Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 1 of 3

Foreword by the Urdu Translator
Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ihsaanul Haqq q,$&$Wsb
The Sahabah i@Gw are the foundation of this Deen and were the first to
propagate it. They acquired the Deen from Rasulullaah @%$ and conveyed it to
us. They were the blessed group whom Allaah i3WG had chosen to be the
companions of His beloved Rasulullaah @@. They are therefore most worthy of
being role models, whose example deserve emulation.
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Mas'ood ~~j used to say, "Anyone wishing to follow
the (religious) ways of another should follow the ways of those who had already
left the world, namely the companions of Rasulullaah @@, who were the best
people of this Ummah. Their hearts were pure, their knowledge deep and
pretentiousness (showing-off) was non-existent in their lives. Allaah CJGU>3C has
selected them to be the companions of Rasulullaah and to propagate His
Deen. You should therefore acknowledge their virtue and distinction. Follow in
their footsteps and adopt their character and lifestyles with all your strength
because they were the ones on the path of guidance." ('1
To understand the life of Rasulullaah w, it is only the lives of the Sahabah
i4BW that can be used as a criterion because they were the fortunate group
who benefited most from the lamp of Nabuwaat. The inspiring rays from the sun
of Nabuwaat shone directly on them without any screen. It is impossible for
anyone after them to acquire the warmth of lmaan and the spiritual illumination
that they received. It was only the assembly of the Sahabah ,BEw that the
Qur'aan pays tribute to by declaring that Allaah 3,%3G is pleased with them, they
are pleased with Him, and that they were rightly guided people as well as guides
for others. It is because of this that the Ummah has always been unanimous
about the fact that all the Sahabah @Gw without exception were reliable and
trustworthy. Any matter on which they all agreed is regarded as an authoritative
law in the Shari'ah. Anyone who rejects their virtuousness falls outside the fold of
Islaam.
The Sahabah @Bw were mirror images of Rasulullaah @$%'s perfect character
and the most comprehensive Icons of his attributes. They were the truest
interpreters of his praiseworthy attributes, his excellent character as well as all
the rulings and proofs of the Shari'ah. It is therefore necessary to follow them so
that the Muslim Ummah may save themselves from all dev~ated manners.
Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas 3GLilGj was brought up by his maternal
grandmother who was affectionately called Ummi Bi. She was the fourth
daughter of 1-~adhrat Moulana Muzaffar Husain Kandhelwi 3G514Ej. She dearly
loved Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas 3G5IGj and would often say, "Ilyaas,
(I) Mishkaatul Masaabeeh.