إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه و نستغفره ونتوكله إليه ، ونعوز بالله من شرور أنفسنا و سيئات أعمالنا ، من يهده الله فلا مضل له و من يضلل فلا هادي له ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أنّ محمد عبده و رسوله 

Indeed all praises are due to Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help, we ask for His forgiveness, and we rely solely on Him. We seek His refuge from the evil in our souls and from our wicked deeds. Whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide. And whomever Allah misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, He is One, with no partners, and I testify that Mohammad (ﷺ)  is His Messenger and His slave.   

و صلي الله على سيدنا محمد و على آله و آصحابه و سلم - أما بعد : 

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF SUNNAH

PART 2a. IMPORTANCE OF SUNNAH (أهمية السنة النبوية في حياة المسلمين)

Importance of Sunnah as explained by Scholars

Prophet (ﷺ) said,

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ أَيْمَانَهُمْ وَأَيْمَانُهُمْ شَهَادَتَهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abdullah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them (the next generation), and then those who will come after them (i.e. the next generation), and then after them, there will come people whose witness will precede their oaths, and whose oaths will precede their witness." [Sahih al-Bukhari]

In another narration, the Prophet added that after the first two generation,

ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ، وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ -

“..There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them.” [Al-Bukhari]

In this famous hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) himself categorized the generations. i.e. generation of Companions – sahabas (صحابة‎‎), then those who followed them - tabiun (تابعون‎‎), then those who followed them – taba tabieen (تابع تابعين‎‎). Hence, he himself witnessed the trustworthiness and sincerity of the first three generations.

This section includes brief list of scholars and their views on sunnah, and their exemplary efforts to preserve and teach sunnah. The section is divided into four parts:

1. Tabiun (التابعون) – followers of Companions, and those learned directly from them. 
2. Taba Tabiun (تابع التابعين) – followers of followers of Companions, those learned from students of companions,
3. Later Generations
4. Contemporary Scholars

The timeline from hijra calendar doesn’t necessary reflect the status of scholar as Tabi (تابعى) or Taba tabi (تابع تابعى), as some of them lived longer than other. In general, a Companion (صحابة‎‎) is one who met the Prophet, a Tabi (تابعى) is one who met a companion, and Taba Tabi (تابع تابعى) who met a tabi (تابعى). In our context, the Companion or Tabi or Taba Tabi is one who stayed with their respected teacher long enough to learn, and to transmit from them. This is important, from the perspective of learning and teaching sunnah. The length of time they stayed with the teacher, reflects directly how much knowledge they learned from their respective shaikh. Hence, some of them became more knowledgeable than others, and others excelled further to became fuqaha. Some learned hadith, other learned fiqh and gave judgements. Many of them became famous as they run schools to formally teach their students.

The Generation (طبقات) is defined by muhaditeen as groups of people who were similar in age and generally met the same narrators of hadith preceding them. Ibn Hajar Asqalani (in Taqrib al-Tahzeeb) identifies 12 generations of narrators from time of companions to the time until sahah sitah (six hadith collection work) was written. So,

1. 1st generation is the Companions,  
2. 2nd – 5th generation were tabiun based on their age group, and if they received directly from companion or another tabi (follower), from seniors (like Ibn Musayyab, Alqama), to 1st middle (a-Hasan al-Basri, Ibn Sirin), to 2nd middle (like az-Zuhri, Qatada), to younger (like al-Amash)
3. 6th generation was of youngest tabi (follower), but its not established if they met companion (like Ibn Jurayj, Abu Hanifa)
4. 7th – 9th generation: would be taba tabieen (successor), from seniors (like Malik bin Anas, Sufyan at-Tawri), to middle like (Sufyan ibn Uyainah), to youngest (like as-Shafii, Abu Dawood as-Tayalisi)
5. 10th – 12th generation: would be who received from Taba tabieen (successor), from seniors like (Ahmed bin hanbal), to middle (like Bukhari), to youngest (like Thirmidhi) 

Figure: Timeline chart showing chain of scholarship of Hadith

This warm hand off from one teacher to his student is important one. By reviewing the historical records, one can witness this chain of scholarship. Their vigorous efforts to teach, and equally determined students eager to learn. They successfully pass down the knowledge of Quran, sunnah and fiqh, right from the Prophet to the Companions, to the next generation of scholars.

Secondly, these are famous house hold names of scholars that are well known. However, many of us may not have known their efforts to collect, learn, preserve and teach sunnah. While we briefly outline their views and efforts here on sunnah, we will repeat this in more detail in later section in our discussion on “preservation of sunnah”.

Here we say briefly, when a hadith is narrated, it is linked to this chain of scholarship, in about the same order. i.e. Prophet taught companion, who taught tabi, who taught taba tabi, who taught next generation. This is not same as saying than a bystander learned when a speaker was speaking. Rather, it’s a scholarship that one scholar taught hadith to a student in a class room, and when he became scholar he did same to his students, and so on and so forth.

Lastly, it is important to learn what was the methodology of early generation to learn shariah and to drive judgments or fatwa. i.e. how the companion or tabi or later generation scholar learn and applied fiqh. Whats evident is first, they learned sunnah of the Prophet, then they learned the judgments of the Prophet and companions like Abu Bakr or Umar etc or those followed them. One can easily drive from this that to learn and study fiqh, the sunnah of Prophet and athar of companions, and the cases they handled and judged are key to learning fiqh. No one can invent fiqh without first learning it from its root – the Prophet and his companions. Thus, this puts study of hadith at the center of all other sciences of Shariah. Science of Hadith and its knowledge is then nucleus for study of Shariah. None can comprehend fiqh, without a good handle on hadith. Its evident learning from all these scholars that the best faqih has two things in common, their command of Arabic language and their in-depth knowledge of hadith.

#1 – Scholars from Companions (صحابة)

Many companions become scholars of sunnah and fiqh, and large number of tabiun (followers) learned from them. 

• The Prophet (ﷺ) often spoke highly of his companions. The famous companion Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said
• عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَرْحَمُ أُمَّتِي بِأُمَّتِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَشَدُّهُمْ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ عُمَرُ وَأَصْدَقُهُمْ حَيَاءً عُثْمَانُ وَأَقْضَاهُمْ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ وَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ وَأَفْرَضُهُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ أَلاَ وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَمِينًا وَأَمِينُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ - “It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that: The Messenger of Allah said: The most merciful of my Ummah towards my Ummah is Abu Bakr; the one who adheres most sternly to the religion of Allah is Umar; the most sincere of them in shyness and modesty is Uthman; the best judge is Ali bin Abu Talib; the best in reciting the Book of Allah is Ubayy bin Kab; the most knowledgeable of what is lawful and unlawful is Muadh bin Jabal; and the most knowledgeable of the rules of inheritance (Fara'id) is Zaid bin Thabit. And every nation has a trustworthy guardian, and the trustworthy guardian of this Ummah is Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah."” [Sunan ibn Majah, Jami At-Tirmidhi]
• The Prophet (ﷺ) said don’t abuse his sahabas, يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَلَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلاَ نَصِيفَهُ ‏" – “Narrated Abu Said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• The Prophet (ﷺ) said about Umar, فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِيهًا يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا لَقِيَكَ الشَّيْطَانُ سَالِكًا فَجًّا قَطُّ إِلاَّ سَلَكَ فَجًّا غَيْرَ فَجِّكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ - “Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "O Ibn Al-Khattab! By Him in Whose Hands my life is! Never does Satan find you going on a way, but he takes another way other than yours."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• The Prophet (ﷺ), وَقَالَ ‏"‏ اسْتَقْرِئُوا الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، وَسَالِمٍ مَوْلَى أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ، وَأُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، وَمُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ - “Narrated Abdullah bin Amr: … He (Prophet) added, " Learn the Quran from (any of these) four persons. Abdullah bin Masud, Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhaifa, Ubai bin Kab, and Muadh bin Jabal."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• The Prophet praised his companions, يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَلَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلاَ نَصِيفَهُ ‏" – “Narrated Abu Said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Thousands of sahabas narrated ahadiths and taught them. However, the sahabas whose issued fatawas are well known. According to Ibn Hajr, the most famous are group of seven⁵¹: 

1. Umar - عمر بن الخطاب
2. Ali - علي بن أبي طالب
3. Ibn Masud - عبد الله بن مسعود
4. Ibn Umar - عبد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب
5. Ibn Abbas - عبدالله بن عباس
6. Zaid bin Thabit - زيد بن ثابت الأنصاري
7. Aisha - عائشة بنت أبي بكر الصديق

Ibn Hazm said, twenty sahabas are close to them (group of seven), their names are:

1. Abu Bakr - أبو بكر الصديق
2. Uthman - عثمان بن عفان 
3. Abu Musa al-Ashari -  أبو موسى الأشعري
4. Muadh bin Jabal - معاذ بن جبل
5. Saad bin Abi Waqqas - سعد بن أبي وقاص
6. Abu Hurairah - أبو هريرة
7. Anas bin Malik - أنس بن مالك
8. Abdullah bin Umro bin al-Aas - عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص
9. Salman - سلمان الفارسي
10. Jabir ibn Abdullah - جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري
11. Abu Saeed al-Khudri - أبو سعيد الخدري
12. Talha - طلحة بن عبيد الله
13. Az-Zubair - الزبير بن العوام
14. Abdur Rahman bin Awf - عبد الرحمن بن عوف
15. Imran bin Husain - عمران بن حصين
16. Abu Bakra - أبو بكرة  or أبي بكر الثقفي, also known as: نفيع بن الحارث
17. Ubada bin As-Samit - عبادة بن الصامت
18. Muawiyah - معاوية بن أبي سفيان
19. Ibn az-Zubair - عبد الله بن الزبير بن العوام
20. Umm Salama - أم سلمة هند بنت أبي أمية

He added, amongst the sahabas, 120 of them avoided giving frequent fatawas, and usually there are only few reported cases from them each. E.g. Abu Darda (أبي الدرداء), Abu Talha (أبو طلحة بن سهل الأنصاري), Miqdad (المقداد بن الأسود).

Following are some of the sahabas that became known to be scholar in fiqh or in hadith. We have provided the links to their narrations of hadith, so one can read for themselves what they had to say about sunnah. And if they find what these most honorable and distinguished Companion said are in contradiction to what their own imams or leaders are telling them, then they can decide for them selves, as to who is more authentic and genuine.

Few Companions and their work and their stance on Sunnah

Timeline Table of Companions 

Summary of Companions

#1 - Abu Bakr Siddque - أبو بكر الصديق 

• Timeline: 51 AH – 13 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• 1st Caliph. From the consensus of companions, he is well regarded as the best man of Muslim Ummah, after Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ). He was given title of “Siddique” (Truthful) by the Prophet himself.
• He was staunch supporter of sunnah and defended it vociferously. When he was elected khalifa, and people refused to pay Zakat and false prophets appeared all over Arabia. Abu Bakr launch full scale military campaign against apostasy and reunited the ummah. 
• Abu Bakr will rule according to Quran; if he finds nothing Quran then he refers to sunnah, if he finds nothing in sunnah then he will do shura with sahabas. In famous case of grandmother’s inheritance, قَالَ جَاءَتِ الْجَدَّةُ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ تَسْأَلُهُ مِيرَاثَهَا فَقَالَ لَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا لَكِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ شَىْءٌ وَمَا عَلِمْتُ لَكِ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا فَارْجِعِي حَتَّى أَسْأَلَ النَّاسَ – ““A grandmother came to Abu Bakr Siddiq and asked him for her inheritance. Abu Bakr said to her: ‘You have nothing according to the Book of Allah, and I don’t know of anything for you according to the Book of Allah, and I don’t know of anything for you according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Go back until I ask the people.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
• He is also credited ordering an official copy of Quran in written form, under the commission headed by Zyad ibn Thabit. This official copy remained with him until he passed it to next khalifa Umar. Since Umar didn’t choose a khalifa rather formed a committed to elect a khalifa, he passed copy of Quran to his daughter Hafsa (wife of Prophet). When Uthman became khalifa, he took this official copy and published it widely.
• Ali ibn abi-talib reported his praise of Abu Bakr and Umar in numerous narations, عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا، يَقُولُ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَخَيْرُ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عُمَرُ – “It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Salimah said: "I heard 'Ali say: 'The best of people after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is Abu Bakr, and the best of people after Abu Bakr is 'Umar.'" [Sunan ibn Majah]
• Hadith narrations by Abu Bakr Siddique: Click here

#2 - Umar Ibn Khattab - عمر بن الخطاب

• Timeline: 41 BH – 23 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• 2nd Caliph. He is regarded as the greatest faqih in Islamic history. His rulings and judgments are studied todate, both to understand jurisprudence methodology, and as law of precedence. 
• Ibn Abbas reported Ali praise of Umar that shows how closely he was affiliated to the Prophet and Abu Bakr. When Umar was on his death bed, Ali said: أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقُولُ وُضِعَ عُمَرُ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ، فَتَكَنَّفَهُ النَّاسُ يَدْعُونَ وَيُصَلُّونَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ، وَأَنَا فِيهِمْ، فَلَمْ يَرُعْنِي إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ آخِذٌ مَنْكِبِي، فَإِذَا عَلِيٌّ فَتَرَحَّمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ، وَقَالَ مَا خَلَّفْتَ أَحَدًا أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَلْقَى اللَّهَ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ مِنْكَ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ، إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَظُنُّ أَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْكَ، وَحَسِبْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ كَثِيرًا أَسْمَعُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ذَهَبْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَدَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ‏.‏ - “Narrated Ibn Abbas: When (the dead body of) `Umar was put on his deathbed, the people gathered around him and invoked (Allah) and prayed for him before the body was taken away, and I was amongst them. Suddenly I felt somebody taking hold of my shoulder and found out that he was Ali bin Abi Talib. Ali invoked Allah's Mercy for Umar and said, "O Umar! You have not left behind you a person whose deeds I like to imitate and meet Allah with more than I like your deeds. By Allah! I always thought that Allah would keep you with your two companions, for very often I used to hear the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, 'I, Abu Bakr and Umar went (somewhere); I, Abu Bakr and Umar entered (somewhere); and I, Abu Bakr and Umar went out."'” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Umar ibn Khattab followed the same path as of Abu Bakr in referring to Quran, then sunnah, then shura with sahabas. When Shuraih asked him about judgement, he replied: عَنْ شُرَيْحٍ، أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى عُمَرَ يَسْأَلُهُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اقْضِ بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاقْضِ بِمَا قَضَى بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَقْضِ بِهِ الصَّالِحُونَ فَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَقَدَّمْ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَتَأَخَّرْ وَلاَ أَرَى التَّأَخُّرَ إِلاَّ خَيْرًا لَكَ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ – “narrated from Shuraih that: He wrote to 'Umar, to ask him (a question), and 'Umar wrote back to him telling him: "Judge according to what is in the Book of Allah. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, then (judge) according to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah or the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then pass judgment according to the way the righteous passed judgment. If it is not (mentioned) in the Book of Allah, or the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and the righteous did not pass judgment concerning it, then if you wish, go ahead (and try to work it out by yourself) or if you wish, leave it. And I think that leaving it is better for you. And peace be upon you."” (Sunan an-Nasai)
• Hadith narrated by Umar ibn Khattab: Click here

#3 - Uthman bin Affan - عثمان بن عفان

• Timeline: 47 BH – 35 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• 3rd Caliph. Prophet (ﷺ) married him to his daughter (Ruqayyah), and upon her death, he married him to his other daughter (Umm Khulthum), which earned him title of Dhu al-Nurayn (The Possessor of Two Lights) Both were Prophet’s daughters from Khadijah.
• He was successful merchant, and was one of the richest man in Quraish. He also earned the title ghani (Generous) due to his generosity and kind heartedness, and his spending to help Muslims.
• He was the most trusted companion of the Prophet. The Prophet said, (كُلِّ نَبِيٍّ رَفِيقٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَرَفِيقِي فِيهَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ) – “Every Prophet will have a friend in Paradise, and my friend there will be Uthman bin Affan.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Daeef]. The Prophet (ﷺ) took pledge on behalf of Uthman, in his absence, in Pledge of Ridwan. He was first Muslim migrant who was exiled, and went to Habsha.
• Under his khilafa the state expanded well into Iran, and till Afghanistan, and as far east as Sindh, Pakistan. During his reign first, Muslim Navy was formed in Mediterranean Seas. Also, during his reign the economy expanded significantly due to his businessman background.
• Uthman was scholar of Quran. He is also credited to preserve Quran, and addressing any disagreements, and distributed official copies of Quran throughout the Muslim world. Prophet use to ask him to write Quran when its verses were revealed⁵².
• Hadith narrated by Uthman bin Affan: Click here

#4 - Ali ibn Abi Talib - علي بن أبي طالب

• Timeline: 23 BH – 40 AH, Madinah, Makkah, Iraq
• 4th Caliph. Prophet (ﷺ) married his daughter (Fatima) to Ali. Prophet was his guardian, and also his cousin. He was raised by Prophet from childhood. Ali’s father Abu Talib, the uncle of Prophet, asked Ali to be protect Mohammad (ﷺ) and stay with him. Like his father, Ali defended the RasoolAllah his entire life. His loyalty to RasoolAllah can be witnessed from the event, when Prophet migrated to Madinah, Ali took his place and slept on his bed. When Quraish came to kill Mohammad, they found Ali. He was never hesitant to give his own life to protect the Prophet (ﷺ).
• The Prophet said, وَأَقْضَاهُمْ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ - “the best judge is Ali bin Abu Talib” [Ibn Majah].
• The Prophet said, قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏ "‏ أَنَا دَارُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَعَلِيٌّ بَابُهَا ‏" – “the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "I am the house of wisdom, and Ali is its door” [at-Thirmidhi, Daeef]
• Prophet assigned Ali many campaigns and missions. One of which he sent Ali to Yemen for dawah, and due to his efforts large number of people accepted Islam. [Fath al-Bari]
• What Prophet was fatally ill, Abbas his uncle asked Ali to get speak to Prophet, and asked him about transition of khalifa, Ali wisely refused. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Salaf use to give preference to Ali’s views. All three khalifa before Ali, consulted with Ali on matters and considered his opinion. Umar appointed him as the judge. When Umar left for Palistine, he made Ali caliph in command. Later Umar married to Ali’s daughter (Um Kulsoom, and daughter of Fatima) to keep his close relationship with Ali and Prophet. During time of fitna, Ali tried his best to negotiate with them to leave, and send his two sons to remain outside Uthman’s house to protect kalifa. 
• Ali was rashid khalifa, and his governance policy was much like that of Umar ibn Khattab. He kept bayt al-Maal as amanah (trust), and didn’t allow anyone to abuse it. He ruled with Quran and sunnah.

  When Ali became khalifa, he had to deal with civil war on all fronts, in Iraq, Hijaz. Misr and Sham. It consumed most of his time during his khilafa. He took difficult decisions, one of them was to move capital to Kufa (from Madinah).

  While this move may be for many reasons, the long-term impact of this move turned out to be that Kufa turned into city of scholars. This is also why Ahnaf follow ibn Masood and Ali in their rulings.

• Ibn Qadama said in al-Mughni that Abdullah ibn Abbas said when they found the sayings of Ali, then would not refer to any other opinion.
• Ali learned Quran and tafsir directly from the Prophet (ﷺ). He was hafiz of Quran, and was fully aware of reasons of revelations of each verse, and nuskh. He wrote down hadith, and was scribe of the Prophet. He also wrote Treaty of Hudaibiyah. He narrated most ahadith amongst all rashid khulafa. Large number of Companions and Tabi (followers) learned from Ali. 
• Regarding sunnah, Ali used to say: وَكُلٌّ سُنَّةٌ وَهَذَا أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ – “This is all sunnah. And this is dearer to me." [Sunan Abi Dawud]
• Hadith narrated by Ali ibn Abi Talib: Click here

#5 - Abdullah ibn Masud - عبد الله بن مسعود  

• Timeline: ~28 BH - 32 AH, Madinah, Iraq
•  He was the 6th person to accept Islam. He was first one to read Quran outloud in Makkah, and he was punished by Quraish for it. After accepting Islam, he became very close companions and personal assistant to the Prophet (ﷺ). He accompanied the Prophet in journeys and expeditions and attended to his personal needs both inside and outside the house⁵³. Prophet (ﷺ) permitted him to enter his house without permission (if curtains were open). He would carry the shoes of the Prophet and help him wear it, he would hold curtains while Prophet take shower.⁵⁴ . Abdullah ibn Masud received a unique training in the household of the Prophet. He was under the guidance of the Prophet, he adopted his manner and followed his every trait until it was said of him, قَالَ سَأَلْنَا حُذَيْفَةَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ، قَرِيبِ السَّمْتِ وَالْهَدْىِ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى نَأْخُذَ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْرِفُ أَحَدًا أَقْرَبَ سَمْتًا وَهَدْيًا وَدَلاًّ بِالنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنِ ابْنِ أُمِّ عَبْدٍ‏.‏ - “We asked Hudhaifa to tell us of a person resembling (to some extent) the Prophet (ﷺ) in good appearance and straight forward behavior so that we may learn from him (good manners and acceptable conduct). Hudhaifa replied, "I do not know anybody resembling the Prophet (to some extent) in appearance and conduct more than Ibn Um Abd.” [Al-Bukhari]
  

  He and his mother visited so frequently to Prophet’s house that people thought he is ahl-bayt [Al-Muslim]. The Prophet (ﷺ) praised him highly, and once said, عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : " نِعْمَ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ , وَأُمُّ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ , وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ " – “Best of family is Abu Abdullah, and mother of Abdullah, and Abdullah (ibn Masud)” [Ahmed]

• Umar appointed him as a Judge in Kufa, and he was also the officer for treasury and education. Umar sent a letter to people of kufa:
  

  “I appointed Amar bin Yasir as your amir, and Ibn Masud as your teacher and minister. Ibn Masud is also official for bait-ul-mal. These two are honorable companions who participated in badr, so listen to them and follow them. In reality, I preferred them (to serve) you over myself (i.e. they serve as minister in Madinah).⁵⁵

• He was scholar of Quran and best reciter of it. He was a poor shepard prior to Islam, but the moment he gave his allegiance to rasoolallah, he rose the highest status. He became the best faqih and iman of Muslim ummah. He was in constant learning with Prophet, due to his close company. And he often sent his mother to Prophet’s house to learn about woman issues. He said there is no verse in Quran that I am not aware, when and where it was revealed (i.e. he remembers them all). He was one of rare companion who kept a person copy of a mushaf of Quran from time of Prophet. It was very dear to him, when Uthman decreed to destroy all other copies, expect the copy of Abu Bakr, he obeyed with dislike. He narrated many ahadiths of Prophet, and ran a school to teach students. His ahadhiths explaining Quran in tafsir are very popular. 
• Ibn Masud use to dislike explanation of Quran with rai (opinion). He used to get upset about it, and said its wise that person speak if he knows the matter, otherwise say Allah knows best. On one such occasion, a person tried to interpret the verse (تَأْتِي السَّمَاءُ بِدُخَانٍ مُّبِينٍ) – “Then wait you for the Day when the sky will bring forth a visible smoke.” 44:10]. One story teller interpreted this verse with his own opinion and said: “that a smoke will appear from the earth, taking the hearing of disbelievers and manifesting as a cold for the believers”.  
  

  When people approached Ibn Masud, he became upset, and said the reason of revelation of this verse was Quraish misbehaved with the Prophet, Allah (swt) punished them with femine, until their condition worsens and due to hunger and weakness, one of them said “it appeared that smoke was coming out of the earth”. [at-Thirmidhi, also in al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ahmed]

• Ibn Masud is considered pioneer jurist amongst sahabas. The Fiqh of Ahnaf is primarily based upon Abdullah ibn Masud’s fiqh. His students included: Alqamah ibn Qays, Masruq and al-Aswad ibn Yazid. Ibrahim al-Nakhai learned from them, then Hmad bin Abi Sulaiman, and from Hamad to Abu Hanifah.⁵⁶  
• Ibn Masood is a pillar sahabi, from whom large number of sabahas narrated hadith, including Abu Musa Al-ashari, Imran bin Hasain, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Jabir, Ibn Zubair, Abu Saeed al-Khudari, Abu Rafai etc.⁵⁷ 
• In a famous hadith that sums up Ibn Masood’s madhab, he said, قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَؤُمُّ الْقَوْمَ أَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْقِرَاءَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ فِي الْهِجْرَةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ سَوَاءً فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالسُّنَّةِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا فِي السُّنَّةِ سَوَاءً فَأَقْدَمُهُمْ سِنًّا وَلاَ تَؤُمَّ الرَّجُلَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ وَلاَ تَقْعُدْ عَلَى تَكْرِمَتِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَأْذَنَ لَكَ ‏" – “Abu Masud said: "The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: 'Let the one who has most knowledge of the Book of Allah lead the people in prayer. If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the Qur'h, let the one who emigrated first (lead them). If they are equal in terms of emigration, let the one who has more knowledge of the sunnah, (lead them). If they are equal in terms of knowledge of the sunnah, let the one who is oldest (lead them). Do not lead a man in prayer in his place of authority, and do not sit in his place of honor, unless he gives you permission."'” (Sunan an-Nasai)
• Hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Masud: Click here

#6 - Abu al-Darda - أبي الدرداء

• Timeline: ~BH – 32 AH, Madinah, Sham
• He participated in uhud and other battles with the Prophet (ﷺ). At the time of Umar, he allowed him to move to Damascus only if he officially teaches Quran and Hadith, which Abu Darda accepted. Though he was not a badari, despite Umar gave him stipend equals to a badari sahabi. He served as governor of Syria at the time of Uthman. 
• He was very zahid (ascetic) and lived a very simple lifestyle. Abu Darda was considered a scholar by sahabas, and taught Quran and hadith until his death. Large number of students attended his lectures. He memorized Quran when Prophet was alive. His wife Umm Darda was also a famous sahabi and faqhi, and she also narrated hadith. His students included Anas bin Malik, Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umm Darda, Alqama bin Qays, Ibn Sirin⁵⁸.
• He often rebuked Amir Muawiyah, once on expressing his opinion over the hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ), and said: فَقَالَ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ أَنَا أُخْبِرُهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَيُخْبِرُنِي عَنْ رَأْيِهِ لاَ أُسَاكِنُكَ بِأَرْضٍ أَنْتَ بِهَا – “Abu Darda said to him, "Who will excuse me from Muawiya? I tell him something from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he gives me his own opinion! I will not live in the same land as you!"” [Muwata Malik]. He then informed Umar Ibn Khattab, who told Muawiyah to uphold sunnah.
• Hadith narrated by Abu al-Darda: Click here

#7 -Abu Ayyub al-Ansari - أبو أيوب الأنصاري

• Timeline:~ BH – 52 AH, Madinah, Iraq, Egypt
• Close companion of the Prophet (ﷺ), and he took the pledge of Ridwan with the group of Ansar who invited Prophet to Madinah. He has the honor of hosting the Prophet when he arrived in Madinah. Prophet stayed at his house for 6 months. The host looked after the Prophet well and provided daily food. On one occasion when Abu Ayub noticed that Prophet didn’t eat, he inquired. Prophet excused by saying he doesn’t like odor of garlic that was in food. Abu Ayub immediately said: (فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ مَا كَرِهْتَ – “Then I also do not like what you do not like.” [al-Muslim]. 

  Companions respected him darely. When he went to Basra to meet Ali, Ibn Abbas hosted him in his house and moved his family away, by saying I want to host you like you hosted the Prophet.

  His perseverance and eagerness to learn knowledge of sunnah is demonstrated from this story. At the time of Muawiyah, he traveled to Egypt to meet Uqba (عقبة بن عامر الجهني) to inquire about hadith of “ستر المسلم”, and told him that he is the only one now who knows this hadith. Upon recording the hadith, he came back to Madinah [Mentioned in Ahmed]. All that travel to collect one hadith, and then quickly took it back to Madinah, to share with others.

  He also had distinguished military career. He participated in all campaigns with the Prophet, and even after him, and died as a soldier. He martyred in his last campaign in Egypt against Roman. His enthusiasm was still young, even when he was very old. When he charges alone, some one said: لَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ – “and do not throw yourselves into destruction” [2:195], i.e. warning him that he may get killed. Listening that, he corrected them about the interpretation of the verse. He said:

  فَقَامَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ تَتَأَوَّلُونَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ هَذَا التَّأْوِيلَ وَإِنَّمَا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ فِينَا مَعْشَرَ الأَنْصَارِ لَمَّا أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ الإِسْلاَمَ وَكَثُرَ نَاصِرُوهُ فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ سِرًّا دُونَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّ أَمْوَالَنَا قَدْ ضَاعَتْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَعَزَّ الإِسْلاَمَ وَكَثُرَ نَاصِرُوهُ فَلَوْ أَقَمْنَا فِي أَمْوَالِنَا فَأَصْلَحْنَا مَا ضَاعَ مِنْهَا ‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَرُدُّ عَلَيْنَا مَا قُلْنَا‏:‏ ‏(‏وَأَنْفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ‏)‏ فَكَانَتِ التَّهْلُكَةُ الإِقَامَةَ عَلَى الأَمْوَالِ وَإِصْلاَحَهَا وَتَرَكْنَا الْغَزْوَ فَمَا زَالَ  - “Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari said: 'O you people! You give this interpretation for this Ayah, while this Ayah was only revealed about us, the people among the Ansar, when Allah made Islam might, and increased its supporters. Some of us secretly said to each other, outside of the presence of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Our wealth has been ruined, and Allah has strengthened Islam, and increased its supporters, so if we tend to our wealth then what we lost of it shall be revitalized for us." So Allah, Blessed and Most High, revealed to His Prophet (ﷺ), rebuking what we said: 'And spend in the cause of Allah, and do not throw yourselves into destruction. (2:195)' So the destruction was tending to the wealth and maintaining it.'” [at-Thirmidhi]

• This was his last known words. He taught sunnah until his end. He requested that Muslim charge into enemy as deep as possible, and bury him there. A group charged all the way to the fort wall, and buried him near it⁵⁹. 
• Hadith narrated by Abu Ayyub al-Ansari: Click here

#8 - Ubayy ibn Kab - أبي بن كعب

• Timeline: ~ 23-32 AH, Madinah
• He participated in all campaigns with the Prophet, including Badr. The Prophet (ﷺ) padded him for his knowledge, and said: (ليهنك العلم أبا المنذر) “Rejoice by this knowledge, O Abu Mundhir” [Sahih al-Muslim]. 

  The Prophet said that Allah (swt) ordered him to recite to Ubayy, (إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَقْرَأَ عَلَيْكَ) – “Allah has ordered me to recite to you” [Sahih al-Bukhari]

  The Prophet said to take knowledge of Quran from 4 people, Ubayy ibn Kab is one of them (خُذُوا الْقُرْآنَ مِنْ أَرْبَعَةٍ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَسَالِمٍ وَمُعَاذٍ وَأُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ ‏) Take (learn) the Quran from four: Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Muadh and Ubai bin Kab” [Sahih al-Bukhari]. 

  “Al-Masrooq” considered him in group of six companions who gave fatawa. Waqidi considered him the first scribe of the Prophet (ﷺ)⁶¹.

• He was member of Majlis Shoora of Umar. He stayed in Madinah at the time of Umar, and spend most of his time teaching. Umar appointed him as Imam of Taraveh Prayer [Sahih al-Bukhari]. 
• He learned Quran directly from the Prophet (ﷺ). His recitation was so good that even the Prophet (ﷺ) liked to listen to him. The Prophet called him the best of reciters وَأَقْرَؤُهُمْ لِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ أُبَىُّ بْنُ كَعْبٍ – “the best in reciting the Book of Allah is Ubayy bin Kab” [Sunan Ibn Majah]. 
• Uthman appointed Ubayy ibn Kab as head of committee that was responsible for publishing Quran. The Quran we read today is the Qirat of Ubayy. 
• He was regarded for his Quran recitation, tafsir, reason of revelations, abrogation, hadith and fiqh. His students included Abu Hurairah and Ibn Abbas⁶². Ibn Abbas became the best scholar of tafsir of Quran, and Abu Hurrairah narrated most ahadith.
• Hadith narrated by  Ubayy ibn Kab: Click here

#9 - Abdullah bin Umro bin al-Aas - عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص

• Timeline: ~ - 63/73 AH, Madinah, Eqypt, Sham, Taif, Makkah
• He is son of great Companion Amr bin al-Aas, though he accepted Islam before his father. He attended Prophet’s circle regularly and wrote down the ahadiths with his permission. He had his own hand-written book of hadith, that he heard from Prophet. He used to say he memorized thousand ruling from hadiths of Prophet (ﷺ).
• He became very zahid (ascetic), and also didn’t attend his wife, when his father Al-Aas complained to Prophet, Prophet (ﷺ) told him to be obedience to his father, and taught him to maintain balance in life, and said: قال وتقوم الليل قلت نعم قال لكني أصوم وأفطر وأصلي وأنام وأمس النساء فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني - “Prophet said, ‘But I fast, but I also skip fast, I pray at night but I also sleep, and I go to wife. Whoever turns away from sunnah has no relation with me” [Ahmed, similar in al-Muslim, Nisaii, al-Bukhari]. Abdullah insisted with RasoolAllah that he can do more. Due to his insistence, Prophet allowed him fast a day, skip a day, and cautioned him: ثم قال ﷺ فإن لكل عابد شرة ولكل شرة فترة فإما إلى سنة وإما إلى بدعة فمن كانت فترته إلى سنة فقد اهتدى ومن كانت فترته إلى غير ذلك فقد هلك – “Every abid person there is zeal, and every zeal has slackening (after it reach its limit), either toward sunnah or towards biddah. So, when it ends with sunnah, then its guided. When it dents with anything else, then its destroyed” [Ahmed], meaning do any act in moderation, and excessiveness in anything can ruin.

   Abdullah remembered this lesson his whole life. He fasted in this way even when he was very old. When became weakened, he used to say, had he accepted the leave Prophet was giving him, it would be better for him. But (since) he committed with RasoolAllah this way, he hated to breakaway (from what he told Prophet). [Ahmed]

  This demonstrates how much he respected and honored sunnah.

  Abdullah also told us, عن عبد الله بن عمرو قال سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول من قال علي ما لم أقل فليتبوأ مقعده من النار – “I heard Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Whoever ascribes to me what I have not said, then (surely) let him occupy his seat in Hell-fire’” [Ahmed]

• Abuddlah stayed out of the fight between Muawiya and kahlifa Ali, he advised his father to not take part in it. When the Companion Ammar bin Yasir was martyred, he reminded his hadith that Prophet (ﷺ) said Ammar will be killed by a group of rebels. Al-Aas told Muawiya. Who said he is no responsible for it [Ahmed]. And said to him why is he with them? Abdullah replied, only because RasoolAllah emphasized me to be obedience to my father, that’s why I am here, but I don’t take part in fight. [Ahmed]
• Again, it shows his determination to follow sunnah. Abdullah later met Hussain bin Ali and clarified his position in conflict, that I stayed with my father because, I obeyed him as per the instruction of RasoolAllah, but by Allah I never took flight nor hit any one with sword or arrow, in this conflict. Hussain accepted it⁶³.
• Hadith narrated by  Abdullah bin Umro bin al-Aas: Click here 

#10 - Abu Saeed al-khudri - أبو سعيد الخدري

• Timeline: ~ - 74 AH, Madinah 
• His name is Saad bin Malik (سعد بن مالك) and Abu Saeed is kunya. He is Ansar of Madina, and he and his wife accepted Islam after oath of Uqabah (بيعة العقبة). He participated in building Masjib Nabwi. His father Malik bin Sinan defended the Prophet (ﷺ) on Uhud and martyred⁶⁴. 
• He learned hadith and fiqh directly from the Prophet (ﷺ) and great companions including Abu Bakr, Umar, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Anas bin Malik etc. He memorized large number of hadith. He became to be known as great faqih of his time. His school was attended by large number of students. He was staunch follower of sunnah.
• Abu Saeed narrated famous hadith regarding deviation of Muslims from Quran and sunnah: عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ لَتَتْبَعُنَّ سَنَنَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ شِبْرًا شِبْرًا وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلُوا جُحْرَ ضَبٍّ تَبِعْتُمُوهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى قَالَ ‏"‏ فَمَنْ ‏"‏‏. – “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by cubit (i.e., inch by inch) so much so that even if they entered a hole of a mastigure, you would follow them." We said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (Do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?" He said, "Whom else?"” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Hadith narrated by  Abu Saeed al-Khudri: Click here

#11 - Abdullah ibn Umar - عبد الله بن عمر بن الخطاب

• Timeline: 10 BH – 74 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• Son of Umar ibn Khattab, Ibn Umar is the greatest narrator of sunnah of the Prophet, and is only second to Abu Hurairah in narration of hadith. He accompanied the Prophet (ﷺ) since he was born, and witnessed all the battles, and lived amongst Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) his entire life, and he lived 62 years after the Prophet (ﷺ) passed away.
• He was very zahid (ascetic), and frequently fasted, and spend most of his night praying.
• Ibn Umar never held any public office and kept himself away from politics. Uthman offered him position of Judge of Madinah, and Ali appointed him as governor of Syrian, but he excused himself from both position. And he also kept himself away from civil war at the time of Ali.
• He attended most of campaigns with Prophet, and after with Abu Bakr, and Umar. He is one of the Companion who participated in all Muslim campaigns from east to west, i.e. from Ridda wars, Syria wars, Iraq wars all they way till Azerbaijan (near Russia).
• When Abdul Malik bin Marwan became caliph and sought his allegiance, he wrote back: أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ، كَتَبَ إِلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ يُبَايِعُهُ، وَأُقِرُّ لَكَ بِالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ عَلَى سُنَّةِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ، فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ‏.‏ - “I swear allegiance to you in that I will listen and obey what is in accordance with the Laws of Allah and the Tradition of His Apostle as much as I can.'” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• His student included his freed servant Nafai, and his son Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar. Both became greatest scholars among tabiun in Madinah.
• Hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar : Click here

#12 - Anas bin Malik - أنس بن مالك

• Timeline: 10 BH – 93 AH, Madinah, Shan, Basra
•  He was born 10 years before hijra, in Madinah. When his mother (Umm Sulaim) accepted Islam, his father left her to Sham and died there. Umm Sulaim as was a distant relative of Prophet, and was his aunt from mother’s side. She married Abu Talha (later in this section) on condition that he accept Islam. Later he became a great Companion of Prophet (ﷺ). When Prophet arrived in Madinah, Anas was one of the kids greated who him (جاء رسول الله جاء رسول الله) [Ahmad]. 

  Like ibn Masood, Anas was also personal assistant to the Prophet (ﷺ). His step father Abu Talha requested the to Prophet to take his son for the job. He served the Prophet for 10 years. He usually arrived at Prophet house before Fajr, and serve him until noon before taking a break, then return and stay with him till Asr, and pray Asr with him. Then he returns home, where people in his neighborhood mosque waited to pray with Anas. [Ahmed]

  The Prophet (ﷺ) was very pleased with Anas, and often called him son. Once Prophet (ﷺ) broke fast at Anas house, and ate and prayed. Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for the family. His mother asked that Prophet (ﷺ) to pray for his son. Then Prophet prayed for Anas, أنس قال فما ترك خير آخرة ولا دنيا إلا دعا لي به وقال اللهم ارزقه مالا وولدا وبارك له فيه قال فما من الأنصار إنسان أكثر مني مالا وذكر أنه لا يملك ذهبا ولا فضة غير خاتمه قال وذكر أن ابنته الكبرى أمينة أخبرته أنه دفن من صلبه إلى مقدم الحجاج نيفا على عشرين ومائة – “Anas said, Prophet didn’t leave anything that he prayed for me, and said, Oh Allah give him wealth, and children, and bless him in that. Later there was no one in Ansar who was wealthier than me, though before that I did not have any gold or silver except one ring. And Anas said that my elder daughter Amina told me that by the time Hajjaj bin Yousuf come, 120 of my progeny already died.” [Ahmed] . i.e. the Prayer of the blessed Prophet (ﷺ) remained with him.  He lived 103 years.

  In another narration Prophet said: ‏ اللَّهُمَّ أَكْثِرْ مَالَهُ وَوَلَدَهُ، وَبَارِكْ لَهُ فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَهُ ‏ - “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O Allah! increase his wealth and offspring, and bless (for him) what ever you give him” [Al-Bukhari]. Anas also said, قَالَ فَدَعَا لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَلاَثَ دَعَوَاتٍ قَدْ رَأَيْتُ مِنْهُنَّ اثْنَيْنِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأَنَا أَرْجُو الثَّالِثَةَ فِي الآخِرَةِ  - “Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) supplicated for me with three supplications, and I have seem two of them in the world, and I hope for the third in the Hereafter."” [al-Bukhari]

• Anas devoted his live to RasoolAllah, and served him day and night. He insisted with people to love the Messeger and his sunnah. In an emotional hadith, he narrated,
• عن أنس أن رجلا سأل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الساعة فقال ما أعددت لها قال ما أعددت لها من شيء وقال سفيان مرة ما أعددت لها كثير شيء ولكني أحب الله ورسوله قال المرء مع من أحب وقال سفيان مرة أخرى أنت مع من أحببت – “Anas reported, Once a villager came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked about qiyamat, ‘how much time is left?’, Prophet replied, ‘have you prepared for it?’, He said: ‘I don’t have accumulated enough (virtues) for it, but (I do know) I love Allah and his Messenger’. Prophet replied, ‘On day of judgement, people with be who they loved’ [Ahmed]
• His mother Umm Sulaim hosted food for Prophet and his companions, and also arranged for Valima of the Prophet (ﷺ).
• Anas status amongst companions is very high. He participated in all the campaigns with the Prophet (ﷺ), though he was child when Badr happened. But he was present alongside the Prophet (ﷺ), with his step father Abu Talha also participated in Badr⁶⁵. 
• Abu Bakr appointed him as an officer for Bahrain. Umar send him to Basra to teach Fiqh and hadith. He also participated in various campaigns in Persia. During the time of fitna in reign of last khalifa, he kept to himself and did not participate in it. He died in Basra in 93 AH, and was last known companion in Basra.
• Since his closeness and attachment to the merciful Prophet (ﷺ), Anas narrations the shows many aspects of uswa al-hassna about his personal dealings, his manners and his kindness. Without him we would’ve lost a treasure of knowledge. 
• He is considered as one of the fuqaha amongst companions, and he formally taught in school. Just like the Prophet’s prayer game him so many children, he had very large number of students, who treated him like father. Long list of his students, included giants like Hasan al-Basri, Sulaiman al-Taymi, Qatada, Thabit bin Aslam Al-banani, Ibn Sirin, Rabia al-Rai, Shihab az-Zuhri.
• Hadith narrated by  Anas bin Malik: Click here

#13 - Zayd ibn Thabit - زيد بن ثابت الأنصاري

• Timeline: 10 BH – 42-55 AH, Madinah
• He is Ansar of Madinah. When Prophet (ﷺ) migrated to Madinah he was approx. 11 years old. In Tabuk expedition the Prophet took the flag from Amara and gave it to Zayd stating that nothing proceeds Quran, and Zayd knows more Quran⁶⁶. 
• Zayd was scribe of the Prophet (ﷺ) and he use to write Quran when revelation descended. He is one of the companions who collected Quran during life of the Prophet. Anas reported: عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ مَاتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلَمْ يَجْمَعِ الْقُرْآنَ غَيْرُ أَرْبَعَةٍ أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ وَمُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ وَزَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ وَأَبُو زَيْدٍ‏.‏ قَالَ وَنَحْنُ وَرِثْنَاهُ‏.‏ - “When the Prophet (ﷺ) died, none had collected the Quran but four persons; Abu Ad-Darda. Muadh bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and Abu Zaid. We were the inheritor (of Abu Zaid) as he had no offspring” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Allah (swt) gave him the honor of collecting the first copy of Quran, when caliph Abu Bakr summoned it. He choose Zayd to do the task. Zaid said: “By Allah, if Abu Bakr had ordered me to shift a mountain among the mountains from one place to another it would not have been heavier for me than this ordering me to collect the Quran”. [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• He was also scribe for caliph Abu Bakr and Umar. One three ocasions Prophet (ﷺ) appointed him Amir for Madinah while Prophet was away. Uthman bin Affan did same during his khilafa when he went for Hajj.
• Besides his knowledge of Quran, he was a great faqih and Prophet (ﷺ) called him out in the most famous hadith: وَأَفْرَضُهُمْ زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ – “the most knowledgeable of the rules of inheritance (Fara'id) is Zaid bin Thabit.” [Sunan ibn Majah]
• Hadith narrated by Zayb ibn Thabit : Click here

#14 - Aisha bint Abu Bakr Siddique - عائشة بنت أبي بكر الصديق

• Timeline: 9 BH – 57 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• The Prophet (ﷺ) married her after the demise of his first wife Khadija, approx. 2 or 3 years before migration to Madinah [Sahih al-Bukhari]. It was reported in numerous Sahih hadith that she was 6 years old at the time of marriage and she moved to Madinah with Prophet at 9 [Sahih al-Bukhari], and Prophet was 50 years old. His marriage was arranged by Khawla bint Hakeem bin Awqas⁶⁷. She and her father Abu Bakr were most beloved to the Prophet [Sahih al-Bukhari]. Few enemies of Islam and munkir hadiths tried to make controversy around age of Aisha, however, all preserved evidences including al-Bukhari, al-Muslim, Musnad Ahmed, Ibn Saad, Ibn Abd al-bir, ibn Atheer, Ibn Hajr, Mustud al-Hakim and Aisha her self is witness to it⁶⁸.
• She came under the loving care and training of the Prophet (ﷺ) himself and became one of the most celebrated faqih and muhadith. She narrated large number of hadith. In, she addressed numerous fiqh matters relating to women.
• She lived approx. 47 years after the demise demise of Prophet and was instrumental in preserving more than two thousand hadith. Aisha is one of the companion who had her own written copy of Quran. Abu Younus, a servant of Aisha, wrote Quran while she receited it to him [Ahmed bin Hanbal]. She would ask Prophet directly for tafsir of any verse of Quran. Unlike other companions, she would repeatedly ask the Prophet, until she has well understood a topic [Sahih al-Bukhari].
• She was the most learned female Muslim Jurish (faqih) in Islamic history. The companions use to consult her in matters of fiqh and hadith. Iman az-Zuhri who if from tabieen said, كانت عائشة اعلم الناس يسئلها الاكابر من اصحاب رسول الله – “Aisha was the biggest scholar amongst the people. Greatest companions of Messenger of Allah use to consult her” [Tabaqat ibn Saad]⁶⁹. Abu Musa said: عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ مَا أَشْكَلَ عَلَيْنَا أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدِيثٌ قَطُّ فَسَأَلْنَا عَائِشَةَ إِلاَّ وَجَدْنَا عِنْدَهَا مِنْهُ عِلْمًا – “"Never was a Hadith unclear to us - the Companions of the Messenger of Allah - and we asked Aishah, except that we found some knowledge concerning it with her."” [Jami At-Tirmidhi].
• Hadith narrated by Umm-ul-momineen Asiha: Click here

#15 - Abdullah ibn az-Zubair - عبد الله بن الزبير

• Timeline: 1 AH – 73 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• He is son of famous companion Zubair bin Awam, who was nephew of Khadija (wife of Prophet) and his mother Safiyah bint abd al-Muttalib was aunt of Prophet (ﷺ). Hence, his father was first cousin of Prophet. His father is first few people who accepted Islam on Abu Bakr’s call. His mother was Asma bint Abu Bakr and sister of Aisha (wife of Prophet).
• Ibn Abbas said about Abdullah in az-Zubair: “Az-Zubair was the helper of the Prophet, his (maternal) grandfather, Abu Bakr was (the Prophet's) companion in the cave, his mother, Asma' was 'Dhatun-Nitaq', his aunt, `Aisha was the mother of the Believers, his paternal aunt, Khadija was the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) , and the paternal aunt of the Prophet (ﷺ) was his grandmother. He himself is pious and chaste in Islam, well versed in the Knowledge of the Qur'an.” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Ibn Abbas also took stand against yazid and ummyads. When people of Makkah agreed on him, he established his caliphate in Makkah and parts of Iraq, southern arabia, Syria and Egypt. His rule lasted 7 years. He was finally martyred by Hajjaj bin Yousuf .
• Ibn Abbas said: إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ تَنْظُرَ إِلَى صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاقْتَدِ بِصَلاَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ ‏.‏  - “If you like to see the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) follow the prayer as offered by Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr.” [Sunan Abi Dawood]
• Hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn az-Zubair: Click here

#16 - Abdullah ibn Abbas - عبد الله بن عباس

• Timeline:  3 BH – 68 AH, Madinah, Makkah
• He was cousin of the Prophet (ﷺ), and also nephew of his wife (Maymunah). 
• Prophet (ﷺ) prayed for increase in knowledge of ibn Abass, عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ ضَمَّنِي إِلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ عَلِّمْهُ الْكِتَابَ ‏" – “Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) embraced me and said, "O Allah! Teach him (the knowledge of) the Book (Qur'an)."” [Al-Bukhari]
• He occasionally slept over at his aunt’s house (Maymunah), and would get a chance to pray tahhajut prayers with Prophet. Once he placed the water for his ablution, which he liked and Prayed for him,   اللهُمَّ فَقِّهْهُ فِي الدِّينِ ، وَعَلِّمْهُ التَّأْوِيلَ – “Oh Allah make him learned scholar in Islam, and teach him science of interpreting (Quran)” [Ahmed, and also al-Bukhari]
• He was 13 years old when Prophet passed away. Umar took him under his wing and kept him in the company of the Companions of Badr.
• عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يُدْنِي ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ إِنَّ لَنَا أَبْنَاءً مِثْلَهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ تَعْلَمُ‏.‏ فَسَأَلَ عُمَرُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ ‏{‏إِذَا جَاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ‏}‏ فَقَالَ أَجَلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَعْلَمَهُ إِيَّاهُ، فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ مِنْهَا إِلاَّ مَا تَعْلَمُ‏. – “Narrated Ibn Abbas:`Umar bin Al-Khattab used to let Ibn Abbas sit beside him, so AbdurRahman bin Auf said to Umar, "We have sons similar to him."Umar replied, "(I respect him) because of his status that you know (His Knowledge)."Umar then asked Ibn Abbas about the meaning of this Holy Verse:-- "When comes the help of Allah and the conquest of Mecca . . ." (110.1) Ibn Abbas replied, "That indicated the death of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which Allah informed him of."Umar said, "I do not understand of it except what you understand."” [Al-Bukhari]
• Ibn Abbas also loved Umar, and use to say, وَاحِدٍ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْهُمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَكَانَ أَحَبَّهُمْ – “one among companions is 'Umar b. Khattab, and he is most dear to me among them” [al-Muslim]
• Umar encouraged him to answer questions and use to give him complex issues to resolve. Efforts of Umar paid off, and Ibn Abbas became one of the greatest scholars of Quran, tafsir, hadith, and fiqh. He was remembered as (حبر الأمة) – scholar of ummah and (ترجمان القرآن) explainer of Quran, due to his great knowledge.
• When Uthman got held up in Madinah due to riots, he officiated Ibn Umar for leader of Hajj in his place. Ali appointed him as governor of Basra. Later he was elevated to amir for whole Persian region.  He was instrumental to return peace in Persia. Ibn Abbas student’s circle was large, and 200 students have narrated from him. His scheduled class on different topics (like fiqh, tafsir etc) on separate days, so the students of desired topic can come together on that day. He held great knowledge on hadith, and (fatawas) judgement of Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman, and may other companions who held position of judge. Ibn Abbas himself left large repository of his own fatawas. Three personalities influenced heavily towards his knowledge, i.e. Umar, Ali and Ubayy bin Kab. He himself conveyed that he use to check with 30 companions regarding any issue. 
• His students includes Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, Tawus bin Kaysa, Mujahid bin Jabir
• Hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas : Click here

#17 - Abu Hurairah ad-Dausi - أبو هريرة

• Timeline: 12 BH – 59 AH, Baha, Yemen, Madinah
• He is from a tribe of ad-Daus, a region in Yemen near Red Sea. The tribe chief Tufail ibn Amr accepted Islam in Makkah and went back to his tribe to teach them Islam. Abu Hurrairah responded to his calls and embraced Islam. They went back to Madinah at the time of battle of Khaibar, and he accepted Islam on Prophet hand.
• The Prophet advised Abu Hurairah to be kind to his mother while she was a polytheist. [Agreed Upon] Prophet prayed for his mother to become Muslim, after which she accepted Islam. [Sahih al-Muslim]
• Umar appointed him as a governor of Bahrain. Abu Huraiah narrated most number of hadiths and held high status amongst sahabas for his memory. He was keen to learn hadith, and often asked questions that other companions hesitated. Even the Prophet recognized that. Once, Abu Huraiah asked about intercession, Prophet replied: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لَقَدْ ظَنَنْتُ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ أَنْ لاَ يَسْأَلَنِي عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَحَدٌ أَوَّلُ مِنْكَ، لِمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ حِرْصِكَ عَلَى الْحَدِيثِ، أَسْعَدُ النَّاسِ بِشَفَاعَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، خَالِصًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ أَوْ نَفْسِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ - “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Abu Huraira! "I have thought that none will ask me about it before you as I know your longing for the (learning of) Hadiths. The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from the” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Abu Hurariah narrated many hadith relating to knowledge and teaching:
  • Prophet said: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَفْضَلُ الصَّدَقَةِ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَ الْمَرْءُ الْمُسْلِمُ عِلْمًا ثُمَّ يُعَلِّمَهُ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ ‏"‏ ‏ - “The Prophet said: "The best of charity is when a Muslim man gains knowledge, then he teaches it to his Muslim brother."” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
  • Prophet said: قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ عِلْمًا مِمَّا يُبْتَغَى بِهِ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لاَ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ إِلاَّ لِيُصِيبَ بِهِ عَرَضًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَجِدْ عَرْفَ الْجَنَّةِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ يَعْنِي رِيحَهَا ‏ - “The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone acquires knowledge that should be sought seeking the Face of Allah, but he acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the arf, i.e. the fragrance, of Paradise.” [Sunan Abi Dawood]
  • Prophet said: عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يَحْفَظُ عِلْمًا فَيَكْتُمُهُ إِلاَّ أُتِيَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مُلْجَمًا بِلِجَامٍ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ - “The Prophet said: "There is no man who memorizes knowledge then conceals it, but he will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection bridled with reins of fire."” [Sunan Ibn Majah]
  • Prophet said: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ – “the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes a path upon which to obtain knowledge, Allah makes the path to Paradise easy for him."” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]
  • Prophet said: عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يُقْبَضُ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرُ الْجَهْلُ وَالْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرُ الْهَرْجُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا الْهَرْجُ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدِهِ، فَحَرَّفَهَا، كَأَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ الْقَتْلَ‏.‏ - “The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "(Religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious scholars) ignorance (in religion) and afflictions will appear; and Harj will increase." It was asked, "What is Harj, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" He replied by beckoning with his hand indicating "killing."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
• Large number of companions and tabiun reported hadith from him. Hadith narrated by Abu-Hurairah: Click here

#18 - Jabir ibn Abdullah bin Amr bin Haram - جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري

• Timeline: 16 BH - ~78 AH, Madinah
• He is an ansari from Banu Khazrij. He accepted Islam with his father. He couldn’t participate in Badr and Uhud, as his father participated in them and he was asked to look after his 9 sisters. His father was martyred in Battle of Uhud, after which he participated in 19 battles with Prophet. He married a divorced woman, so she can look after his sisters, and Prophet approved of it saying he did the right thing [Musnad Ahmed]. In battle of Siffin he fought on the side with Ali ibn Talib. Like many other sahabas, he also suffered at the hand of Hajjaj (in 74 AH)⁷².  
• Jabir was very close companion of the Prophet (ﷺ) and prophet often made dua for him. Jabir didn’t have any children, and he asked the Prophet about how to deal with inheritance without children. The Prophet informed him when that the verse (يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ اللَّـهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِي الْكَلَالَةِ) [Qutan 4:176] was revealed about his situation [Musnad Ahmed, Sahih al-Bukhari].⁷³
• He narrated large number of hadith. He also traveled far distances to collect hadith from other companions. He taught at Majid Nabawi and had large number of students. He taught fiqh, tafseer and hadith.
• Hadith narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah: Click here

#19 - Muadh bin Jabal - معاذ بن جبل

• Timeline: ~18 BH – 18 AH, Yemen
• He accepted Islam when he was 18. He was part of seventy men delegation of Ansaar who took the oath of allegiance to the Prophet in second allegiance of Aqabah. 
• In a series of famous hadiths, when Prophet (ﷺ) sent him to Yemen, the proper procedure for Islamic jurisprudence is provided by the Prophet (ﷺ) him self.
  • عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ رِجَالٍ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُعَاذٍ عَنْ مُعَاذٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ كَيْفَ تَقْضِي ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَقْضِي بِمَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَبِسُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي سُنَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَجْتَهِدُ رَأْيِي ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَفَّقَ رَسُولَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ ‏. – “Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent Muadh to Yemen, so 
    1. He (ﷺ) said: "How will you judge?" He (Muadh) said: "I will judge according to what is in Allah's Book." 
    2. He (ﷺ) said: "If it is not in Allah's Book?" He (Muadh) said: "Then with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." 
    3. He (ﷺ) said: "If it is not in the Sunnah of Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?" He (Muadh) said: "I will give in my view." 
    4. He (ﷺ) said: "All praise is due to Allah, the One Who made the messenger of the Messenger of Allah suitable."” [Jami at-Tirmidhi]

    Hence, this became the first principal of Islamic Fiqh (jurisprudence), i.e. Quran, Sunnah and Qiyaas.

  • Allah has commanded us to preach Islam in a beautiful manner: ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ. – “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction and argue with them in a way that is best”. [Quran 16:125]. Prophet advised him: أَحْسِنْ خُلُقَكَ لِلنَّاسِ يَا مُعَاذُ بْنَ جَبَلٍ - “Make your character good for the people, Muadh ibn Jabal!” [Muwatta Malik]
  • Prophet (ﷺ) advised him to introduce Islam to people gradually. Starting with aqueeda (believes), then salah (prayers), then zakat (charity), so on so forth.عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ مُعَاذًا، - قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّكَ تَأْتِي قَوْمًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ ‏.‏ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ فَتُرَدُّ فِي فُقَرَائِهِمْ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَإِيَّاكَ وَكَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ حِجَابٌ ‏"‏ ‏ - “t is reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that Muadh said: The Messenger of Allah sent me (as a governor of Yemen) and (at the time of departure) instructed me thus: You will soon find yourself in a community one among the people of the Book, so 
    5. first call them to testify that there is no god but Allah, that I (Muhammad) am the messenger of Allah, and 
    6. if they accept this, then tell them Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers during the day and the night and 
    7. if they accept it, then tell them that Allah has made Zakat obligatory for them that it should be collected from the rich and distributed among the poor, and 
    8. if they agree to it don't pick up (as a share of Zakat) the best of their wealth. 
    9. Beware of the supplication of the oppressed for there is no barrier between him and Allah.” [Sahih al-Muslim]
  • Prophet (ﷺ) advised him to be easy on people, and don’t act like dictators. أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ مُعَاذًا وَأَبَا مُوسَى إِلَى الْيَمَنِ قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَسِّرَا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلاَ تُنَفِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلاَ تَخْتَلِفَا – “The Prophet (ﷺ) sent Mu`adh and Abu Musa to Yemen telling them. 'Treat the people with ease and don't be hard on them; give them glad tidings and don't fill them with aversion; and love each other, and don't differ."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]
  • When Muadh lead a isha prayer in his neighborhood mosque and stated to recite long surah al-Baqara, one person complained to the Prophet (ﷺ), who advised: يَا مُعَاذُ أَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ ـ ثَلاَثًا ـ اقْرَأْ ‏{‏وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا‏}‏ وَ‏{‏سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى‏}‏ وَنَحْوَهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ - “The Prophet called Muadh and said thrice, "O Muadh! You are putting the people to trials? Recite 'Washshamsi wad-uhaha' (Chapter 91) or'Sabbih isma Rabbi ka-l-A'la' (Chapter 87) or the like."” [Sahih al-Bukhari]. Advising him to recite smaller surah and make it easy for people.
• Umar ibn Khattab often considered making Muadh his successor, due to his extraordinary knowledge. Umar sent him to Syria to teach people Quran and Hadith. He passed away there at age of 36. He was one of the greatest scholar of Islam and fiqh (jurisprudence), and Prophet (ﷺ) himself taught him. Prophet (ﷺ) said about him: وَأَعْلَمُهُمْ بِالْحَلاَلِ وَالْحَرَامِ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ  - “the most knowledgeable of what is lawful and unlawful is Muadh bin Jabal” [Sunan ibn Majah]
• Hadith narrated by Muad bin Jabal: Click here

#20 - Abu Talha bin Sahl - أبو طلحة بن سهل الأنصاري

• Timeline: ~ - 33/51 AH, Madinah
• He was the ansar brother of Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah. He protected Rasulallah on day of Uhud, and he was the companion who prepared Prophet’s grave. He participated in all battles with the Prophet. He was well trusted by companions. Umar appointed him as the guard to watch over 6 people committee that was to elect the next khalifa, and he was given authority to act against the revered sahabas, if they didn’t come out with consensus. 

  His obedience to Prophet was outstanding. When the verse (لَن تَنَالُوا الْبِرَّ حَتَّىٰ تُنفِقُوا مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ) – “By no means shall you attain Al-Birr, unless you spend (in Allah's Cause) of that which you love;” [3:92]. He approached Prophet to donate his beloved garden “bairuha” a property that earned him lot of profits. Prophet asked him to give it in charity to to nearest relatives, he obeyed. [Agreed Upon]. So, Abu Talha reserved the garden as waqf (endowment) for his relatives.

  The Prophet (ﷺ) declared alcohol haram. When the news reached him, he was drinking wine prepared from dates, he immediately told his (step) son Anas bin Malik to break the mortar. [al-Bukhari, Muwata, Ahmed]

• A man came to the Prophet, but he had nothing (no food) to entertain him. He asked his companions, and Abu Talha took him to his house. But his wife told him there is little food just for children. He asked his wife to put kids to sleep, and lower the lamb light (so guest can’t notice) and he served all the food to Prophet’s guest, while him and his wife ate nothing and slept hungy. When he met the Messenger next morning, he said: “Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) who said, "Tonight Allah laughed or wondered at your action." Then Allah revealed: ‏{‏وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ وَمَنْ يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ‏} - "But give them (emigrants) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that, And whosoever is saved from the covetousness Such are they who will be successful." (59.9)” [al-Bukhari]⁷⁴. 
• Hadith narrated by him: Click here

END OF PART 

FOOTNOTES

51. Ibn Hajr Asqalani, (الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة، ابن حجر العسقلانی)
52. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
53. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري), b2-1, p362
54. Mohammad Abu Zahra al-Misry, (الحديث والمحدثون) p188, Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري), b2-1, p362
55. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري), b2-1, p362
56. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
57. Mohammad Abu Zahra al-Misry, (الحديث والمحدثون) p189 
58. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة), b2-p177
59. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
60. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة), p227
61. Ibn Hajr Asqalani, (الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة، ابن حجر العسقلانی)
62. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
63. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري) 
64. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
65. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري)
66. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري)
67. Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari, (أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة ، عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري)
68. Syed Salman Nadwi (سيرة عائشة)
69. Mohammad bin Saad Al-Basri (طبقات ابن سعد)
70. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
71. Dr. Mohammad Rawas Qalaji, (موسوعة فقه عبد الله بن عباس - محمد رواس قلعه جي)
72. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
73. Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)
74.   Shah Moenuddin Ahmed Nadwi, (سیر الصحابة)