greatly magnified in the tree’s branches and is larger than the largest branch; and just as a small protuberance at the beginning gradually forms a mass; and just as an excess the size of a needle point at a central point may become more than a metre at the circumference of the circle, just like these four examples, since the Companions were from the roots and foundations of the luminous tree of Islam, and were at the beginning of luminous lines of the structure of Islam, and were from among the leaders of the Islamic community and were the first of their number, and since they were close to the centre of the Sun of Prophethood and Lamp of Reality (UWBP), a few of their actions were many and their small acts of service, great. To reach their level necessitates being a true Companion.

O God! Grant blessings to our master Muhammad, who said: “My Companions are like the stars, whichever of them you follow, you will be rightly guided,” [^7] and, “The best of centuries is my century,” [^8] and to his Family and Companions, and grant them peace.

[^7]:al-‘Ajlūnī, Kashf al-Khafā’, i, 132, No: 381.

[^8]:Bukhārī, Shahāda, 9; Faḍā’il Aṣḥāb al-Nabī, 1; Riqāq, 7; Ayman, 10, 27; Tirmidhī, Fitan, 45; Manāqib, 56; Ibn Māja, Aḥkām, 27; Musnad, i, 378, 417; ii, 228, 410; iv, 267, 276; v, 350.

Glory be unto You! We have no knowledge save that which You have taught us; indeed, You are All-Knowing, All-Wise.(2:32)

##### First Question

Question: It is said, the Companions saw God’s Noble Messenger(Upon whom be blessings and peace), then they believed. We, however, have believed without seeing him, in which case our belief is stronger. Also, there are narrations mentioning the strength of our belief, [^9] are there not?

[^9]:Musnad, v, 248, 257, 264; al-Ḥākim, al-Mustadrak, iii, 41; iv, 89.

The Answer: At that time, when all ideas were opposed and hostile to the truths of Islam, the Companions believed so strongly – sometimes on only seeing the person of God’s Messenger (UWBP) and without miracles – that all the generally held ideas in the world did not shake them. Let alone doubts, they did not even cause some of them the slightest anxiety or scruple. You are comparing your belief with that of the Companions, but how can there be any comparison? For despite your seeing with the mind’s eye, not the Messenger’s (UWBP) humanity and bodily form, which was the seed of the Tuba tree of his prophethood, but through all the lights of Islam and truths of the Qur’an, his luminous, magnificent collective personality, encompassed by a thousand miracles – despite this, you waver and fall into