Arguments from Hadith

INTERPRETATION OF THE ISLAMIC MISSION Ibn Mas’ud intends to convey that the Companions of the Prophet were the best examples, chosen by Allah to accompany His Messenger and to accept and follow His religion. They fulfilled their duty of companionship and left no shortcomings in adhering to the religion. Therefore, they are the most deserving of being emulated in religious matters. Their lives serve as the best examples of following the religion. This is why scholars of Hadith have put this tradition under “sticking to the Book and Sunnah”. This means, according to the scholars of Hadith, that in this tradition it has been encouraged to adhere to the Book and Sunnah in the strongest possible way. In “Ash‘at al-Lama‘at” by Shaykh Abdul Haqq Dehlawi, this is translated with the phrase “for the purpose of upholding the religion.” The term “upholding” signifies carrying or bearing. In this context, it implies that Allah has chosen them to be bearers of His religion. This is something that cannot be disputed, but it does not support the interpretation under discussion. One drawback of this interpretation is that the term “establishment of religion,” which was used in this speech to describe an internal act, has, due to this specific mindset, become framed as an external act. In the monthly magazine “Zindagi,” an article was published titled Sahaba Kiram Iqamat-e-Deen ke Sipahi—“The Companions of the Prophet: Soldiers of Establishing