Allah Subhana hu Wa Ta’alaa thus mentioned the virtues of the Sahaba:

So (O Companions of the Prophet!) if these people bring faith the way you have brought faith, then they shall be rightly guided, but if they turn away, then they are only in opposition. So Allah will suffice you against them. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.

(Surah Al Baqarah: ayat 137)

(The Companions of Muhammad Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam are), Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allah, nor from offering Salat perfectly, nor from giving the Zakat. They fear a day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of torment). (Surah An Noor: ayat 37)

When those who disbelieve had put in their hearts pride and haughtiness-the pride and haughtiness of the era of ignorance, -then Allah sent His calmness and tranquility upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and made the word of piety (Taqwa) stick to them, and they were indeed well entitled to it and worthy of it. And Allah is the All-Knower of everything.

(Surah Al Fath: ayat 26)

If the Lord Almighty Himself praises the belief, piety and good deeds of a people, how can we ever have even the slightest of doubt about their greatness?

We say that our Sahaba (Radi Allah u Anhum) were the best people who ever walked upon the face of this Earth. They were all on the right path; they never fought among themselves, as the distorted history would have us believe. This we say because our Lord Almighty Allah Subhana hu Wa Ta’alaa Himself testifies in the Quran:

Muhammad (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) is the Messenger of Allah, and those, who are with him, are SEVERE AGAINST THE DISBELIEVERS AND MERCIFUL AMONG THEMSELVES. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate in their Salat, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure. There are marks on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of their prostrations. This is their description in the Torah and in the Injeel (the Gospel / Bible), (their similitude is) like a sown seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong. It then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers- that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward.

(Surah Al Fath: ayat 29)

Presented herein are a few selected ahaadith from the most authentic sources of Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim, which convey to us the wonderful characteristics of the the Sahaba (Radi Allah u Anhum) in general 

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri (Radi Allah u Anho):

Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “A time will come upon the people, when a group of people will wage a holy war and it will be said, ‘Is there amongst you anyone who has accompanied Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam)?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, “Is there amongst you anyone who has accompanied the companions of Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam)?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, “Is there amongst you anyone who has been in the company of the companions of the companions of Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam)?’ They will say, ‘Yes.’ And victory will be bestowed on them.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 1)

Narrated Imran Ibn Hussain (Radi Allah u Anho):

Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries), and then those who will follow the latter”. Imran (Radi Allah u Anho) added, “I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation,” then the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) added, ‘There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfill their vows, and fatness will appear among them.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 2 and Saheeh Muslim)

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah u Anho):

The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “The Israelis used to be ruled and guided by prophets (Alaihim us Salat u was Salaam): Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs and they would be numerous.” The people asked, “O Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam)! What do you order us (to do)?” He said, “Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfill their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship.”

(Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim)

Narrated Abu Said (Radi Allah u Anho):

The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to (the mountain of) Uhud (in Allah’s Cause) it would not be equal to a Mudd (780 grams) or even a half Mudd (390 grams) spent by one of them.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 22 and Saheeh Muslim)

Narrated Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radi Allah u Anho):

I said to the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) while I was in the Cave. “If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.” He said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 5)

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri (Radi Allah u Anho):

Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) addressed the people saying, “Allah has offered the choice to a slave to choose this world or what is with Him. The slave has chosen what is with Allah.” Abu Bakr (Radi Allah u Anho) wept, and we were astonished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned as to a Slave (of Allah) who had been offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) himself was the person who was given the choice, and that Abu Bakr (Radi Allah u Anho) knew best of all of us. Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) added, “The person who has favored me most of all both with his company and wealth, is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a Khalil other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as such, but (what relates us) is the Islamic brotherhood and friendliness. All the gates of the Masjid (un Nabawi) should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 6)

Narrated Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (Radi Allah u Anho):

We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam). We used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then Umar, and then Usman.

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 7)

Narrated Jubair Ibn Mutim (Radi Allah u Anho):

A woman came to the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam). He ordered her to return to him again. She said, “What if I came and did not find you?” as if she wanted to say, “If I found you dead?” The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 11)

Narrated Abu Ad-Darda (Radi Allah u Anho):

The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), ‘You are telling a lie,’ while Abu Bakr said, ‘He has said the truth,’ and consoled me with himself and his money.” He then said twice, “Won’t you then give up harming my companion?” After that nobody ever harmed Abu Bakr (Radi Allah u Anho).

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 13)

Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi Allah u Anho):

Once Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) offered the morning Salat and then faced the people and said, “While a man was driving a cow, he suddenly rode over it and beat it. The cow said, “We have not been created for this, but we have been created for sloughing.” On that the people said astonishingly, “Subhan Allah! A cow speaks!” Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “I believe this, and Abu Bakr and Umar too, believe it, although neither of them was present there. While a person was amongst his sheep, a wolf attacked and took one of the sheep. The man chased the wolf till he saved it from the wolf, where upon the wolf said, ‘you have saved it from me; but who will guard it on the day of the wild beasts when there will be no shepherd to guard them except me (because of riots and afflictions)? ‘ The people said surprisingly, “Subhan Allah! A wolf speaks!” Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said” But I believe this, and Abu Bakr and Umar too, believe this, although neither of them was present there.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 4 Hadeeth Number 677)

Narrated Muhammad Ibn Al-Hanafiya (Rahmatullah Alaihi):

I asked my father (Ali Ibn Abi Talib Radi Allah u Anho), “Who are the best people after Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam)?” He said, “Abu Bakr.” I asked, “Who then?” He said, “Then ‘Umar. ” I was afraid he would say “Usman, so I said, “Then you?” He said, “I am only an ordinary person from among the Muslimeen.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 20)

Narrated Hudhaifa (Radi Allah u Anho):

Once Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (Radi Allah u Anho) said, “Who amongst you remembers the statement of Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) regarding the afflictions?” Hudhaifa replied, “I remember what he said exactly.” Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) said. “Tell (us), you are really a daring man!” Hudhaifa said, Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, ‘A man’s afflictions (i.e. wrong deeds) concerning his relation to his family, his property and his neighbors are expiated by his Salat, giving in charity and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.’ ” Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) said, “I don’t mean these afflictions but the afflictions that will be heaving up and down like waves of the sea.” Hudhaifa replied, “O Ameer ul Mumineen! You need not fear those (afflictions) as there is a closed door between you and them.” Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) asked, “Will that door be opened or broken?” Hudhaifa replied, “No, it will be broken.” Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) said, “Then it is very likely that the door will not be closed again.” Later on the people asked Hudhaifa, “Did Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) know what that door meant?” He said. “Yes, Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) knew it as everyone knows that there will be night before the morning. I narrated to Umar (Radi Allah u Anho) an authentic narration, not lies.” We dared not ask Hudhaifa (Radi Allah u Anho); therefore we requested Masruq who asked him, “What does the door stand for?” He said, “(The door stands for) Umar (Radi Allah u Anho).”

(Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim)

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas (Radi Allah u Anhuma):

While I was standing amongst the people who were invoking Allah for Umar Ibn Al-Khattab who was lying (dead) on his bed, a man behind me rested his elbows on my shoulder and said, “(O Umar!) May Allah bestow His Mercy on you. I always hoped that Allah will keep you with your two companions, for I often heard Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) saying, “I, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were (somewhere). I, Abu Bakr and Umar did (something). I, Abu Bakr and Umar set out.” So I hoped that Allah will keep you with both of them.” I turned back to see that the speaker was Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Radi Allah u Anho).

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 26)

Narrated Sahl Ibn Saad (Radi Allah u Anho):

Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Tomorrow I will give the flag to a man with whose leadership Allah will grant (the Muslims) victory (at Khaibar).” So the people kept on thinking the whole night as to who would be given the flag. The next morning the people went to Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) and every one of them hoped that he would be given the flag. Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Where is Ali Ibn Abi Talib?” The people replied, “He is suffering from eye trouble, O Allah’s Messenger.” He said, “Send for him and bring him to me.” So when Ali came, the Prophet spat in his eyes and invoked good on him, and he became alright as if he had no ailment. The Prophet then gave him the flag. Ali said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall I fight them (i.e. enemy) till they become like us?” Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Proceed to them steadily till you approach near to them and then invite them to Islam and inform them of their duties towards Allah which Islam prescribes for them, for by Allah, if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 51 and Saheeh Muslim)

Narrated Abu Hazim:

A man came to Sahl Ibn Saad (Radi Allah u Anho) and said, “This is so-and-so,” meaning the Governor of Medina, “He is calling Ali (Radi Allah u Anho) bad names near the pulpit.” Sahl asked, “What is he saying?” He replied, “He calls him (i.e. Ali) Abu Turab.” Sahl laughed and said, “By Allah, none but the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) called him by this name and no name was dearer to Ali than this.” So I asked Sahl to tell me more, saying, “O Abu Abbas! How (was this name given to Ali)?” Sahl said, “‘Ali went to Fatima (Radi Allah u Anha) and then came out and slept in the Masjid. The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) asked Fatima, “Where is your cousin?” She said, “In the Masjid.” The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) went to him and found that his (i.e. Ali’s) covering sheet had slipped of his back and dust had soiled his back. The Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) started wiping the dust off his back and said twice, “Get up! O Abu Turab (i.e. O. man with the dust).”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 53)

Narrated ‘Ali (Radi Allah u Anho):

Fatima complained of the suffering caused to her by the hand mill. Some captives were brought to the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam). She came to him but did not find him at home. Aisha (Radi Allah u Anha) was present there to whom she told (of her desire for a servant). When the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) came, Aisha (Radi Allah u Anha) informed him about Fatima’s (Radi Allah u Anha) visit. Ali (Radi Allah u Anho) added “So the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) came to us, while we had gone to our bed I wanted to get up but the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Remain at your place”. Then he sat down between us till I found the coolness of his feet on my chest. Then he said, “Shall I teach you a thing which is better than what you have asked me? When you go to bed, say, ‘Allahu-Akbar’ thirty-four times, and ‘Subhan Allah thirty-three times, and ‘Alhamdu-lillah thirty-three times for that is better for you both than a servant.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 55)

Narrated Ubaida:

Ali (Radi Allah u Anho) said (to the people of ‘Iraq), “Judge as you used to judge, for I hate differences (and I do my best) till the people unite as one group, or I die as my companions have died.” And narrated Saad that the Prophet (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said to Ali (Radi Allah u Anho), “Will you not be pleased from this that you are to me like Haroon was to Musa? But there will not be any prophet after me”.

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 56)

Narrated Al-Miswar Ibn Makhrama (Radi Allah u Anho):

Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “Fatima is a part of me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry.”

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 5 Book 57 Hadeeth Number 61)

Narrated Uqba Ibn Al-Haris (Radi Allah u Anho):

(Once) Abu Bakr (Radi Allah u Anho) offered the Asr Salat and then went out walking and saw Hassan (Radi Allah u Anho) playing with the boys. He lifted him on to his shoulders and said, “Let my parents be sacrificed for your sake! (You) resemble Rasoolullah (Sall Allah u Alaihi wa Sallam) and not (your father) Ali,” while Ali (Radi Allah u Anho) was smiling.

(Saheeh Bukhari Volume 4, Book 56, Hadeeth Number 742)

These are just a few narrations from among hundreds of authentic ahaadith and these need no elaboration. The above quoted ahaadith prove without a doubt the integrity, moral greatness, unity, love for one another and exceptional faith of all the Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with all of them).

We reiterate that our Sahaba (Radi Allah u Anhum) were the best group of people who ever walked upon the face of this Earth. They were all on the right path; they never fought among themselves, as the distorted history would have us believe.