IntegrityOfTheProphet's

Companions
ByMuhammadAlkhider
Some people intentionally or unintentionally do refer to the meaning of Integrity and the concept of
Infallibilityassynonymous,althoughthedifferencebetweenthemiscrystalclear.Assuch,theythink
thatattributingvirtuousnesstothecompanionsoftheHolyProphetnecessitatestheirinfallibility.What
agravemistake!
Integrity of the Prophets companions means that: they were neither hypocrites, liars, lewd, immoral
nor infidels. Besides, they were righteous believers who would err sometimes and correct their
mistakes thereafter. They committed mistakes after which they hastened to repent and seek
forgivenessfromAllahAlmighty.TheyobeyedGod,theMostHigh,andexpectedHis acceptance of
theiractsofdevotionwithoutaniotaofdoubt.
Infallibilityrequiresofapersontobeexaltedfromcommittingsinsorperpetuatingshortcomings.Both
his mind and body should be immaculate of blemishes and shortcomings that can easily defame his
rankandtraducehisstatus.
ThedifferencebetweenIntegrityandInfallibilityiscrystalclearinIslam.TheSunniMuslimsdoreferto
the companions of the Holy Prophet as straightforward, virtuous and honest but not infallible.
Impeccability according to the belief of the Sunni Muslims is only attributed to Prophets and
MessengerofGodAlmighty.
Regarding the source of integrity and the question whether it is a Philosophical theory or rather an
Islamicfactthatahostoftextshasprovedauthentic,theanswerisasfollows:
AponderingandreflectinglookattheHolyQuranandastudythatMuslimsrendertotheBookofGod
andtheauthentictraditionsoftheHolyProphet(PBUH)isabletoprovideaconvincinganswertothe
aforementionedquestion.Allah,theHolyOne,saysintheHolyQuran:Allahsgoodpleasurewas
on the believers when they swore Fealty to thee under the Tree: He knew what was in their
hearts, and He sent down Tranquility to them: and He rewarded them with a speedy victory.
(48:18)

GodAlmightyintheabovementionedverseexplainedtoHismessengerandtheentirebelievingfolk
thatHispleasurewasonthebelievers,men and women, who plighted fealty to Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him). He informed his messenger furthermore that He knew what was concealed in
theirheartsregardingfaithinHimandtruthfulness.Hence,Hesentdowntranquility,peace,calmand
senseofsecurityandconfidencetothem.ThissufficesastestimonyfromGodAlmightyregardingthe
veracity of the companions faith, their truthfulness and sincerity. It has been proven that the
messengerofGod(PBUH)said:Nooneamongthosewhosworetheirfealtytomeunderthetree
will be consigned to Hell except the owner of the red camel. (Related by AtTirmidhiy in Al
Manaqib[VirtuesoftheCompanions],andMusliminthesametitledbook)
ThemanwhowasdoomedtoHellfireaccordingtotheabovementionedHadith,wasamongthearch
hypocritesofMadinahcalledAlJaddubinQais.
ThenumberofthecompanionswhosworetheirfealtytotheProphet(PBUH)was1,400.Accordingto
othertraditionsitreached1,500.GodAlmightytestifiedtotheirsincereandtruthfulnessandconfirmed
toHismessengerthattherewasnograinofhypocrisyintheirheartsexceptoneman.Themessenger
ofGod(PBUH)eventuallyrevealedhisnametothecompanions.HisnamewasAlJaddubinQais.
HedidnotswearhisfealtytothemessengerofGodasdidthecompanionsundertheTreeofAllahs
Pleasure. Allah, Exalted in Might, says in the Holy Quran: Not equal among you are those who
spent(freely) and fought before the victory (with those who did so later). Those are higher in

rank than those who spent (freely) and fought afterwards. But to all has Allah promised a
goodly(reward.)(57:10)
God,theMostHigh,intheabovementionedverse,promisedthecompanionswhospentfreelybefore
and after the speedy victory of the liberation of Makkah, a goodly reward. Moreover, He passed a
verdictregardingtheonesHepromisedagoodlyreward,thattheywouldbesafefromthetormentof
the Hellfire on the Resurrection Day. He says in the Holy Quran: Those for whom the good
(record) from Us has gone before, will be removed far therefrom. Not the slightest sound will
they hear of hell. What their souls desired, in that will they dwell. The Great Terror will bring
them no grief. (21: 101103) Allah Almighty also says in the Holy Quran: Ye are the best of
peoples,evolvedformankind,enjoiningwhatisright,forbiddingwhatiswrong,andbelieving
inAllah.(3:110)
However,itisincredibleforanation(People)thatAllahAlmightyhasreferredtoasthebestofpeople
evolvedformankind,astestimonyfromHimtobeastheShiiteAdherentsandSourcesmaintain!For
they say: The emigrants (from Makkah to Madinah) and the Ansar (those who welcomed, helped
andhostedtheProphetandhiscompanionswhocamefromMakkah)allofthemrecantedtheirreligion
exceptthree.(AlKaafiy,2/244)
HaditbeentruethattheywerereallyasdescribedbytheShiiteSources,AllahAlmightywouldhave
not praised and placed them in a lofty rank in the aforementioned verse and in many others. The
messengerofGod(PBUH)says:ProphetNoah(onhimbepeace)isgoingtobesummonedby
God Almighty on the Resurrection Day. He will say: Here I am at your service O my Lord!
Then God Almighty will ask him: Did you convey the message? Noahs response will be:
Yes. Then God Almighty will ask Noahs people: Did he convey the message? They will
apparently say: No Warner came to us. Then God Almighty will ask Noah (Peace be upon
him):Whowilltestifythatyouconveyedthemessage?Noahwillobviouslysay:Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) and his people (followers). Then the followers of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH)willunanimouslytestify that Noah (on him be peace) delivered the message entrusted
tohimbyGodAlmighty.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) informed us of the aforementioned situation in his
interpretation of the following verse: Thushave We made you an Ummah (nation, people) justly
balanced,thatyemightbewitnessesoveryourselves.(2:143)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the context of his interpretation of the

aforementioned verse said: To be justly balanced means: to be
straightforward.RelatedbyAlBukhariy
Thus the messenger of God (PBUH) confirmed the nonshaky integrity of his honest, truthful and
sincerecompanions.