1. Mullah Muhammed bin Yaqoob Kulaini, regarded as being among the most prominent Shi’ite scholars of Hadith, states:
وان الشيخين فارقا الدنيا ولم يتوبا ولم يتذكرا ما صنعا بامير المؤمنين عليه السلام فعليهما لعنة الله والملائكة والناس اجمعين (فروع كافي كتاب الروضة ص115)
‘Abu Bakr and Umar did not repent before they parted from the world. In fact, they did not even mention what they had done to Ali. So may Allah, His angels and all of mankind curse them.’ [1]
2. Mullah Baqir writes:
واعتقاد ما در برات آنست کہ بیزاری جوئند ازبت ہائے چہار گانہ یعنی ابو بکر وعمر وعثمان ومعاویہ وزنان چہار گانہ یعنی عائشہ وحفصہ وہند وام الحکم واز جمیع اشیاع واتباع ایشاں وآنک ایشاں بدترین خلق خدا یند وآنک تمام نمے شود اقرار بخدا و رسول وائمہ مگر بہ بیزاری ازدشمنان ایشاں (حق الیقین ج۲ ص۵۱۹)
‘Regarding the doctrine of Tabarri [2] we believe that we should seek disassociation from four idols, namely, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan and Mu’awiyah; and from four women namely, Ayesha, Hafsa, Hind and Ummul Hakam, along with all their associates and followers. These are the worst creation of Allah. It is not possible to believe in Allah, His Messenger and the Imams without disassociating oneself from their enemies.’ [3]
3. The first to take the oath of allegiance at the hands of Abu Bakr was Iblees (Kitaabul Raudah pg. 159/160)
4. Mullah Baqir further writes:
‘One should say after each prayer: O Allah! Curse Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Mu’awiyah, Ayesha, Hafsa, Hind and Ummul Hakam.’ [4]
5. Mullah Baqir Majlisi is a renowned personality in Shi’ite circles; whenever he mentioned the name of Sayyidina Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) in his books he would write: “May Umar be cursed.”
6. Shi’ites believe that the most auspicious day of the year is the day on which Sayyidina Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) was murdered by Abu Lu’lu’ the fire worshipper. (Nahjul Balaagha)
7. They believe that the mercy of Allah Ta’ala descends on the murderer of Hazrat Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu).
8. The day when Sayyidina Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) was killed is such an occasion of rejoicing that Allah Ta’ala declared the permissibility of sinning for three consecutive days. That is, every year on the anniversary of the assassination of Sayyidina Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu), for three days Shi’ites are permitted to fornicate, consume alcohol, steal and commit all sorts of sins and crimes with complete enjoyment since sins are not recorded during these three days. (Nahjul Balaagha)
9. Abu Moosa al-Ashari and Amr ibn al-Aas sold their souls to the devil. (Nahjul Balaagha)
10. Khomeini said: “When we establish our hold over Makkah and Madinah and I enter as conqueror, the first thing I shall do, is to dig out two idols, Abu Bakr and Umar, lying by the side of the Prophet’s grave.” (Khomeini and Islam pg. 8)
11. Any murder committed in Islam, any unlawful wealth earned by anyone as well as any adultery committed until the appearance of our Imaam – the sin of all these is on the necks of Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu Anhu) and Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu). (Rijal Kashi, pg. 135)
12. Khomeni writes about Abu Bakr and Umar (Radiyallahu Anhuma): ‘Those people who, in their greed to rule, attached themselves to the Deen of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and formed their own cliques, could not possibly refrain from their actions on the basis of Quranic advice. They had to materialise their aims at any cost. (Kashful Asraar: 114)
He also writes: ‘Those who had no affiliation with the Quran and Islam except through their desire for the world and power. They had made the Quran a vehicle to promote their agenda.’ (Kashful Asraar: 114)
13. Khomeni writes about Uthmaan (Radiyallahu Anhu):
ما خدائے را پرستش مے کنیم ومے شناسیم کہ کارہائش براساس خرد پائیدار وبخلاف گفتہ ہائے عقل ہیچ کارے نہ کند نہ آں خدائے کہ بنائے مرتفع از خدا پرستی وعدالت ودینداری بنا کند وخود بخرابی آں بکوشد ویزید ومعاویہ وعثمان وازیں قبیل چپاولچی ہائے دیگر را بمردم امارت دہد (کشف الاسرار ص107)
‘We worship and recognise only that God Whose Actions are based on concrete rationalism and Who does not rule against that rationalism. We do not worship a god who creates a building for Divine worship and justice and then strives to destroy that very building himself by giving authority to rascals like Yazid, Mu’awiyah and Uthman.” [5]
15. Mullah Muhammed bin Yaqoob Kulaini, the most prominent Shi’ite scholar of Hadith, quotes Imam Baqir as saying:
كان الناس أهل ردة بعد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم الا ثلاثة (فقلت ومن الثلاثة فقال) المقدار بن الاسود وابو ذر الغفاري وسلمان الفارسي رحمة الله عليهم وبركاته
‘People became apostates after the death of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam, except for three people: Miqdad ibn Aswad, Abu Dharr Ghifari and Salmaan Farsi.’
The Beliefs of the Muslims regarding the Sahaabah
In every era of human history, for the reformation of mankind Allah Ta’ala sent down two sources of guidance. The first source was the revelation of Allah Ta’ala (i.e. the heavenly books and scriptures) and the second was the men of Allah Ta’ala (the Ambiya). The Ambiya (Alayhimus Salaam) were sent down in order to practically demonstrate before the people the correct application of the laws of Shari’ah through their noble example. It was the divine system of Allah Ta’ala that He selected companions from among the Ummah of every Nabi in order to support them in accomplishing the mission of Nubuwwat. From among the ummah of Hazrat Nabi-e-Kareem (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), those who were divinely chosen by Allah Ta’ala were none other than the illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) himself highlighted this, as reported in the following Hadith
عن عويم بن ساعدة رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : إن الله اختارني واختار لي أصحابا (مجمع الزوائد 9/738)
Hazrat Uwaimir bin Saaidah (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala chose me to be the final messenger and chose for me my Sahaabah (as my supporters).”
It is reported in the Mubaarak Hadith that Allah Ta’ala looked at the hearts of the creation. He found the heart of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to be the best of hearts. Therefore he selected him for Himself and sent him with His message. Thereafter Allah Ta’ala looked at the hearts of the rest of creation after selecting Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). He then found the hearts of the companions (Sahaabah) of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to be the best hearts (from the entire creation after the Ambiya). Hence, He divinely selected them as the supporters of His Nabi who will fight against the kuffaar for the course of His deen.” [6]
[1] Furu’ul Kafi: Kitabul Raudah: 115
[2] The doctrine of Tabarri means to have no association with the enemies of Allah.
[3] Haqqul Yaqeen: 2:519
[4] ‘Aynul Hayat: 599
[5] Ibid: 107
[6] مسند أحمد 6/84
Their sacrifices and love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)
The Sahaabah spared no effort in supporting Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in fulfilling his mission and they strove tirelessly to establish the structure of Islam. They preserved the Qur’an, Sunnah and every minute detail of the Mubaarak life of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in its original form and conveyed it to the Ummah. After the demise of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), they travelled far and wide propagating the Deen of Islam and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) to the four corners of the globe. The submission and obedience they displayed before the commands of Allah and His Rasool (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) were unparalleled.
When Urwah bin Mas’ood came as an envoy of the Quraish (prior to embracing Islam), he witnessed the reverence and respect the Sahaabah showed Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). He was amazed by this and upon returning to the Quraish he presented the following report: “I have been present at the courts of great kings and monarchs as an envoy. I have met the Emperors of Persia, Rome and Abyssinia. Nowhere have I witnessed the subjects of any king or leader show him such respect as I had seen the companions of Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) respect him. When he spits, they do not allow his blessed saliva to fall on the ground. They immediately take it and anoint it to their faces and bodies. When he issues an order, every person among them hastens to carry it out. When he makes wudhu, they race and compete with one another to acquire some of the used water which fall from his limbs, in such a way that an observer would think they are going to fight over the water. When he speaks, everybody is silent and listens attentively to what he says. None of them raises his eyes and looks at him in his face, out of respect.” [7]
On account of the true love they possessed for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the unflinching loyalty they exhibited before his commandments, they became the greatest of this ummah and the most beloved in the sight of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala declared in the Holy Qur’an:
رَضِىَ اللَّـهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ ﴿التوبة: ١٠٠﴾
Allah Ta’ala is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Allah Ta’ala.