have agreed, saying: “All the Companions were just and all spoke the truth.” [^3]

[^3]:Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Ṣaḥīḥ, x, 477; al-Haythamī, Majma‘ al-Zawā’id, i, 153; Ibn Ḥajar, Fatḥ al-Bārī, ii, 181; vi, 499.

The Answer: Yes, the absolute majority of the Prophet’s (UWBP) Companions were lovers of the truth, truthfulness, and justice. For in that era, the ugliness of lies and falsehood was shown in all its ugliness and the beauty of right and truthfulness was shown in all its beauty in such a way that the distance between them stretched from the ground to the divine throne. They were clearly separated, from the depths of Musaylima the Liar at the lowest of the low to the utmost truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad (Upon whom be blessings and peace) at the highest of the high. Indeed, just as it was lying that brought Musaylima to the lowest of the low, so it was truthfulness and right which raised Muhammad the Trustworthy to the highest of the high.

Thus, the Companions, who had elevated sentiments and worshipped good morals and were illuminated with the light of the Sun of Prophethood’s conversation, did not stretch out their hands to the buffoonery and filth of the lying in Musaylima’s shop, which was so ugly and the cause of descent, and they shrank from unbelief. So too they shrank from lying, the companion of unbelief, and sought as far as they were able – especially in relating the ordinances of the Shari‘a and propagating them – truth, truthfulness, and right, which are so fine and the cause of pride and glory, ascent and progress, and were the thing most in demand from the Glory of Messengership’s (UWBP) elevated treasury, and which illuminate human social life with their beauteous splendour; the Companions acted in conformity with them and were desirous of them; this is certain, definite, and necessary. Whereas at this time, the distance between truth and lying has become so narrow that they are now quite simply shoulder to shoulder. It is extremely easy to pass from truthfulness to lying. Lying is even preferred to truthfulness due to the propaganda of politics and diplomacy. And so, if the most ugly and the finest things are sold in the same shop for the same price, certainly the jewel of truthfulness and right, which is elevated and penetrates to the essence of reality, will not be obtained blindly, relying on the word and competence of the shopkeeper.