Those who saw the Prophet (S) when invited as guests and who...

Those who saw the Prophet (S) when invited as guests and who did not keep company of him and did not follow him either are not considered as sahaba (companions).[^3] Sahabi as Defined by Traditionists Most experts in the field of hadith or prophetic tradition say that one who sees the Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, and dies a Muslim is considered to be a sahabi.[^4] Other experts have defined sahabi as such: "Whoever believes in Islam and lives in the time of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, is a sahabi even though he does not see him."[^5] Some others define sahabi as follows: "Sahabi is someone who saw the Prophet and believed in him as well as died a Muslim even though he may have apostatized during the Prophet's life."[^6] Certainly, there are other definitions for the term sahabi which have been marked as rare and uncommon.[^7] The Status of the There are three different views among Muslims regarding the Holy Prophet's companions in terms of their being just or unjust: All the companions are infidels A fraction of Muslims called Kamiliyah and those who share with them the same extremist views and attitudes maintain that all the companions are infidels.[^8] Obviously, this viewpoint is not worth investigation and critical assessment.

There is no benefit in studying this view and the corroborating arguments as well as the refutations. Probity of companions This view has become popular among Sunni scholars who believe that all the companions are just, reliable, perfect and without any negative aspects in their personalities. Thus, it is not permissible to refute or disprove traditions narrated by them nor is it permissible to criticize their reports.

It is as though they became inerrant and immune to all kinds of mistakes and errors as and when they met the prophet and started to accompany him.

Mazni says in this regard: "All of the companions are reliable and honest."[^9] Khatib Baghdadi says: "The fact that the companions (of the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family) are just is proven and clear."[^10] Ibn Hazm Andulusi says: "Surely, all of the companions will abide in Paradise."[^11] It is pertinent to mention that people like Ibn Abd al-Barr, Ibn Athir Jazri, Ghazzali and other Sunni scholars have similar sayings about the companions.[^12] Moreover, some Sunni scholars like Ibn Hajar Asqalani and Ibn Abd al-Barr have claimed that this opinion is agreed upon by all scholars.