The rights of the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, are really many. Amongst them are:

A-          Loving and supplicating Allah, The Almighty, to be pleased with them:

Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): {And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."} [Quran 59: 10].

B-          Following and adhering to their guidance and path:

 It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever lives among you after me will witness much disagreement. It is upon you to follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my rightly-guided-successors (in belief and deed) after me. Cling to these with all your might."

However, some innovators deviated away from the right course regarding honoring the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. They did not recognize their virtues and superiority. Rather, they slandered and belittled them. Even the extremist innovators accused them with lying, hypocrisy and treachery. Therefore, ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, said: "They were commanded to seek forgiveness for the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, but they (instead) reviled them."

Slandering the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with him, is essentially a form of insulting the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. That is because they are his best friends and supports. Therefore, Imam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him, and others said: "By insulting the wives and the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, clearly the Raafidhah (i.e. Shia) wants people to say: "Muhammad was a wanton man among wanton Companions. If he were a virtuous man, then his Companions will be virtuous people too." 

Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, also said: "As for the Raafidhah who slander the Companions, they indirectly seek to slander the message of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him."

1- Defending the Wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who are the Mothers of the Believers, may Allaah be pleased with them:

Amongst the forms of defending the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is to defend his honor and the honor of his pure wives, may Allaah be pleased with them, especially Umm Al-Mu‘mineen ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, whom Allah, The Almighty, declared her innocence from above seven heavens in noble verses tht would be recited until the Day of Resurrection. Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means): {Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof - for him is a great punishment. Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, "This is an obvious falsehood"?} until Allah, The Almighty, says (what means): { And why, when you heard it, did you not say, "It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, [O Allah]; this is a great slander"? Allah warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers.} [Quran 24: 11-17]

Imam Maalik, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Whoever curses Abu Bakr should be whipped, and whoever curses ‘Aa’ishah should be killed." He was asked, ‘Why do you say that concerning (the one who curses) ‘Aa’ishah?’ He said, "Because whoever accuses her goes against the Quran (and whoever goes against the Qur’aan should be killed)."

Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, all agreed that whoever accuses or slanders her after the revelation of this verse is a Kaafir (disbeliever), because he has rejected the Quran."

Slandering the wives of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and accusing them with false accusations is one of the greatest offense to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Therefore, Imam Al-Qurtubi, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, in his Tafseer of the saying of Allah, The Almighty: "Allah warns you against returning to the likes of this [conduct], ever, if you should be believers" [Quran 24:17]":

"This is concerning ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with him, ... because of the hurt and offence that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, felt with regard to his honor and his family. This is Kufr (disbelieve) on the part of the one who does it." 

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