Loving the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum)

Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) was a great imaam of deen and a very pious Aalim who was the Ustaad of great Ulama such as Imaam Bukhaari (rahimahullah) and Imaam Muslim (rahimahullah).

One of the neighbours of Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal (rahimahullah) was a man who was known for committing sins and evil deeds. One day, this man came to the gathering of Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal (rahimahullah) and greeted him with salaam. Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah) replied to his salaam, but did not give him attention. Rather, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was uncomfortable to be near this man, as this man was well known to have evil ways and sinful habits.

The man immediately realized that Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah) was feeling uncomfortable to be near him, and the man also knew the reason why. The man then explained to Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) that he should not feel uncomfortable any more, as the man had made taubah, left out sins and changed his life. The man said, “Due to a dream that I saw, I have completely changed and I am no longer the evil and sinful person that you knew me to be before.” Imaam Ahmad (rahimahullah) said to the man, “Tell me, what dream did you see?”

The man replied, “I saw Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in my dream. It seemed as though he was on a high area while many people were seated below him. One by one, the people stood up and came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), asking him to make dua for them. As they stood and asked him to make dua, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately made dua for them, until I was the only person left from all the people. I also wanted to stand up and ask Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to make dua for me, but I felt embarrassed and ashamed to do so because of my sins and evil habits.

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then addressed me and said, ‘Why are you not standing up and coming to me to ask me to make dua for you?’ I replied, ‘O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Because I feel ashamed of the wrongs and sins that I am involved in, I feel hard to come to you and ask you to make dua for me!’

“Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Stand up and ask me to make dua for you. I will still make dua for you, because you love my Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and do not speak bad things about them.’

“I then stood up and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made dua for me. Through the barakah of the dua of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), I found that when I woke up, Allah Ta‘ala had placed hatred and disgust in my heart for all the sins that I was involved in, and I completely changed my life.”

Lessons:

1. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were the special people whom Allah Ta‘ala chose to be the beloved companions, friends and supporters of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah Ta‘ala chose me, and chose for me my Sahaabah.” If we love the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), then Allah Ta‘ala and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will be pleased with us and love us.

2. We must never ever say or think anything bad about any of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). We must have the highest level of love and respect for all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) in our hearts. If any person says anything bad about any Sahaabi, we must not listen to him or believe him.

3. To increase our love for the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), we must learn about their lives through reading the section of the Virtues of the Sahaabah in Fazaa’il-e-A’maal.