The Most Beautiful Stories of the Companions of the Prophet

The Brotherhood Between Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf and Sa’d ibn Ar-Rabi’

It is narrated that when the esteemed companion Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf migrated to Medina, the Prophet (ﷺ) established a bond of brotherhood between him and Sa’d ibn Ar-Rabi’, who was a wealthy man. Sa’d offered to give Abdur-Rahman half of his wealth and even suggested that he could marry one of his wives after she was divorced.

However, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (RA) responded by saying:

"May Allah bless you in your wealth and family; just show me the way to the market".

It is reported that he later became a highly successful merchant and generously donated hundreds of thousands of dinars to support Muslim armies and help the poor.

Abu Dahdah and the Palm Tree of Paradise

A young orphan had a dispute with a companion over a palm tree. The orphan wanted to build a fence around his property, but the tree stood in the way. He brought his case to the Prophet (ﷺ), who asked the owner to give up the tree for the orphan. The man refused. The Prophet (ﷺ) then offered him an even greater reward; exchanging it for a tree in Paradise; but the man still declined.

At that moment, Abu Dahdah was watching the situation unfold. Seeing the great reward being offered, he eagerly stepped in. He approached the owner and made an offer: he would give him an entire orchard in exchange for that single tree. The man agreed, and thus, Abu Dahdah secured for himself a tree in Paradise.

The Courage of Abu Bakr in Defending the Prophet

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) had remarkable moments in defending the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and shielding him from the harm of Quraysh. One of these moments, as mentioned in Sahih Al-Bukhari, occurred when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was praying, and ‘Uqbah ibn Abi Mu’ait, one of the disbelievers of Mecca, approached him and began strangling him with his garment. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) pushed ‘Uqbah away from the Prophet and said:

"Will you kill a man for saying: ‘My Lord is Allah,’ while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord?" (Quran 40:28).

Among the companions who testified to the bravery of Abu Bakr and acknowledged him as one of the bravest men was Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). When Ali was the Caliph, he once asked his companions who they thought was the bravest among the people. They replied that it was him. However, he told them that there was someone even braver than him; Abu Bakr; and he recounted some of Abu Bakr’s acts of courage.

One such moment was during the Battle of Badr, where Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) remained close to the Prophet (peace be upon him), fearing that the polytheists might harm him. He was ready to sacrifice his own life in defense of the Messenger of Allah, wielding his sword and striking down anyone who attempted to harm or kill the Prophet.

Another moment of Abu Bakr’s bravery occurred on one occasion when the Quraysh surrounded the Prophet (peace be upon him), pulling him and mocking him, saying:

"Are you the one who made all the gods into one?"

None of the companions dared to intervene; except for Abu Bakr, who rushed to the Prophet’s defense, pushing away the disbelievers and saying:

"Woe to you! Will you kill a man for saying: ‘My Lord is Allah’?"

These moments demonstrate Abu Bakr’s exceptional bravery and his unwavering defense of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) against all harm.

The Nobility of Uthman ibn Talha

Uthman ibn Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) had a remarkable act that demonstrated his chivalry and manhood, even before embracing Islam. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his companions to migrate to Medina, Abu Salama set out with his wife, Umm Salama, and their young son. However, Umm Salama’s tribe prevented her from traveling with her husband and took her back to their homeland. In response, Abu Salama’s family took the child from her as retaliation for what her family had done.

Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) remained grieving the separation from her husband and son for nearly a year, until her family finally allowed her to leave and reunite with her husband. She set out for Medina with her young son, and along the way, she encountered Uthman ibn Talha, who had not yet embraced Islam. This meeting took place in Tan’im, near Mecca. Upon seeing her alone, Uthman ibn Talha asked about her destination and whether she had anyone accompanying her.

When she told him that she was traveling to join her husband and had no one with her but Allah and her son, Uthman ibn Talha accompanied her and guided her to her husband’s location. Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) later praised Uthman ibn Talha for his chivalry, generosity, and good manners throughout the journey.

Uthman ibn Talha embraced Islam during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in the eighth year of Hijrah and migrated to Medina along with Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with them both).

Uthman ibn Talha was the keeper of the key to the Kaaba, a prestigious responsibility passed down through his family. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) conquered Mecca, Uthman handed him the key. However, instead of keeping it, the Prophet (peace be upon him) returned it to him and announced to the people that this duty would remain with the tribe of Banu Shaybah, Uthman’s clan.

This act was a great honor for Uthman and his tribe, ensuring that they would continue holding this sacred responsibility.

The Steadfastness of the Companions Against Abu Lahab’s Harm

The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) displayed unwavering faith and resilience in the face of persecution, particularly from Abu Lahab, one of the most hostile enemies of Islam. From the moment the Prophet (ﷺ) publicly called to Tawheed (monotheism), Abu Lahab led a relentless campaign of mockery, abuse, and opposition against him and his followers.

Despite this, the Companions remained steadfast, enduring torture, social boycotts, and humiliation for the sake of their faith. Bilal ibn Rabah was brutally beaten under the scorching sun, yet he continued to proclaim "Ahad! Ahad!" (Allah is One!). Abu Bakr As-Siddiq defended the Prophet (ﷺ) against the aggression of Quraysh, often putting himself in harm’s way. Even in the face of exile and loss, they remained committed to the message of Islam.

The steadfastness of the Companions was not just a personal struggle but a testament to their deep faith and trust in Allah. Their patience and resilience against Abu Lahab’s hostility and other Quraysh leaders ultimately led to the triumph of Islam, proving that truth always prevails over oppression.

Umm ‘Umara’s Honor of Defending the Prophet (ﷺ)

Umm ‘Umara (may Allah be pleased with her) was one of the brave female companions who actively participated in battles and expeditions. Her remarkable courage was recorded in the Battle of Uhud, when the intensity of the battle increased, and the disbelievers gathered around the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), intending to kill him. A man named Ibn Qami’ah approached, shouting:

"Show me Muhammad! If he survives, I will not!"

At that moment, Umm ‘Umara (may Allah be pleased with her) stood in his way, determined to stop him, alongside Mus‘ab ibn Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him). However, Mus‘ab was martyred during the battle, leaving Umm ‘Umara to face the attacker alone. Ibn Qami’ah struck her with a severe blow to her neck, but despite her injuries, she remained strong and continued to fight, all while the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) watched as she endured multiple wounds in her defense of him.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) then called upon her son, instructing him to bandage his mother’s wounds and made du'a (supplication) for blessings upon them. Upon hearing the Prophet’s voice, Umm ‘Umara asked him to pray that they would be his companions in Jannah, to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) granted her request, filling her with immense joy.

When they returned to Medina, Umm ‘Umara wished to join another battle, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had called upon those who had fought in Uhud to march with him again. However, due to the severity of her wounds, she was unable to do so.

Muslim women gathered around her, tending to her injuries and nursing her back to health. A few days later, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) inquired about her condition, and he was informed that she was recovering well and in good health.

Uthman ibn Affan’s Refusal to Perform Tawaf Before the Prophet (ﷺ)

Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) was the messenger of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to Quraysh shortly before the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions had camped at Hudaybiyyah, and he sent Uthman to inform Quraysh that they had come for Umrah, not for war. Additionally, Uthman was to reassure the Muslims who were still in Mecca that victory was near and that Allah’s religion would soon prevail in Mecca.

Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) fulfilled his mission and remained in Mecca for a few days. During that time, Suhail ibn Amr arrived at the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the treaty was concluded. Some companions speculated that Uthman might have performed Tawaf around the Kaaba, but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) assured them that Uthman would never perform Tawaf while the Muslims were still in Hudaybiyyah, unable to do so themselves.

When Uthman returned, the companions told him what had been said and how the Prophet (peace be upon him) had responded. Uthman firmly declared:

"What a terrible thought you had of me! By the One in whose hand my soul is, even if I had remained in Mecca for a year while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was still in Hudaybiyyah, I would not have performed Tawaf until he had done so. Indeed, Quraysh invited me to perform Tawaf, but I refused!"

This incident highlights Uthman’s deep love and respect for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, this particular narration is considered weak, though the story of Uthman being sent to Quraysh during the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah is authentic.

The Dispute Among the Companions Over Raising Umamah bint Hamza

The noble companions were always eager to do good deeds and perform righteous acts, one of which was caring for orphans. This was evident when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was leaving Mecca after completing the Umrah of Qada. At that moment, Umamah bint Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, who was an orphan, followed him, calling out:

"O uncle! O uncle!"

Her father, Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), had been martyred during the Battle of Uhud.

Three esteemed companions competed for the honor of raising and caring for her:

Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"She is my cousin, and I took her first".

Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"She is also my cousin, and my wife is her maternal aunt".

Zayd ibn Harithah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

"She is my niece, as I was Hamza’s foster brother (through nursing).”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) settled the matter and ruled in favor of Ja‘far, saying:

"A maternal aunt is like a mother".

He also softened the hearts of his companions with kind words, reassuring them.

This decision was in the best interest of Umamah, as she would be raised with her maternal aunt. Additionally, Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib was in a better financial position than Ali and Zayd at the time.

This event demonstrates the noble character of the companions, who, despite their limited wealth, competed for the honor of caring for orphans and seeking the immense reward from Allah for doing so.