The Companions of the Prophet brought about a revolution based on monotheism and set in motion a significant intellectual revolution in human history.
Four thousand years ago, Prophet Abraham was born in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq. There, he continued his mission of calling his people of that time to the right path. However, the conditioning of the people of his community had become so strong that they were not willing to accept his message. In response to this, under the command of God, Prophet Abraham started a new plan.
The implementation of this plan began when he took his wife Hajar and their young son Ishmael to the desert of Arabia and settled them in an uninhabited environment.
Through this particular plan, a new generation was born in Arabia. It was within this generation that the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, was born in the year 570 CE. From this very generation, the individuals who are known as the Companions of the Prophet were also born. The Companions of the Prophet were essentially the contemporaries and devoted followers of Prophet Muhammad. In the Quran, they are referred to as the “best of community” (3:110). The Companions of the Prophet possessed exceptional qualities, and their attributes are mentioned in various places in the Quran. In this context, a verse from the Quran is quoted here:
Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who are with him are firm and unyielding towards those who deny the truth, but compassionate towards one another. You see them bowing and prostrating themselves, seeking the grace of God and His good will. Their marks are on their faces, the traces of their prostrations; they are described in the Torah and in the Gospel as being like a seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands firm on its own stem, delighting the sowers. He seeks to enrage the disbelievers through them. God has promised forgiveness and a great reward to those of them who believe and do good works. (48:29)
In the Quran, special qualities of the Companions of the Prophet are mentioned in relation to two historical predictions. One prediction is mentioned in the Torah, and the other is found in the Gospel which is explained later in this section. In the Torah, the Companions of the Prophet are described in these words:
“He came with ten thousand of saints.” (Deuteronomy 33:2)
According to the reference in the Bible, the Companions of the Prophet possessed a saintly character.
The noble attributes of the Companions of the Prophet, as mentioned in the Quranic verse, are given in the following sections.
Acknowledging the Prophet before Historical Recognition
Among these qualities, the first quality is indicated by the phrase in the above Quranic verse (48:29): “And those who are with him,” referring to those who accompany the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When did they accompany him? They accompanied Prophet Muhammad during a time when his personal historical greatness had not yet been established. They recognized Prophet Muhammad based on his intrinsic merit, perceiving an extraordinary personality within an outwardly ordinary individual. They acknowledged his status even before he attained widespread historical recognition. They recognized the Prophet before his esteemed reputation became evident in any way.
The Companions recognized Muhammad, the son of Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib, as the representative of God and wholeheartedly submitted to him. They supported the Prophet of Islam during times of difficulty (The Quran, 9:117).
Remaining United Like a Fortified Structure
The second attribute of the Companions of the Prophet, as mentioned in the above Quranic verse (48:29) as ‘compassionate towards one another’ signifies their deep compassion and goodwill towards one another. This attribute holds exceptional significance when considering that, like any human group, the Companions also had their fair share of differences. However, they remained united like a strong and fortified structure (The Quran, 61:4). They proved their ability to stay united despite their differences, to be well-wishers of one another despite grievances, and to build a positive personality within themselves despite negative circumstances. It was precisely this attribute of the Companions that empowered them to establish a revolutionary movement centered around monotheism, which ultimately changed the course of human history.
Bowing and Prostrating in Prayer
The third attribute of the Companions of the Prophet is expressed by the phrase “bowing and prostrating in prayer” (The Quran, 48:29). This indicates their complete submission to God. They had reached a state of total surrender and possessed a profound understanding of God’s greatness. When individuals consciously comprehend the absolute power of God and recognize their total helplessness, they willingly submit themselves to Him with humility. In their hearts and minds, there is no greatness left but the greatness of God. God becomes their sole concern. This exemplifies the essence of perfect monotheism, and the Companions of the Prophet had attained the highest level of this monotheism in the perfect sense.
Utmost Conviction and Trust in God
The fourth attribute of the Companions of the Prophet is described in the above Quranic verse (48:29) as “Seeking the grace of God and His goodwill.”
This indicates that the Companions had a deep-rooted conviction in the existence of God. They had unwavering faith in God, recognizing that He is the ultimate Bestower and Withholder and that success and failure are determined by His will. They placed their utmost trust in God, prioritizing Him above all else. Their hopes and aspirations were entirely dependent on God.
Qualities of Sincerity, Piety, and Humility
The sixth attribute of the Companions of the Prophet, as expressed in the words refers to ‘the visible marks on their faces from the traces of prostration.’ (The Quran, 48:29) This indicates that the Companions had attained the highest level of qualities such as sincerity, piety, and humility. These qualities are the defining characteristics of perfect humanity, these are the qualities that make a man a superman. A person possessing these qualities is considered to have a divine personality. Without a doubt, the Companions of the Prophet exemplified perfection in these attributes.
A Nation of Heroes
Following this, the above Quranic verse (48:29) mentions the specific attribute of the Companions of the Prophet, which is expressed in the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. He likened the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows into the largest plant and becomes a tree, providing shelter for birds to nest in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32).
This attribute of the Companions of the Prophet, briefly mentioned in the Torah and further elaborated in the Quran, pertains to their individual qualities. These qualities were present in every Companion at the highest level of perfection. In the words of an Orientalist, these qualities transformed each Companion into a hero. (Philip K. Hitti: History of the Arabs, p. 142)
Ushering in a Revolution based on Monotheism
Another attribute of the Companions of the Prophet, mentioned in both the Gospel and the Quran (48:29), is depicted through a parable that illustrates the social revolution brought about by the Companions. This parable takes the form of a tree, symbolizing their impact and influence. The seed of this tree was planted in the Arabian deserts approximately two and a half thousand years before the birth of the Prophet of Islam. Its roots can be traced back to the sacrifices made by Prophet Abraham, Hajar, and Ishmael. Over time, this tree grew and flourished, passing on its legacy from one generation to another.
The Companions of the Prophet were the successors of this historical lineage. Through their exceptional sacrifices, they took the ideology of monotheism to the era of a profound intellectual revolution. This revolution set in motion a new process in human history, leading to significant global transformations. French historian, Henri Pirenne (d. 1935) acknowledged this revolutionary event by stating: “Islam changed the face of the globe, the traditional order of history was overthrown.”
Astonishing the Farmers
The phrase ‘The farmers are amazed’ (The Quran, 48:29) in this alludes to a historical backdrop. During the early stages of the mission of the Prophet and his Companions, it was a recurring event that the messengers of God sowed the seed of the call of monotheism, but it failed to grow into a thriving tree. However, it was through the Companions of the Prophet of Islam that this incident occurred for the first time. This development brought immense joy to the entire world, as they had been anticipating for centuries to witness the flourishing garden of the call to monotheism.
Faith and Righteous Deeds
The above Quranic verse (48:29) also states that among them are those who believe and do good works. God has promised them forgiveness and a great reward. This glad tiding is directly for the Companions of the Prophet and indirectly for all those who discover the role of the Companions and carry it forward in subsequent generations until the Day of Judgment. Sustaining this legacy is a challenging endeavour that entails innovative thinking and rejuvenating capabilities in those who engage in this mission. Those individuals who demonstrate the noble qualities of faith and righteous deeds in future generations will be included in the glad tidings as mentioned in the Quran.
