Who are the Salaf of the Ummah?

Compiled by: Ali Hussain Dhuniya

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Article-seven(7)

Previous article-six(6) link: https://sunnisalafi.com/who-is-ahlebayt 

The Sahaba, or Companions of the Prophet, were the followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad peace be upon him who met or saw him during his lifetime & died as Muslims:

● They believed in him while he was alive

● They died as Muslims

● They played a major role in Muslim society, governance, battles, and hadith narration

We hold that, the best of Mankind, after the Prophets and the Messengers ص ّل هللا عليه و سلّ are the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ص ّل هللا عليه و سلّ. Due to the saying of the prophet himself:

“The best of Mankind is my generation, then those who come after them, then those who comeafter them.”

We hold that, the most excellent of these Companions are (in the following order);

Ahl Al-Bait (The Prophets Family)

Ahl as-Sunnah should love the Prophet's family, give them support, and honor the Prophet's will in regard to them, as he said at Ghadir al-Khum: "I ask you by Allah to take care of my family I ask you by Allah to

take care of my family." (Muslim)

[The Prophet] (peace be upon him) said to his uncle al-Abbas when he complained to him that some men of Quraysh resent Banu Hashim (the Prophet's clan):

"By (Allah) in Whose Hands my soul is! They will never be believers until they love you for the sake of my relationship to you." (Reported by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and others)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Indeed, Allah chose the sons of isma'il, and from them He chose Kinanah, and from Kinanah He chose Quraish, and from Quraish he chose Banu Hashim, and from Banu Hashim He chose me." (Reported by Muslim and Ibn Hanbal)

According to Shia (Ahlu al-Bayt), the term Ahlul-Bayt refers specifically to:

• ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib
  
• Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī
  
• Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī
  
• Fāṭimah al-Zahrā
  

They do not include the wives of the Prophet ﷺ in their definition of Ahlul-Bayt. Additionally, they do not follow the Companions such as Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, and others, limiting their allegiance only to their selected members of Ahlul-Bayt.

According to our understanding (Salaf/Sunnī), Ahlul-Bayt includes the Prophet ﷺ’s wives as well as his close family. We love and follow both the Sahābah (Companions) and the Ahlul-Bayt, as guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah.

This approach preserves the unity of the Ummah. It is similar to Christianity in principle: one cannot claim love for Jesus (ʿĪsā, peace be upon him) while rejecting Muhammad ﷺ. In Islam, we affirm our love for both the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and all previous Prophets, without contradiction.

Salvation in Islam:

• There is no salvation without following the last Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
  
• Jesus (ʿĪsā, peace be upon him) will return near the end of times as a follower of the Sharia of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to defeat the Anti-Christ (Ad-Dajjāl).
  

In summary, the true understanding of Ahlul-Bayt and Sahābah involves:

1. Loving and respecting both the Prophet ﷺ’s family and his Companions.
   
2. Following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the final Messenger.
   
3. Upholding the unity and completeness of the Ummah.
   

■ Abu Bakr as-Siddeeque, then `Umar ibnul-Khattaab, then `Uthmaan bin `Affaan, then `Alee ibn

(رضي هللا عنهم أجمعين) Taalib Abee

■ The rest of the ten, who are promised paradise

■ Those that fought at Badr

■ Those that took the oath of allegiance, of Ar-Ridwaan, at Al-Hudaybiyyah, under the tree

■ The Muhaajiroon

■ The Ansaar

■ Those who embraced Islaam, before the conquest of Makkah

■ Those who embraced Islaam, after the conquest of Makkah

Then ten who were promised Jannah:

Then, the remainder of the ten who were promised Jannah. And this is in accordance with the Hadeeth of

Allāh’s Messenger. So, the best of all of the Companions, then they are the following ten;

1. Abu Bakr ibn Abee Quhafah at-Taymi. And he is of course, well-known as Abu Bakr

as-Siddeeq. His name was `Abdullaah ibn `Uthmaan.

2. `Umar ibnul-Khattaab bin-Nufayl al-`Adawi

3. `Uthman bin `Afaan bin Abil-`Aas bin Umayyah

4. `Alee ibn Abee Taalib al-Hashimi. He was the cousin of the Prophet 5. Az-Zubayr ibnul-`Awwaam bin Khuwaylid

6. Talhah bin `Ubaydillaah bin `Uthmaan at-Taymi

7. `AbdurRahmaan ibn `Awf az-Zuhri

8. Sa`d ibn abee Waqqaas bin Wahayb az-Zuhri

9. Abu `Ubaydah ibnul Jarraah. His name was `Aamir ibn `Abdillaah

10. Sa`eed bin Zayd bin Amr al-`Adwee

These were the ten, who the Prophet (named in his lifetime and in their lifetime, whilst they were alive. He said that all of them had been given the glad tidings of paradise. So, he (prophet) said:

“Abu Bakr is in Jannah, `Umar is in Jannah, `Uthman is in Jannah, `Alee is in Jannah, Az-Zubayr is

in Jannah [up until he mentioned the ten...]”

We free ourselves from the Raafidah–Shi`ah, and we warn against them, due to their numerous heresies,

and due to their hatred, and their cursing of the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger.

The Messenger of Allāh said:

“Do not curse my Companions, for by the One in whose Hand is my soul, if you were to spend the like of the mount of `Uhud in gold, it would not equate to even a handful of one of them, and not even half a handful.”

And he also said“The curse of Allāh is upon the one who curses my Companions.”

The Best of Mankind – The Companions and Those Who Follow Them

It is authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked:

“Who are the best of mankind?”

The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“I am, and those alongside me (i.e., my Companions). Then those who follow their path, then those who follow their path.”

This corresponds to the famous ḥadīth:

“The best of you are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them.”
 (al-Bukhārī 2652, Muslim 2533)

The narrator of this ḥadīth explained:

“I am not sure whether the Prophet ﷺ mentioned two generations after his Companions or three generations.”

Meaning, the Prophet ﷺ clearly declared the Sahābah (Companions), the Tābiʿīn (Successors), and the Atbāʿ at-Tābiʿīn (Followers of the Successors) as the best of mankind. Some narrations indicate that a fourth generation may also be included, depending on the report.

✅ This ḥadīth establishes the excellence of the first generations (the Salaf) and shows why the path of the Salaf al-Ṣāliḥ (righteous predecessors) is the safest and most authentic way to understand Islam.

The Praise of the Companions (Sahābah) in the Qur’an and Hadith

Praise in the Qur’an
 Allāh ﷻ extolled the Companions in His Book:

“And the first to embrace Islam, of the Muhājirūn and the Anṣār, and also those who followed them exactly. Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” – (Qur’an 9:100)

Similarly, Allāh ﷻ mentions:

“And there is also a share in this booty for the poor emigrants, who were expelled from their homes and their property, seeking Bounties from Allah and to please Him – and their helping Allah’s Religion and His Messenger. Such are indeed the truthful.” – (Qur’an 59:8)

These verses affirm that the Companions are Saadiqoon (truthful), deserving Allāh’s pleasure and His reward.

Regarding the Anṣār (those already living in Madīnah):

“And those who, before them, had homes in Al-Madīnah and had adopted the Faith – they love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for what they have been given of the booty, and give the emigrants preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be successful.” – (Qur’an 59:9)

Allāh ﷻ praises the Anṣār for their selflessness, love, and generosity, promising them success (Al-Falāḥ).

Regarding those who came after them (following generations of believers):

“And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.’” – (Qur’an 59:10)

This establishes the duty of believers to make du‘ā’ for the Sahābah and to harbor no hatred toward them. As ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiyallāhu ʿanha) said, we are commanded to pray for the Companions. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)

Hadith Evidence on the Virtue of the Sahābah
 The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Do not curse my Companions. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you were to spend in charity the likes of Mount Uhud in gold, it would not equate to even a handful of one of them, and not even half a handful.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī & Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, narrated by Abu Sa‘īd al-Khudrī and Abu Hurairah)

Shaykh Fawzān explained that the reward and virtue of the Sahābah are unmatched; even a mountain of gold given by others would not equal a fraction of what the Sahābah gave in their time.

The Enemies of the Sahābah

1. Rāfidah (Shi‘ah extremists) – They openly attack the Sahābah, aiming to weaken the connection between Muslims and the Prophet ﷺ.
   
2. Khawārij – Rebels against Muslim rulers who declared major sinners as disbelievers; their extremism led them to oppose some Sahābah, though they claimed to defend Islam.
   
3. Nawāsib (Naasibah) – Politically motivated enemies, especially against ʿAlī (raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu) and the Prophet’s family, targeting the Sahābah for political rather than religious reasons.
   

All three groups are misguided and considered enemies of the Sunnah, differing in their motives but unified in opposition to the Companions.

[ source : 🔗Our da’wah and the call to Salafiyyah that stands the test of time: The Companions, their virtues, their differences, those who follow them and those who oppose them: Part 3