THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPANIONSHIP

the meaning of Companionship, it has to be seen what the form of Companionship in practice during the time of the Prophet was. It does not mean that the Prophet sat quietly in an assembly and his Companions would observe him in total silence. In fact, such assemblies were a means of ever-continuing process of thinking and contemplation. The Quran has termed such events as assemblies of wisdom. Events show that the Companionship of the Prophet was an active Companionship. He used to recite the blessing of the Lord in front of them. He used to inform the audience about the divine sustenance he was given by God, and he used to explain the verses of the Quran. He answered people’s questions. He used to say things that turned people’s doubts into beliefs. He used to teach people the words of remembrance, prayer, praise and gratitude. He used to recite the revealed parts of the Quran in front of the people. He would inform people about the influential events of prophets and believers of the bygone ages, etc. Those who would spend time in the company of the Prophet used to hear such seismic revolutionary events from him. In his company, people would receive food for intellectual upliftment. His company was a lifechanging Companionship. So life-giving was his Companionship that it bestowed upon his Companions the great status that is now termed as the Companions of the Prophet. It was an incident of intellectual revolution, not simply just sitting in his company. The same is the case with later scholars and elders. There is no mysterious effect in the company of any of them. This matter depends entirely on the ability of those who sit in their company and listen to what they hear. Individuals who possess the element of receptivity will be able to benefit from Companionship. And those who do not possess the element of receptivity will be deprived of benefit. In the light of this interpretation, the more accurate definition of a Companion should be this: A person who has seen the Prophet of Islam in a state of faith and has benefitted from his Companionship and died in the state of belief is a Companion. It is not enough to simply listen to the Prophet’s words. The prophet’s words will only be useful to a person who has a receptive mind, who can listen with unwavering attention and then accept them while being free from psychological complications.