337