The Companions of the Prophet

THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET This may appear to be a simple matter, but it is significant. It shows the companions’ humility and awareness of their shortcomings and limitations. Such a procedure can be followed only by those humble enough to acknowledge another’s worth at their own expense. One unique quality of the Companions was that they looked objectively at themselves like ordinary people would look only at others. One must remember that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, of whom we speak, were not the historical personalities we know today. It was vastly more challenging to recognize the worth of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar than it is now. The two men had then still to be appreciated when history was in its formative stage, whereas in the present day, we are in a position to evaluate them with historical hindsight. For the companions, they were just two of their number; for us, they have become two mighty pillars standing out in the landscape of history. For us to fail to acknowledge Abu Bakr and ‘Umar would defy history. For the Companions to acknowledge these two amounted to the abnegation of their selves—an infinitely more difficult task, which the Companions accomplished in exemplary fashion. Taking Responsibility Upon Oneself Dhat al-Salasil was a place in the Syrian desert occupied by the Ghassanid and Kalb tribes, to which the Prophet sent an expedition under the leadership of ‘Amr ibn al- ’As. However, when the latter reached there and saw