Sunni view of the Sahaba

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This is a sub-article to Sahaba and Sunni

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Sunni doctrine accords high respect to the Sahaba, since it is believed they did their utmost to support the Islamic prophet Muhammad and to continue his work. Sunnis believe that Muhammad confirmed the high status of the Sahaba. Sunnis also value the Sahaba for their part in maintaining the narrations where Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah, or way of life, is described.

Sahaba who turned aside from Muhammad's teachings are excluded from this overall view. For example, some Muslims who reverted to paganism, Christianity or Judaism are not considered to be sahaba. Muslims who pretended to be believers but in practice opposed Prophet Muhammed are considered to be 'hypocrites' and are also not regarded as sahaba.

In short, Sunnis have a generally positive view of the Sahaba, even though they do not believe them to be infallible. Sunnis assume that the Sahaba had the best of intentions, even when they went to war with each other.

Contents

[edit] Ranking of Sahaba

The Sahaba are ranked second only to the immediate family of Muhammad, though there are various sub-rankings within the Sahaba themselves.

The concept of ranking is drawn from Qu'ranic verses:

[9.20] Those who believed and fled (their homes), and strove hard in Allah's way with their property and their souls, are much higher in rank with Allah; and those are they who are the achievers (of their objects).
[57.10] And what reason have you that you should not spend in Allah's way? And Allah's is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, not alike among you are those who spent before the victory and fought (and those who did not): they are more exalted in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards; and Allah has promised good to all; and Allah is Aware of what you do.accords significant importance to the Sahaba relative to other groups and individuals.

The Ahl al-Bayt are usually ranked first in importance, followed by the ten Sahaba who were promised Paradise, and then the others.

[edit] Ahl al-Bayt

Main article: Ahl al-Bayt

The Ahl al Bayt are the family members of Muhammad, and are considered an entirely separate category. The category includes the wives of Muhammad, his progeny and their subsequent offspring, and his close relatives.

[edit] The Ten Promised Paradise

Main article: The Ten Promised Paradise
  • The Ten Promised Paradise are Sahaba whom were specifically promised Paradise by Muhammad, in a single list.

[edit] Other Sahaba

The Sahaba in this category are also ranked as follows:

  • The senior companions of those who fought at the battle of Badr (all those who fought at Badr having been promised Paradise);
  • Those who gave bay`at al-ridwân under the Tree and those Ansar distinguished for the two pacts preceding Emigration (al-`aqabatayn);
  • Those who adopted Islam in the year of the conquest of Mecca; and finally
  • The younger companions who saw Muhammad as child. Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr is in this category.

[edit] Beliefs

Sunnis have a number of beliefs regarding the Sahaba.

[edit] Uprightness of Sahaba

Main article: Uprightness of all Sahaba

Sunnis believe that the Sahaba were generally upright and truthful, although not infallible. Most Sunnis accept them in chains of narrations (isnad) unless they were proven to be liars or opposed to Prophet Muhammed.

[edit] All Sahaba go to heaven

Main article: All Sahaba go to heaven

Although Sunnis believe that there are differences in rank between the Sahaba, they assume that all are going to heaven unless they were opposed to Prophet Muhammed or were insincere in their faith.

Sunnis believe that ten Sahaba were granted paradise even as they lived.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links