Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

The term Ṣaḥābī in terms of language and its obvious meaning applies
to a person who accompanied Nabī H for a long time and sat with
him frequently, 1 as opposed to merely narrating from him H; for
considering it (narrating) to be a requisite for the realisation of the Ṣuḥbah
is far-fetched according to language and convention. 2
However, considering prolonged companionship to be a requisite is weak due to
the following reasons:
1.
2.
It is against the unanimity of the scholars of language.
Resorting to convention to ascertain the extent of lengthy companionship
and short companionship is not definitive, and thus the differences of
opinion. 3
3. Based upon this stance, some Ṣaḥābah, like Mālik ibn al-Ḥuwayrith I,
who narrated from Nabī H but did not accompany him for a long
time, will be excluded. 4
The Third Position
A Ṣaḥābī is:
من طالت صحبته للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأخذ عنه العلم
A person who accompanied Nabī H for a long time and acquired
knowledge from him. 5
1 Qawāṭiʿ al-Adillah p. 392.
2 Abū Yaʿlā: Al-ʿUddah fī Uṣūl al-Fiqh 3/989; al-Ṣanʿānī: Ijābah al-Sāʾil Sharḥ Bughyah al-Āmil p. 129.
3 Ibn Ḥazm: al-Iḥkām 5/86; al-Baḥr al-Muḥīṭ fī Uṣūl al-Fiqh 3/360.
4 Irshād al-Fuḥūl p. 129.
5 Al-Iḥkām 2/1041; Tadrīb al-Rāwī 2/216; Irshād al-Fuḥūl p. 129; al-Fuṣūl al-Luʾluʾiyyah p. 308.
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