Sahaba - The Blessed

The word ‘sâhib’, [which means ‘companion’,] is used for good
and bad people alike, and for animals as well. Yet it can be clearly
understood from the semantic content of the âyat-i-kerîmas
(wherein the word was used) whether it was used for a
complimentary purpose or a censorious one. In fact, it means
‘gentleman’, ‘protector’, and ‘adviser’ in some âyat-i-kerîmas. To
understand these meanings, it is necessary to have expertise in
some extensive and profound literary sciences such as lughat,
metn-i-lughat, ishtiqaq, sarf, nahw, beyân, bedî, meânî, belâghât,
etc. People who just scribble what they understand from âyat-ikerîmas
in the name of explaining the meanings in the Qur’ân alkerîm,
without learning these sciences, are slandering the Qur’ân
al-kerîm by doing so. Allâhu ta’âlâ complains about such
slanderers, and says that they are the worst of the cruel people, in
the twenty-first âyat of An’âm sûra. That Abû Bakr as-Siddîq’s
‘radiy-Allâhu ta’âlâ ’anh’ being called ‘sâhib’ is intended to
acknowledge his value and high virtue is manifested in the same
âyat-i-kerîma. For, (as is related in the âyat-i-kerîma,) he was told
not to be afraid and he was blessed with serenity [peace and
courage].
Fear and sorrow are not acts of worship by themselves. Nor are
they sinful acts. They are acts of worship or sinful acts depending
on the intention (of the person who feels them). It is sinful to be
afraid that you may suffer harm if you perform the acts of worship
such as ghusl, namâz, wudû, and jihâd [1] for the sake of Allah. On
the other hand, it is an act of worship to fear Allâhu ta’âlâ with the
thought of His greatness. Indeed, the anxiety or fear in the former
case prevents you from performing the acts that are farz, (i.e.
commanded by Allâhu ta’âlâ,) whereas the fear (of Allâhu ta’âlâ)
that you feel in the latter case protects you from committing the
acts that are harâm, (i.e. forbidden by Allâhu ta’âlâ). Husayn
Wâiz-i-Kâshifî Hirawî ‘rahimahullâhu ta’âlâ’ gives the following
account in his Tafsîr: “The unbelievers came before the cave. Abû
Bakr said (to the blessed Prophet): ‘O Messenger of Allah! If one
of the unbelievers looks under his feet, he will see us.’ Rasûlullah’s
answer was: ‘What do you think will become of those two people
[1] For detailed information about ghusl (ritual washing); namâz (Islam’s
prescribed daily prayer); wudû (ablution); and jihâd (serving Islam
physically, financially and spiritually), please see Endless Bliss: 4-4;
ibid: 4-1; ibid: 4-1, 2, 3, 5; and all the publications of Waqf Ikhlas,
respectively.
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