ভূমিকা

(Holy Qur’an, 6:108) Often Shias are asked by their Sunni counterparts, “Why do you hate the companions ( sahabahs )?” The question resembles that which is asked by some of the Americans to the Muslims post 9-11, “Why do you (Muslims) hate us (Americans)?” The truth is that the Shi’a do not hate the companions ( sahabahs ) of the Prophet; however, there are some of them who did not merit becoming the leaders of the ummah - and for rightful reasons.

I ask the reader to bear with me as I present forth the research in this chapter, which will bring a better understanding as to why the Shi’a are not too fond of certain companions. One of the primary beliefs in Sunni Islam is the sacredness of the sayings and deeds of the Holy Prophet’s companions (the sahabah ).

Even today, merely inferring that a particular companion said or did something is enough to engender complete and total respect for that companion, and his words and deeds, and unquestioning compliance with what he or she said or did. For this reason, it is extremely important to investigate what exactly makes a person a sahabah of the Prophet.

After all, thousands of people if not more, were in the presence of the Holy Prophet, and yet some of them were hypocrites and enemies of the Prophet according to the Qur’an;[^1] therefore, how can they be relied upon? Defining Sahabah Al-Qaamus al-Muhit is the work of a prominent Sunni scholar and linguist; he defines sahabah as “ al-muasharah wa al-mulazimah ,” which means living together or associating together inseparably.

Raghib al-Isfahani says, “This term applies only to the one who is constantly and continuously in companionship (with another person).”[^2] Therefore, according to these definitions, a companion of the Prophet would be someone who associated very closely with him, regardless of whether he was a Muslim or a non-Muslim, righteous or unrighteous, and whether he believed or disbelieved in him.