Know that whole Ummah is agreed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had a number of companions, who abode in his Mosque and engaged in devotion, renouncing the world and refusing to seek a livelihood. Allah reproached the Prophet (peace be upon him) on their account and said,

وَلاَ تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ

“send not away those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His face,” (Q 6:52).

Their merits and virtues are proclaimed by the Quran, and in many traditions.

It is related by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by the people of Veranda, and seeing their poverty and self mortification, he said:

ابشرو يا اصحاب الصفته فمن ابقي من امتي علي النعت الذي انتم عليه راضياً بمافيه فانهم من رفقاءي في الجننته

”Rejoice! for whoever of my Ummah preserves in the state in which you are, and is satisfied with his condition, he shall be one of my comrades in Paradise.”

Among the Ahl-i Suffa (may Allah be pleased with them) were:

-    The Muadhdhin (caller for the prayer) Bilal b. Rabah,

-    Abu Abdullah Salman al-Farisi,

-    Abu Obadiah Aamar b. Abdullah al-Jarrah,

-    Abu al-Yaqtan, Umaar b. Yasir,

-    Abu Masud Abdullah b. Masud al-Hudhali,

-    Utba b. Masud

-    Al-Miqdad b. al-Aswad,

-    Khubab b. al-Alarath,

-    Suhaib b. Sinan Rumi,

-    Utbah b Gazwan,

-    Zaid b. al-Khattab, brother of the Caliph Umar,

-    Abu Kabisha,

-    Abu l-Marthad Kinas b. al-Hussein al-Aganwi,

-    Ukkasha b. al-Musin,

-    Masud b. Rabi al-Qari,

-    Abdullah b. Umar,

-    Abu Dhar Jundab b. Junada al-Ghaffari,

-    Safwan b. Bayda,

-    Abu Darda Uwaymr b. Aamar,

-    Abdullah b. Zaid al-Juhni,

-    Abu Lubabah b. Abd al-Mundhir.

Abu Abdul Rehman Muhammad b. Hussein al-Sulmi has written a separate history of Ahl-i Suffa, in which he has recorded their virtues and merits and names. He has included among them Mistah b. Thabit b. Ebad, whom I do not love from my heart because he began the slanders about Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the mother of the believers. Besides, the following also belonged to Ahl-i Suffa, but now and then they had recourse to some means of livelihood. May Allah be pleased with them.

-    Abu Huraira,

-    Thawban,

-    Maud b. al-Harith,

-    Sa'ib b. al-Khallad,

-    Thabit b. Wadiat,

-    Abu Ibees Uwaym b. Saaid,

-    Salim b. Umair b. Thabit,

-    Abu Alsar Ka`b b. Umar,

-    Wahb b. Maghfal,

-    Abdullah b. Unis,

-    Hajjaj b. Umaru al-Aslami

All Ahl-i Suffa were in one and the same degree (of dignity). Verily, the generation of the Companions was the best of all generations; and they were the best and most excellent of mankind, since Allah bestowed on them companionship with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and preserved their hearts from blemish. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that his era was the best and then next to it and then which was next to it. Allah said,

وَالسَّابِقُونَ الأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ

the vanguard (of Islam) – the first of those who forsook (their homes) and those who gave them aid, and (also) those who follow them in (all) good deeds –“ (Q 9:100).

*********