Who is a Companion?

Who is a Companion?

The view of the jumhoor ulema (majority of the scholars) is that a person who fulfills the following three conditions is a person who is considered as a Companion of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم.

Someone who:

1. Met the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم

A more comprehensive term is "met" the Messenger rather than "saw" the Messenger, because there were blind Companions as well. This condition excludes those Muslims who were alive at that time but didn't meet the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم.

2. Was a Muslim at the time (of meeting the Messenger)

This condition excludes those who met the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم but were disbelievers at the time. Also those who embraced Islam after his death.

3. Died upon Islam (as a Muslim).

This condition excludes all those who apostated after the death of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم even though they met him and became Muslim during his lifetime. This also excludes all the disbelievers who met him.

How Many Companions Were There?

The scholars vary in their estimations, some say 60,000, others say 114, 000 etc.. The closest and most accurate estimation is that the Companions in total numbered at 120,000. And Allaah knows best.

Status of the Companions

There are many aayaat and ahadith that provide evidence for the high status and virtue of the Companions. The Companions are a people whom Allaah عز و جل testified for and praised in His Mighty Book and the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم praised them and forbade disparaging them in any way.

Allaah عز و جل says:

وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم
بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي

تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

And the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirun (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirun) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith).
Allaah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him.
He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever.
That is the supreme success.

[Surah at-Tawbah (The Repentance) - 009:100]