Watcher,
Let's see if it is the Shias who are follwoing the holy Qur'an or the sunnis. You seem to think that the ahl-sunnat are correct with their un-substantiated beliefs on the righteousness of all sahabahs. Instead let's refer to Allah's book to see what He has informed us of.
But firstly, let's clarify our positions:
1) Sunnis - all sahabahs are righteous and they are the best of the generations.
2) Shias - the righteous sahabahs of the holy prophet (pbuh) were the true believers whom we love and respect, and their abode is in heaven. It is their example that we should follow and avoid the mis-guided companions.
Fair enough. Now let's look at the Qur'an to see if we can be selective of the sahabahs or should we follow them all:
Firstly, lets look at the verse that u presented:
"Muhammad is the Apostle of God; and
those who are with him are firm against
unbelievers, compassionate towards one
another. You see them bowing and
prostrating, seeking grace from God and
His satisfaction ... The mark of
prostration shows on their faces... Allah
has promised those among them who
believe and do righteous deeds
forgiveness, and a great reward." (ch.
48. v. 29)
Thus, the Almighty described the companions of
the Messenger as firm against the unbelievers,
merciful among themselves; and that they bow and
prostrate. The mark of their prostration shows on
their foreheads; and that Allah promised those who
believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness and a
great reward.
All these descriptions substantiate the piety and
virtue of the companions. The verse, however,
does not include all the companions. It only
includes the companions who were firm against the
unbelievers, merciful among themselves.
Thus, the companions who were not firm against
the unbelievers or were unmerciful to the believers
would not be included by the verse.
It would be only logical to say that those who shed
the blood of Muslims without justification in civil
wars such as Talhah, Zubayr, and Mu'awiyah are
not included in this Qur'anic statement, plus all
companions who joined them in their unrighteous
wars against Imam Ali, and those who divided the
Muslims and destroyed their unity.
Furthermore, the end of the verse clearly indicates
that the praise was not to include all the
companions because it declares that only those
who believed in Islam and did good deeds will be
entitled to forgiveness and great rewards.
PLEASE NOTE THE LAST LINES OF THE VERSE: " Allah
has promised those among them who
believe and do righteous deeds
forgiveness, and a great reward." (ch.
48. v. 29)
IF THEY ARE ALL RIGHTEOUS, WHY SAY "ALLAH HAS PROMISED THOSE AMONG THEM (THE COMPANIONS).."
You sunnis need to understand what the Qur'an is actually stating.
Shia scholars do not put all the
companions in one rank; nor do they say that all of
them were righteous. Some of them were righteous
to the highest degree. Some of them were truthful
and worthy of confidence, but they were not
entirely righteous. Some of them were not known to
be righteous or unrighteous, and some of them
were known to be devious.
Qur'anic Verses Support The Selectionists
Shias view that some of the
companions were neither righteous nor in a place of
confidence support their view with a number of
Qur'anic verses:
"And they say: 'obedience'; but when
they leave thee, some of them spend the
night planning other than what they say
to you. Allah records what they plan by
night. Disregard them and put thy trust in
Allah. Allah is Sufficient Trustee." (ch.
4, v. 81)
This verse declares that a number of those who
were residents of Medina were Muslims, and they
prayed with the Prophet and attended his gatherings
and heard the Messenger commanding the Muslims
to do some good deeds. They used to say to the
Prophet: "We heard you and we will obey you;"
but when they left him, they did not obey the
Messenger.
NOW WATCHER, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS VERSE ? DOES IT NOT SAY THAT SOME OF THE COMPANIONS SAID "WE BELIEVE" BUT DID "THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT THEY SAID".
In chapter nine of the Holy Qur'an many
verses indicate that some of the companions
of the Messenger were people of hypocrisy, and
the Messenger did not know their hypocrisy.
"And among those around you of the
wandering Arabs are hypocrites and
among the people of Medina there are
some who persist in hypocrisy whom
thou (0 Muhammad) know not. We
know them and We shall chastise them
twice; then they will be relegated to a
painful doom." (ch. 9, v. 101)
"O Prophet! Combat the disbelievers
and the hypocrites and be hard on them.
Their abode is Hell, a hapless journey's
end. They swear by Allah that they said
nothing (wrong), yet they did say the
word of disbelief. They disbelieved after
they declared their Islam, and they
plotted that which they could not carry
out, and they sought revenge only
because Allah and His Messenger
enriched them of His bounty..." (ch. 9,
v. 73)
"Among them are men who made a
covenant with Allah (saying): If He gives
us of His bounty we will give alms and
become of the righteous. Yet, when He
gave them of His bounty, they hoarded it
and turned away, averse. So He made a
consequence (to be) hypocrisy in their
hearts until the day when they shall meet
Him, because they broke their word to
Allah and because they lied." (ch. 9, vs.
75-77)
We also find in chapter 33, "The Confederates":
"And when the hypocrites, and those in
whose hearts is a disease say 'Allah and
His Messenger promised us nothing but
delusions.' And when a party of them
said: 'Oh folk of Yathrib! there is no
stand possible for you; therefore, go
back.' And some of them even ask
permission of the Prophet, saying: 'Our
homes are exposed to the enemy, and
they lay not exposed.' They only wished
to flee." (ch. 33, vs. 12-13)
The chapter of Al-Munafiqun is a clear evidence
that a number of Muslims (who declared their Islam
at the time of the Prophet, and lived with him in
Medina, and prayed with him, were hypocrites.
They came to the Prophet to defend themselves by
taking an oath in the presence of the Prophet that
they did not betray him, and they were liars.
They
had believed in Islam then deserted it and Allah
sealed their hearts.
"When the hypocrites come to thee (O
Muhammad), they say: 'We bear witness
that thou art indeed Allah's Messenger.
And Allah knows that thou art indeed
His Messenger, and Allah bears witness
that the hypocrites indeed are speaking
falsely. They made their oaths a shield
so that they may turn (men) from the
way of Allah. Verily, evil is that which
they wanted to do. That is because they
believed and then disbelieved; therefore,
their hearts were sealed so that they
understand not.' " (ch. 63, vs. 1-3)
READ THE ABOVE WORSE WATCHER AND TELL ME - DID THESE COMPANIONS NOT SAY "WE BELIEVE" YET ALLAH (SWT) IS TELLING US THAT THEY ARE SPEAKING FALSELY.
These numerous verses which are in many of the
Qur'anic chapters testify clearly that many of the
people who declared Islam during the time of the
Prophet, and who lived and prayed with him, were
hypocrites. What testimony could be bigger than
the testimony of the Qur'an?
These hypocrites were living with the rest of the
companions, and their names were not known.
Therefore, it is impossible to avoid taking hadiths
from them or know how many they were.
Historians, among them Al-Tabari in his History,
part 2, page 504, and Ibn Hisham in his Al-Sirah
Al-Nabawiyyah, part 2, page 64, reported that
when the Messenger went with his army to Uhud,
he had with him one thousand companions. But
Abdullah Ibn Abi Salul left the Prophet and went
back to Medina accompanying three hundred from
the Medinites. Islamic history did not inform us of
the names of any of the three hundred except the
name of their chief, Abdullah Ibn Abi Salul.
Knowing that the situation was so, how can we
avoid taking hadiths from these hypocrites, who
were not separated from the good companions
through any mark of distinction?
It is a matter of sitting down on pondering upon the verses rather than taking ayats without their full implication.
Watcher, I hope that you read what I have written carefully and analyze yr beliefs. Now tell me, do you still believe that all sahabahs were righteous ?
Should we not attempt to find out who were righteous so that we can follow in the examples of the righteous ?
Wa Salam.
