Nasb-and-the-Nawasib

that reviling can lead to either disbelief or to heresy, depending on the gravity
and type of revilement. 1
Moving on, whilst discussing the issue of the prohibition of reviling the Ṣaḥābah
M and impugning them, the discussion necessarily leads to another dimension;
and that is the Sharʿī position pertaining to discussions around the conflicts that
transpired between them at the occasions of Jamal, Ṣiffīn, etc.
In this regard, the preferred position of the Ahl al-Sunnah is to refrain completely
from discussing any of that, not delving into it, not targeting any of the Ṣaḥābah
with evil and believing that whatever had transpired between them does not
compromise their integrity. Bearing in mind that Allah E pronounced their
integrity, praised them, and announced His pleasure for them; this is after He
knew full well what was to come forth from them in the future.
Ibn ʿAbbās L mentions:
لتسبوا أصحاب محمد،‏ فإن الله قد أمر بالستغفار لهم،‏ وهو يعلم أنهم سيقتتلون
Do not revile the Ṣaḥābah of Muḥammad H, for Allah E has
ordered that forgiveness be sought for them whereas He knew that they
will fight in the future. 2
And Abū Nuʿaym has alluded to the following regarding the responsibilities of the
Muslims toward the Ṣaḥābah M:
إن يغضوا عما كان منهم في حال الغضب واإلغفال،‏ وفرط منهم عند استزلل الشيطان إياهم،‏ ونأخذ في
ذكرهم بما أخبر الله تعالى به.‏ فقال تعالى:‏ وَ‏ الاَّذِ‏ ينَ‏ جَ‏ اءُ‏ وا مِن بَعْ‏ دِ‏ هِ‏ مْ‏ يَقُ‏ ولُونَ‏ رَ‏ باَّنَا اغْ‏ فِرْ‏ لَنَا وَ‏ إلِ‏ ‏ِخْ‏ وَ‏ انِنَا الاَّذِ‏ ينَ‏
سَ‏ بَقُ‏ ونَا بِاإلْ‏ ‏ِيمَ‏ انِ‏ وَ‏ لَ‏ تَجْ‏ عَ‏ لْ‏ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِ‏ الاًّ‏ لِّلاَّذِ‏ ينَ‏ آمَ‏ نُوا رَ‏ باَّنَا إِناَّكَ‏ رَ‏ ءُ‏ وفٌ‏ راَّ‏ حِ‏ يمٌ‏ فإن الهفوة الزلل والغضب
والحدة واإلفراط ل يخلو منه أحد،‏ وهو لهم غفور،‏ ول يوجب ذلك البراءة منهم والعداوة لهم
1 Al-Ṣārim al-Maslūl 3/1061; al-Ṣawāʿiq al-Muḥriqah 2/621.
2 Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal: Faḍāʾil al-Ṣaḥābah 1/59. Ibn Taymiyah has graded the transmission as authentic
in his book Minhāj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah 2/22.
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