The Guardians of the Divine Religion - Shaykh-ul-Hadith Mawlana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandehlawi rahimahullah

 

الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين الذين شادوا الدين ونقلوا السنن والكتاب المبين إلى كافة المسلمين ، أما بعد ،

Allāh Ta'ala deputed Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam to the entire universe – man and jinn. He sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam fulfilled his duty and obligation of ta’līm[1] and tazkiyah[2] fully. He taught the words of the book of Allāh Ta'ala, i.e., the Noble Qur’ān. He explained its meanings and laws, and he practically demonstrated the same. He also explained those laws that were not clearly detailed in the Noble Qur’ān. In order for him to carry out his work of da’wah, ta’līm, and tablīgh, Allāh Ta'ala selected his companions, i.e., the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. These magnificent people went through great difficulty, put their lives on the line, and they spread and conveyed the beliefs, principle and subsidiary rulings of Islām. They protected the Dīn that they received, took it ahead, and spread it in the world. It is their favour upon the entire Ummah that they conveyed the complete Dīn. These people were the true and genuine deputies and vicegerents of Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. They taught the knowledge and practically implemented it. Allāh Ta'ala appreciated their sincerity and accepted their efforts. He praised them in the Noble Qur’ān, and gave glad-tidings of his pleasure for them. He also informed of their lofty status and rank.

Belief of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah

It has always been the belief of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah that after the Ambiyā’ 'alayhim as-salam, the next most virtuous are the blessed Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. Although the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum are not ma’ṣūm, i.e., infallible, but their shortcomings have been forgiven, i.e., maghfūr. There are great wisdoms in shortcomings having occurred from them, and these shortcomings that came forth from them does not negate or negatively impact upon their lofty position in any way whatsoever.

It is correct and proper to speak only in a good manner of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. It is not permitted at all to speak ill of any of them or to them. It is clearly stated in Sharḥ ‘Aqā’id Nasafī – a rendition of the beliefs of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah –

‘To speak of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum only in a good way because there are ṣaḥīḥ aḥādīth stating their virtues, and it is compulsory to refrain from criticizing them.’

Nowadays, in the passion of research, there are claimants of ijtihād and tajdīd that can hardly write a few lines of Urdu, but have made criticism of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum their outstanding feature, and their boastful handiwork of tajdīd.

The senior scholars of the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah have stated that only good must be spoken of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, and whatever shortcoming that occurred from them, not only must silence be observed regarding it, but one must look for a good interpretation for it. One must never have any bad thoughts about them and one must not allow others to have bad thoughts about them.[3] Despite this, there are some people who are habituated to criticizing the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, and without a second thought, they target the blessed companions. May Allāh Ta'ala guide them. 

Modern-Day Researchers

There are a large number of researchers today who do not think it a bad thing to be excluded from the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah. Moreover, there are some people who dislike their affiliation to the Ahl-us-Sunnah wal Jamā’ah being severed, but still they write books against the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum.

We will find people amongst both above-mentioned researchers that fling mud at Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān radiyallahu 'anhu, some who make Sayyidunā Mu’āwiyah radiyallahu 'anhu into a target of their criticism, and some people who, in responding to the Shias, adopt such a way that malign Sayyidunā ‘Alī radiyallahu 'anhu, and Sādātunā Ḥasanayn radiyallahu 'anhuma. These people gather the shortcomings of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, with reference to the history books. Some of them keep the incidents of the differences that arose between the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, the incidents of battles between them, and then pacify their own passion for criticism. May Allāh Ta'ala guide them.

Mushājarāt-e- Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum

The differences that arose between the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum are referred to as ‘Mushājarāt-e-Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum’. The pious predecessors have declared it compulsory to maintain silence about these incidents and to hold one’s tongue. This advice of theirs is perfectly in line and is harmonious with the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Sunnah.

When I pondered and reflected over the Mushājarāt-e-Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, then Allāh Ta'ala put such good and excellent forms of understanding and interpretation for them, due to which, there remains no room for any objection about them, i.e., the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. Not only does the objection vanish, but also the thought comes to mind that it was necessary for these Mushājarāt to occur in order to teach and educate the Ummah.

Allāh Ta'ala has blessed the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum with an extremely lofty position and rank. How can it ever be correct to speak badly about them, when Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said about a common Muslim, “Do not speak ill of the deceased because they have gone ahead to what they have sent forth.”[4]

Roots of the Rawāfiḍ

‘Allāmah Suyūṭī rahimahullah wrote Miftāḥ-ul-Jannah fil Iḥtijāj bis Sunnah. In this book, he quotes ‘Allāmah Dīnawarī’s Al-Mujālasah which states that the religion of the Rawāfiḍ began by a few of the Zanādaqah (heretics) that consulted amongst themselves regarding their plan of action. Some of them were of the opinion that the Nabī of the Muslims (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) must be spoken ill of. When his rank and status will fall, then belief in him will decrease, and this will be a barrier in the path of his religion spreading.

Upon this, their leader said that if this is implemented, then all of the heretics will be killed. This is because the Muslims will not tolerate others speaking ill of their Nabī. They consulted again and felt that the companions of the Nabī should be targeted, and people must separate themselves from the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, and the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum should be excommunicated. [We seek the protection of Allāh Ta'ala]

When this opinion was accepted, they said that aside from Sayyidunā ‘Alī radiyallahu 'anhu, all the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum are in hell. They then said that Sayyidunā ‘Alī radiyallahu 'anhu was the Nabī, and Jibrīl 'alayhi as-salam erred in bringing the revelation.[5]

These things were spread by the heretics of that time, and there were some people that believed it. With time, Shiasm and Rāfiḍiyyat became an independent religion. According to this religion, bearing hatred for the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, swearing them, and freeing one’s self from them is the greatest form of religiosity.

Attack of the Enemies of Islām

The talks of the heretics had deep secrets hidden within its folds. The matter is that it was the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum that conveyed and transmitted the Noble Qur’ān and they reported the Aḥādīth from Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. The entire religion of Islām is based on the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth. If, assuming that reliance upon them is lifted and they are taken to be disbelievers – as the Rawāfiḍ say – then what trust can a person have in whatever they conveyed and transmitted? When the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth are not protected, then where will the religion remain? This is the main attack adopted by the enemy. They desire to wipe out the true religion and dig up the religion of Islām from its roots.

Preparing the Material to Attack Islām

The modern day authors display their great ability in research by criticizing the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum and gathering all their shortcomings. Although these people do not say, ‘we are the enemies of Islām’, but by searching for the subject matter in the works of history, they are preparing the material and weapons that are given into the hands of the enemies of Islām. They are actually helping and aiding the enemies of Islām to render the religion useless and hollow.

Methodology of the Modern-Day Researchers

Because these people have not acquired the Dīn and the knowledge of Dīn from Islāmic minded teachers, they only have knowledge of cursory perusal, they are totally unaware of the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth, or, they willfully avoid looking into the clear texts of the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth, so that this does not affect their research and standing. For this reason, they write whatever they want to.

When these people are informed about their actions, that they are not correct, they say that they studied the works of history, whereas the works of history contain all sorts of reports and narrations, authentic, as well as fabrications. One will find a large number of reports from the Rawāfiḍ and the Khawārij in the works of history too. How can it ever be correct to rely on such reports?

Then, Sayyidunā Muḥammad Rasūlullāh sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam forbade us from speaking ill of those that have departed this world. So, what kind of religiosity is it to go against his advice? What type of understanding is this?

These people have written books under the guise of research and scholarship and have passed away. Maybe, they became famous for their writings and earned lots of money through it too. However, the enemies of Islām continue referring to these kinds of books, whilst the ignorant and simpleton Muslims continue to think badly of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum and continue to have doubts about the beliefs and practices of Islām.

The illiterate people are not only those who herd the oxen and plough the fields, but we find that educated people are also included in this class of illiterate people, i.e., those who are unaware of the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth, but they walk around parading big degrees.

It is astonishing to note that those people who have a flair for criticizing the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum feel that they are doing a great service to Islām, and they even refer to themselves as inviters to the religion, but they are totally oblivious of the harm that is caused to Islām through their writings.

Reports that Conflict with the Sources of the Sharī’ah

These people do not understand that when a Muslim historian sits down to write a work on history, then he is still a Muslim, and it will be binding on him to keep the texts of the Noble Qur’ān and the blessed Aḥādīth in front of him. It is also essential and necessary to scrutinize the report containing something that has been said about any person. The reports of a doubtful or dubious narrator are dismissed and refuted as it is; if there is a report from a reliable narrator that conflicts the Noble Qur’ān, the blessed Aḥādīth, and the ijmā’, i.e., consensus of the Ummah, then such a report will be dismissed and refuted too.  

This is a principle and fundamental matter that these researchers close their eyes to. Possibly, their contemporaries said to them that the old historians wrote books in Arabic and they had gathered all these reports in them, so why did they gather such things that will cause people to point fingers at the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum?

The first point is that the people that wrote the history books, they wrote the proper definition and praise of these personalities, and they also wrote minor issues that could give way to understanding some shortcoming or defect. However, at the same time, they also mentioned that the history reports are not reliable, i.e., that which has been recorded without undergoing the principles of reporter and report criticism is not worthy of attention and is not reliable. Then, they wrote the books in Arabic. The modern-day researchers firstly go about looking for and searching for the shortcomings of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. They find them and put them altogether in one place. After they write them all, they do not state that these things have no chain of transmission, or, they have come from unreliable narrators. In fact, they go to the limit and us all their energy and ability in writing in order to spread such reports that cause the Ummah to lose reliance and faith in the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. We seek the protection of Allāh Ta'ala.

Translated by: Mufti Abdullah Moolla

Maktabah Al-Imām Al-Ghazālī

 Rajab 1446| January 2025 

Translator’s Note

All praise is for Allāh upon the completion of this blessed work. Our complaint is only to Allāh Ta'ala regarding those researchers, media scholars and modernists that spew all the filthy venom that they can find from the irreligious and blasphemers, all in order to gain more followers and increase their listenership or viewership. Not only are such people themselves destroying the foundations of Islām, they are making others destroy Islām too. May Allāh  Ta'ala save us from their filth. Āmīn

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[1] Teaching

[2] Spiritual reforming

[3] The principle to be observed is that one must never think or feel bad about the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum, and one must stop others from thinking or feeling bad about the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum. There is no mention of the newfound concept – as promoted by modernists – of dialogue with the enemies of the Ṣaḥābah radiyallahu 'anhum - Translator

[4] Bukhārī

[5] Miftāḥ-ul-Jannah p.74