The Companionship of the Beloved Prophet ﷺ

Companionship of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Mawlana Adnan Ahmad Attari Madani

The ordinary believers who spent a moment with the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم were granted honour, greatness, and the esteemed rank of being his noble Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم. The opportunities to gain blessings from this companionship were endless. People met the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in gatherings, alone, in the day, and during the night. People travelled from afar to meet him, irrespective of whether they were rich or poor. Furthermore, a separate time was allocated to teach women about the rulings of Islam.

The noble Companions رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم shared the beautiful and memorable moments they spent alongside the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with the rest of the Ummah. Then, through the TābiꜤīn, these great memories were conveyed onwards and preserved in written form by the scholars, Hadith masters, and authors of the sīrah. This in turn illuminated the hearts of countless Muslims with the love of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

One day, Sayyidunā Zayd bin Thābit رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was asked about the etiquettes of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He said, “Where do I begin? I was his neighbour, and when he received divine revelation, he would call me, and I wrote down what was revealed to him. Whenever we mentioned a worldly matter, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم supported us. We spoke about food, and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spoke about it with us.”[1] Here are some more incidents in which the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم blessed his followers.

The right of a Muslim

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was sitting in the masjid and moved to create space for someone who had just entered. The man said, “O Messenger of Allah! There is plenty of space.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “It is the right of a Muslim that when his brother sees him arrive, he should move for him.”[2]

Gentle with his Companions

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never abused or cursed others, and he never said obscene words. If he wanted to admonish someone, he said, “What is wrong with him? May his forehead be covered in dust.”[3]

Greeting visitors

Whenever a member of the house or a relative entered the home, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم welcomed them wholeheartedly. He happily welcomed Lady Fāṭimah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا when she entered the home. Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم expressed happiness and greeted Sayyidunā ꜤAlī’s رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ sister, Umm Hānī رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, when she visited.[4] The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also welcomed the delegation of ꜤAbd al-Qays.[5]

Taking care of servants

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would visit people who were ill. Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports:

A Jewish boy who used to serve the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fell ill. So, the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to visit him. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who said to his son, “Obey Abū al-Qāsim.” The boy accepted Islam, and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Praise be to Allah Who saved him from Hell.”[6]

Giving to those who did not ask

The generosity of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was not limited to those who sought from him. In fact, he would give large sums of money to people who did not seek anything from him, which is an unparalleled level of kindness.[7]

Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave a man a large flock of sheep that would have filled a valley between two mountains. The man returned to his people and said, “My people! Embrace Islam. By Allah, Muhammad    صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is so generous that he does not fear poverty.”[8]

The Prophet’s compassion

After the Fajr prayer, the servants of Madina went to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with containers full of water, and he dipped his hand into every one of them. Sometimes they came during a cold dawn [and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was not reluctant in fulfilling their request], and he dipped his hand in them.[9]

Advising people directly

When a man with dishevelled hair and an untidy appearance went to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Do you have wealth?”

“Yes”, replied the man.

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم enquired, “What kind of wealth?”

 He replied, “Allah has granted me all types of wealth: camels, goats, horses, cows, and slaves.”

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم responded, “When Allah has granted you wealth, the effects of His blessings should be visible on you.”[10]

Indirect encouragement to have a good appearance

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم visited an unkempt man with untidy hair. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Could this man not find anything to tidy his hair?” Upon seeing someone who was wearing dirty clothes, the Prophet               صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Could he not find something to wash his garments with?”[11]

Advising through examples

During a journey, behind some thorny trees, the people saw camels with their udders tied [a sign that the udders are full of milk]. Some young people rushed towards them for their milk, but the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم told them to come back, and they did. He addressed them saying, “These camels belong to a family of Muslims; this is their sustenance, and after Allah, belong to them. Would you be happy if you returned to your vessels and found them to be empty? Do you think that is fair?”

They replied, “No.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “This is like that.”[12]

Sharing food with others

Whenever the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ate, he would invite the noble Companions رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُم to join him. Sayyidunā Salmān al-Fārisī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ presented a bowl of fresh dates to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said it was charity. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Give it to the poor and needy because we do not accept charity.” The next day, Sayyidunā Salmān Fārisī رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ presented a bowl of fresh dates as a gift to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم indicated to the companions that they should eat with him.[13]

Gifts to children

Some clothes were brought to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Amongst them there was also a small square black garment with designs. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Bring Umm Khālid to me.” So, the small girl was brought to him, and she started playing with the seal of prophethood [between the Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم shoulders]. Her father rebuked her, but the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم told him, “Leave her.” Then the Prophet    صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم put the garment upon her with his own hands and said, “Wear it long and wear it out, then wear it long and wear it out.” The garment had green or yellow patterns.[14]

Encouraging the Companions to pray

The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would observe iꜤtikāf in the last ten days of Ramadan and say, “Search for the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramadan.”[15]

Encouraging the Companions to remember Allah

When two thirds of the night had passed, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would get up and say, “O people! Remember Allah! Remember Allah.”[16]

Humour of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم lovingly called out to Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, “O you with two ears!”[17]

Interpretation of dreams

Whenever the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم finished the Fajr prayer, he would ask, “Who amongst you had a dream last night?” Whoever had a dream would narrate it, and he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم interpreted it.[18]

Allocating time to teach women

A woman came to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Men benefit from your teachings, so please specify a day for us yourself where we can come to you and learn what Allah has taught you.” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Gather on such-and-such day at such-and-such place.”[19]

Showing people how to work

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by a boy who was skinning an animal and said, “Move aside, and I will show you how.” Then he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم showed the boy the method and said, “Young man, this is how you skin an animal.”[20]

Teaching spiritual practices

Sayyidunā Jābir bin ꜤAbdullāh رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا reports that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would teach us how to perform istikhārah in all matters just as he taught us the chapters of the Quran.[21]

Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه writes regarding this Hadith, “Istikhārah means seeking goodness, or to consult someone. In this supplication and prayer, it is as if you are consulting Allah for advice on whether you should perform an action or not. This is why it is called istikhārah.”[22]

Fulfilling the rights of his Companions

During the final days of his life, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gathered everyone inside the masjid. Then, with the support of Sayyidunā Faḍl bin ꜤAbbās رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم entered the masjid, stood at the pulpit and said, “If I have spoken harshly to someone, here is my honour; he may take retribution. If I have hit someone on the stomach, here is my stomach; he may hit me. If I have taken someone’s wealth, here is my wealth; he may take from it. Let no one say that (if I had taken retribution) I feared malice and enmity from the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Listen! This is not in my nature or my morality. According to me, the best amongst you is the one whose right has been suppressed and he takes from me so that I can meet my Lord with a pure soul.”

A man stood up and asked for three dirhams. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked why. The man answered, “I gave you a loan on such and such day.” The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم told Sayyidunā Faḍl bin ꜤAbbas رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا to give the man what he asked for.[23]

The fortunate people who adopted the Prophet’s companionship and died as believers have pleased their Lord. Good company and friendships are beneficial for the hereafter, so befriend good people, and adopt the company of the righteous. We should ask Allah Almighty for these blessings too. When Sayyidunā ꜤAlqamah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه travelled to Syria, he entered the masjid, offered two cycles of prayer, and made the following supplication: اَللّٰہُمَّ یَسِّرْ لِیْ جَلِیْسًا صَالِحًا “O Allah! Facilitate for me a pious companion.” After the prayer, he sat with a group of people and saw another man join them. He asked the people who that man was, and they replied, “That is Sayyidunā Abū Dardāˈ.” Sayyidunā ꜤAlqamah رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said, “I asked Allah for a righteous companion, and He granted me one.”[24]

Every moment of the beloved Prophet’s صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم life is worthy of emulation and full of blessings and guidance. It brings about improvement in our lives. Therefore, we should talk to our companions gently with pure speech, supplicate for them, and encourage them to perform worship. If one of your friends is committing evil, teach him what is correct with love and kindness. Correct people through examples, visit the ill, and wholeheartedly welcome people who come to visit you.

Similarly, spend time with your family, provide women with an Islamic education, fulfil the needs and expenses of your family, give gifts to children and do not curse and severely rebuke children when they make a mistake. Teach them the manners of sitting, eating, drinking, and how to live a dignified life. Grant them the mindset of taking responsibility, and encourage them to become hard working members of society. By acting upon the teachings and examples of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, our hearts will become enlightened, and that will lead to goodness in this world and the hereafter.