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Among the principles of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah lie the attitude of peace and purity of their heart and tongue towards the Sahaba (Companions) of the Prophet (Sal) as Allaah has stated their attributes in this verse :
They obey this statement of the Prophet (Sal) :
"Do not abuse my Companions for if anyone of you spent gold equal to Uhud (mountain) (in Allaah's cause) it would not equal to a mudd (2/3rd of a Kilogram) or even half Mudd spent by one of them"
(Al-Bukharee : Vol : 5/22).
They accept all the superiorities and grades that have been described about them in the Qur'aan, the Hadeeth and by consensus. They give superiority to those who spent and fought for the sake of Allaah before the victory, that is, truse of Hudaibiyah over those who spent and fought after that. They consider Al-Muhajireen (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah for Islaam) to be superior to Al-Ansar (the helpers of Al-Madinah who supported Al-Muhajireen). They have faith in what Allaah has aid about the 313 persons on the occasion of the battle of Badr that :
"They are free to do what they like, their sins are pardoned"
(Al-Bukahri, 5/212).
And non of those who gave their pledge to the prophet (Sal) under the tree will get into fire as the Prophet stated :
"Allaah is doubtlessly pleased with them and and they are pleased with Allaah".
And they were more than 1400 about whom the Prophet (Sal) bore witness that they will be admitted to Paradise. (Muslim,16/290).
The Ahlus Sunnah also bear witness the admission to Paradise for them such as the 'Asharah Mubashsharah (ten Companions of the Prophet (Sal) who have been given glad tiding of Pradise in this world by the Prophet (Sal), and the Sahabah like Thabit bin Qais bin Shammas etc). They affirm the frequent traditions which have come down about Aamirul Mu'minin Ali bin Abi Talib (Ral). In other words, they regard Abu Bakr (Ral) as the best person after Muhammad (Sal), then comes Umar (Ral). They give the third position to Uthman (Ral), and the fourth to Ali (Ral), as if proved by the traditions, and as the Sahaba had unanimously agreed at the time of offering Bai'ah (oath of loyalty) to Uthman (Ral).
Albeit, some Ahlus Sunnah have a difference regarding uthman (Ral) and Ali (Ral) as to who is superior between the two, but they also are unanimnous about Abu Bakr (Ral) and Umar (Ral). As to who among Uthman and Ali is superior, some have given periority to Uthman and have then kept quiet and have and have given the fourth place to Ali. Some have given priority to Ali and some have kept silent,. But in the case of Ahlus Sunnah it is established that Uthman has priority over Ali, althouth according to the mass of the Ahlus Sunnah the problem regarding priority to Uthman over Ali is not such that opposition to it may be called misguidance. This will, of course, be considered misguidance on the question of caliphate. The Ahlus Sunnah believe that Abu Bakr is the caliph after the Prophet (Sal), then Umar, then uthman, then Ali. Whoever objects against anyone of these regarding this order of caliphate, he will be regarded more misguided than the domestic donkey.
The author says that one one of those principles which distinguish Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah from other sects is that they do not revile anyone from amongst the Sahaba of the Prophet (Sal); they do not curse them and neither do they feel animus and malice towards them or talk contemptuously about them as have been said by Allaah about them, that is :
The supplications have been invoked by those who came after them and followed them sincerely. This proves their perfect love for the Sahaba of the Prophet (Sal) and their honouring them. They deserve this love and respect due to their superiority and nobliliy in Islaam and their special relationship with the Prophet (Sal) and the good that they have done for the entire Ummah. These were the people who became instrumental in conveying the message that the Prophet (Sal) came to deliver. Whatever knowledge and learning was made available to the latter people, was through them. Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah while obeying the Prophet (Sal) pay respect to these men for the Prophet (Sal) has forbidden them from reviling them and having animus against them. The Prophet (Sal) has pointed out that even a few deeds of a Sahabi are of greater importance than many deeds of any other Muslim. This is because of the Perfect sincerity and true Faith of the Sahaba.
The author says, "They give superiority..." this statement is supported by the verse of the Qur'an :
The explanation of 'Victory'has been done in terms of the truce of Hudaibiyah. It is authentically proved that Surah Al-Fath was revealed after that. The name 'Victory' was given to lthis truce because it brought far reaching consequences. The comination of Islaam and its power, its publicity and the entry of lthe people in its fold; form part of its consequences.
The author says: "They consider Al-Muhajireen..." The Muhajreen have two qualities-help and migration. This is the reason why the Guided Caliphs and the 'Asharah Mubashsharah were from amongst the Muhajir. Surah Taubah (Repentance) and Surah Al-Hashr (The Gathering) contain superiority of the Muhajir over the Ansar. This superiority is in a general sense; it does not mean that some from the Ansar are not superior to some from the Muhajir.
It is reported by Abu Bakr while delivering the address at As-Saqifa : "We are the Muhajirun; we accepted Islaam first of all; we enbraced Islam before you did; and we have been given priority in the Qur'an also. So we will be the relers and you the advisrs." (Al-Bukharee, 5/16).
The author says, "They have faith in..." It is reported that when Umar (Ral) wanted to kill Hatib bin Abi Balta'a (Ral) (who had participated in the battle of Badr) on the ground that he had written a letter while spying for the Quraish regarding the journey of the Propjet (Sal), the Prophet (Sal), said to Umar:
"Umar! What do you klnow, may be, Allah is aware of the men of Badr and said, 'Do whatever you like, I have forgiven you".
The author says, "And mone of those who gave teir pledge..."This is because the Prophet (Sal) had told it and Allaah has stated :
Indeed Allah is pleased with those faithfuls when they were offering Bai'ah to you undrer the tree : This pleasure will protect them from receiving affliction and implies their honour and reward.
The author says, "...Such as the 'Asharah Mubashsharah' : Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Talha, Zubair, Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas, Saeed bin Zaid, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, and Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah." In addition to them there are other like Thabit bin Qais, Olashah binb Mihsan, and Abdullah bin Salam, etc., and othere about whose being destined to receive Paradise is mentioned in the authentic narratives.
The author says, "They afirm the frequent traditions which have come down about Amirul Mu'minin Ali bin Abi Talib..." It is narrated that Ali had said:
"After the death of Allah's Messenger (Sal) we have come to know that Abu Bakr is superior-most amongst us all and after his death we feel that Umar is the most supeiror amongst us." ('As-Sunnah', of Ibn Abi Aasim 2/570).
The author says, "They give the third position to Uthman..." The creed of the majority of the Ahlus Sunnah is that the order of superiority among the Guided Caliphs is in accordance with their turn in occupying the seat of caliphate and it is on this ground that the Ahlus Sunnah give superiority to Uthman over Ali. Their argument is that the Sahaba gave priority to Uthman over Ali on theground that the narratives transmitted abnout the quallities and virtues of Ali are too many. But some people deep quiet about it. However, the question of according superiority as the author has said, does not form part of those fundamental problems in which the opponents may be regarded as misguided. This is onlyu a peripheral issue having enough scope for difference of openion. Of course, it is obligatory with regard to the problem of caliphate to believe that the caliphate of Uthman was rightful, for it had been establlished in consultation with those six persons whom Umar (Ral) had appointed to choose the caliph after him. So, whoever has the notion that the caliphate of Uthman (Ral) was false and Ali was more entitled to caliphate, he will be considered a misguided innovator. He will be considered to be overwhelmed by Shia-ism and, as the author says, guilty of ascribing evil, to the Mujajir and the Ansar.