As for the Qur’an...

As for the Qur’an, the criterion of excellence is the individual’s faith, good deeds and piety, as is seen in hundreds of verses, no matter whether that person was a companion or not. Also the Qur’an says in surah at-tawbah (revealed in 9 A.H., just about 1112 years before the death of the Prophet S): And from among those who are round about you of the Arabs there are hypocrites.

And from among the people of Medina; they are stubborn in hypocrisy; you (O Prophet!) do not know them; We will chastise them twice, then shall they be turned back to a grievous chastisement. [^2] Perhaps someone might say that this verse concerns the hypocrites. But the hypocrites too were counted among the , especially so when hypocrisy of many of them was not known even to the Prophet.

However, we quote here only a few verses (out of many) which are addressed to the believers among the : Oh, you who believe! What (excuse) have you that when it is said to you: Go forth in Allah’s way, you should incline heavily to earth; are you contented with this world’s life instead of the here-after? But the provision of this world’s life compared with the hereafter is but little.

If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and bring in your place a people other than you and you will do Him no harm; and Allah has power over all things.

[^3] Say: if your fathers and your sons and your brethren and your mates and your kinfolks and property which you have acquired and the slackness of trade which you fear and dwellings which you like, are dearer to you than Allah and his Messenger and jihad in His way, then wait till Allah brings about His command, and Allah does not guide the transgressing people [^4] . Oh, you who believe! be not disloyal to Allah and the Messenger, nor be unfaithful to your trusts while you know.

[^5] Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse. They disputed with you about the truth after it had become clear, (and they went forth) as if they were driven to death while they looked at it. [^6] Behold!

you are those who are called upon to spend in Allah’s way, but among you are those who are niggardly, and whoever is niggardly is niggardly against his own soul; and Allah is Self-sufficient and you are the needy; and if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.