The Companions of the Prophet

THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET history has put the stamp of greatness upon him. There is a world of difference between these two acknowledgements. One bears no comparison to the other. Today, even nonMuslim historians have been compelled to allot pride of place in human history to the Prophet Muhammad. But, during his lifetime, recognizing his greatness was extremely difficult, so much so that this could only be done by those whom God had granted special grace. Adhering to the Quran When it was Still The Subject of Controversy The Companions’ way of preaching the faith was to take a revealed portion of the Quran and recite it to the people. For this reason, the Companions who went to Madinah to preach Islam were called muqris—reciters of the Quran. In a modern environment, this would be nothing extraordinary. But when one leaves aside the 1400 years of history between the Companions and us and imagines the conditions that prevailed in their time, their action appears in an entirely new perspective. At that time, it was a mammoth task to stand amongst the people and recite the Quran, one that no group except for the Companions had ever performed. The picture that springs to mind with the mention of the word “Quran” today is that of a book that has, over 1400 years, established its greatness without the slightest shadow of a doubt. Millions of people the world over accept it