Addendum

Addendum to the Twenty-Seventh Word

On the Companions of the Prophet (UWBP)

Like Mawlana Jami, I say,

O Messenger of God! If only like the dog of the Companions of the Cave,

I could be in Paradise among your Companions.

Is it right that their dog is in Paradise while I am in Hell?

He was the dog of those Companions; I am the dog of yours!

In His Name, be He glorified!

And there is nothing but it glorifies Him with praise.(17:44)

In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and those who are with him are strong against the unbelievers, [but] compassionate amongst each other.(48:29)

You Ask: There are some narrations which say: “At a time innovations are rife, some of the righteous from among the believers and those who fear God will be equal in virtue to the Companions, or of even greater virtue.” Are these narrations sound? And if so, what is their true meaning?

The Answer: The Sunnis’ consensus that after the prophets the Companions were the most virtuous of mankind, [^4] is a certain proof that those that are sound out of those narrations refer to minor virtues. For a quality considered to be a minor virtue or particular perfection may be deemed preferable to that which is superior and in fact preferable. But in respect of universal, general virtues, the Companions cannot be reached; for they are the subject of divine praise at the end of Sura al-Fath, and are praised and applauded in the Torah, Gospels, and Qur’an. For now, we shall explain three points of wisdom concerning this truth which comprise three reasons out of very many reasons and instances of wisdom.

[^4]:See, Ibn Ḥibbān, al-Ṣaḥīḥ, x, 477; al-Haythamī, Majma‘ al-Zawā’id, i, 153; Ibn Ḥajar, Fatḥ al-Bārī, ii, 181; vi, 499.