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

68 THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH +@&> (Vol-I)
!&Gi%j). By Allaah 3,@3G! He was a standard-bearer of knowledge, a fortune of
piety, a stronghold of intelligence and a mountain of good. He was a light to
those walking in the pitch darkness and an unrelenting caller to the great
straight path. Hadhrat Ali ?i%IE%!&j possessed profound knowledge of the earlier
scriptures, propagated the teachings of the Qur'aan and always imparted
excellent advice. He always clung to the ways of guidance and stayed far from
injustice, causing harm to others and from everything destructive. He was the
best of those who possessed Imaan and Taqwa and the leader of all those who
dressed in sewn garments or in unstitched shawls. He was the most noble of
those who performed Hajj and Sa'ee, the most magnanimous of those who
administered justice and equity and the most eloquent of people save for the
Arnbiyaa and the chosen Rasool of Allaah m. He was also among those early
Muslims who performed salaah facing towards both Qiblas (the Kabah and
Baytul Maqdas). Can there be any monotheist equal to him? He was the
extremely fortunate one to marry the best of women (Hadhrat Faatima @U&!2i)
and was the father of
-
the two noble grandsons (of Rasulullaah w). My eyes
have never seen anyone like him and will never see anyone of his calibre until the
Day of Qiyaamah, which is the Day of Meeting. May the curses of Allaah 8,@3G
and the curses of every servant of Allaah 8,@3G until the Day of Qiyaamah be
on the one who curses him."
Hadhrat Mu'aawiya then asked, "What have you to say about Hadhrat
Talha B,W and Hadhrat Zubayr 4WW'%?" Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas
B,W replied, "May Allaah 3,@3C's mercy be showered on them. By Allaah
$,@3;"! They were both extremely virtuous and pious Muslims who remained
extremely pure. They were both martyrs and exceptionally learned men. Although
they made an error, Allaah 8,WG shall forgive them because of the tremendous
assistance they rendered (to Rasulullaah and the propagation of Deen),
because they were among the earliest Muslims, among earliest companions of
Rasulullaah @%$ and because of the many good deeds they carried out."
Then Hadhrat Mu'aawiya BW.3 asked, 'What have you to say about Hadhrat
Abbaas Q=?" Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas @,W said, "May Allaah ac@5P
shower His mercy on Abul Fadhl (Hadhrat Abbaas !&l3&). By Allaah 3,@3F! He
was the real brother of Rasulullaah @@ and the delight of his eyes. He was a
chosen servant of Allaah 3,=G, a sanctuary for all people and the leader of all
the uncles of Rasulullaah @%. He possessed deep insight into all matters,
always considered the consequences of everything and was adorned by profound
knowledge. The virtue of others fades into the background when his virtues are
mentioned and the achievements of other families seem insignificant before the
accomplishments of his family. Why should he not be such a great person when
he was raised by none other than Abdul Muttalib, who was the most honourable
of people and the most esteemed of the Quraysh who ever walked or rode."
. .
The above is a part of a lengthy ~adith(').
(1) The Hadith is reported by Bayhaqi (Vo1.9 Pg.160) who reports from Tabraani but comments that
one of the narrators is not known.