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Shia view of the Sahabah

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Shia do not accept the Sunni view that the testimony of nearly all Sahaba is an authenticated part of the chain of narrators in a hadith. Shias argue that not all the Sahaba were righteous, just because they saw or were with Muhammad. The Quran states:

And among those around you of the wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the townspeople of Al-Madinah (there are some who) persist in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad) knowest not. We, We know them, and We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom.

— Quran, sura 9 (At-Tawba), ayat 101[1]

Above ayah stated that there are hypocrites in the city of Medina around Muhammad but no one knows them but God. Shias further argue that after Muhammad's demise the righteousness of Sahaba can be assessed by their loyalty towards Ahl al-Bayt, Muhammads family. Also Shias accept hadith from the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt. This is due to that Shia believes them to be thoroughly cleansed from all sin, through their interpretation of the Quran Surah 33 Verse 33 and the hadith of the Cloak.


Sahaba

Regarding the other parts of chain of narration, all people are up to be scrutinized. There is no distinction made between a Sahaba and a taba'een or anyone else regarding trustworthiness, everyone have the same demand to prove or disprove their trustworthiness. Therefore, Shia look at each Sahaba as an individual, preferring some above others.

Shia do not have a ranking system dependent on when the Sahabi embraced Islam, because they argue that this does not matter for one's faith at all. Rather, they have an individual view of each one, according to what they did during their life. For example, if a Sahaba made Muhammad angry or questioned his decision several times then he is viewed as unrealiable. Furthermore a Sahaba who engaged in open warfare against the Ahl al-Bayt have their trustworthiness reduced to near nothing in the Shia view. In fact, under the doctrine of Tabarra, it is obligatory to disassociate from such a person.

Shias consider that any hadith where Muhammad is claimed to have, in one way or another, absolved all Sahaba from sin or elevated their trustworthiness is false. Shias claim that, in most cases, such hadiths have been reported by those who opposed the Ahl al-Bayt.

On the other hand, the Sahaba that are agreed to have sacrificed life and property for the sake of Muhammad are held in a very positive view, and under the doctrine of Tawalla, it is obligatory to love such a person.

Merit for seeing Muhammad

Shias have different views on each Sahabi, depending on what he or she accomplished. In the Shia view, some Sahaba lived lives contrary to Islamic teaching. Shias support their arguments using verses from the Qur'an, in particular, in relation to Muhammad's wives:

[66.10] sets forth an example to those who disbelieve: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut: they were both under two of Our righteous servants, but they acted treacherously towards them so they availed them naught against Allah, and it was said: Enter both the fire with those who enter.

Shias also support their view by citing the following verses addressing Muhammad's wives:

[33.30] O wives of the prophet! whoever of you commits an open indecency, the punishment shall be increased to her doubly; and this is easy to Allah.

[33.31] And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Apostle and does good, We will give to her her reward doubly, and We have prepared for her an honorable sustenance.

In other words, a wife of the prophet who "commits an open indecency" will be twice as blameworthy, because she was in the presence of God's best creation, Muhammad, and thus should have been inspired to act justly. Also, a wife who "is obedient to God and His Messenger and does good" is considered twice as admirable, because she received Muhammad's direct guidance and aided him and his Ahl al-Bayt.

[9.101] And from among those who are round about you of the dwellers of the desert there are hypocrites, and from among the people of Medina (also); they are stubborn in hypocrisy; you do not know them; We know them; We will chastise them twice then shall they be turned back to a grievous chastisement.

Detailed list

There is no standardized guideline of status according to the Shia school of thought; a Shia consensus can not established regarding a detailed list based on rank.

However there is a general consensus on an approximate view of each Sahaba, in the same way that most people would think very badly of Adolf Hitler and Ted Bundy and very well of Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus.

It would be impossible to establish a list showing the approximate view of each Sahaba for all the people in the world, since most people have very different frames of preference. However, it is much easier to do so if the targeted group have a similar frame of preference.

Most Shias have the same frame of preference regarding the relevant issues, since most disagreements between the Shi'as sects start after Husayn ibn Ali's era. This, and all sects being minority to the twelvers, explains why almost all Shi'a have a very similar frame of preference regarding the Sahaba, making this list relevant and accurate in the field of Social sciences rather than Hard science.

Shi'as can in general be expected to have a certain view on each Sahaba after having understood what relevant actions the specific Sahaba have accomplished during his or her life.

This is in contrast to Sunnis. Egyptian and Saudi Arabian scholars have in general different views on, for example, Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan, one more favorable and the other more dim, however, both are within the Sunni doctrines that claim the uprightness of all Sahaba and go to heaven.

The list of the Shia view of the Sahaba

The list of Sahaba includes events that are relevant for establishing a view, ranked accordingly to their general perceived status.

The Ahl ul-Bayt are not included in this list, since the list revolves around them.

Believers(Companions of Muhammad)

Shi'a regarded these people as faithful Companions of Muhammad and partisians of Ali and also the defenders of the Ahl al-Bayt, people that fully embraced the deepest concepts of Islam.[2]

Not sincere

Shi'a regarded this group as people who where not truly sincere in following Islam[2]

Hypocrites

Shi'a regarded this group as people who opposed Ahl al-Kisa or friends of Ahl al-Kisa.[2]

Uncategorised

This Sahaba have not been ranked according to the Shia view. You can help Wikipedia by doing that.

The list is divided into parts to make it easier to overview

Part 1

ibn 'Asim ibn Sa'id ibn Qurrah ibn Khaladah ibn Tha'labah Abu 'Abd ar-Rahman al-Mazani

Part 2

Ibn Mandah's book "Those of the Companions Who Lived 120 years." there are fourteen:

  • 1. Hakim ibn Hizam — died 54, Medina
  • 2. `Asim ibn `Adi al-Badri
  • 3. Huwaytib ibn `Abd al-`Uzza
  • 4. Sa`d ibn Iyas al-Shaybani
  • 5. Makhrama ibn Nawfal
  • 6. Sa`id ibn Yarbu`
  • 7. Sa`d ibn Junada al-`Awfi al-Ansari
  • 8. Hassan ibn Thabit — the poet of the Prophet and the one supported by the Holy Spirit
  • 9. Abu `Umara `Abd Khayr ibn Yazid
  • 10. Hamnan ibn `Awf
  • 11. al-Muntaji`al-Najdi
  • 12. Nafi` Abu Sulayman al-`Abdi
  • 13. al-Lajlaj
  • 14. Abu Shaddad al-`Umani

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

See also

References

  1. ^ Quran 93:101–102
  2. ^ a b c http://www.al-islam.org/encyclopedia/shia4.txt
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