Examples of Seriousness and Determination Among the Companions

1. The Seriousness and Firmness of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) toward the Apostates and Those Who Withheld Zakah

Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):

01

When the Prophet ﷺ passed away and Abu Bakr was appointed as Caliph, and some of the Arabs committed apostasy, Umar said: “O Abu Bakr! How can you fight the people when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘I have been commanded to fight the people until they say: La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah).

02

Whoever says La ilaha illa Allah has protected his wealth and his life from me except by its right, and his account is with Allah.

03

Abu Bakr said: “By Allah! I will fight whoever differentiates between prayer and zakah, for zakah is the right of wealth. By Allah! If they withhold even a young she-goat which they used to give to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I will fight them for withholding it.”

Umar said: “By Allah! It was nothing but that I saw Allah had opened Abu Bakr’s chest toward fighting, and I knew that it was the truth.” 2. The Seriousness of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) in Seeking Islam

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:

When news of the Prophet’s ﷺ mission reached Abu Dharr, he said to his brother: “Go to this valley and find out about this man who claims to be a prophet receiving news from the heavens. Listen to his words and come back to me.”

His brother went, heard his speech, and returned saying: “I saw him commanding noble manners, and his speech is not poetry.”

Abu Dharr said: “You have not satisfied me.” So he prepared provisions and a water-skin and set out for Makkah. He went to the mosque seeking the Prophet ﷺ but did not recognize him and disliked asking about him. When night came, he lay down. Ali saw that he was a stranger and took him home without either of them asking the other anything.

This continued for three days. On the third day, Ali asked him why he had come. Abu Dharr said: “If you give me your word to guide me, I will tell you.” He informed him, and Ali said: “It is true; he is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Follow me in the morning…”

He entered upon the Prophet ﷺ, listened to him, and accepted Islam immediately. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Return to your people and inform them until my command comes to you.”

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Abu Dharr said: “By the One in whose hand is my soul, I will proclaim it openly among them.” He went to the mosque and shouted at the top of his voice: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

The people beat him severely until Al-Abbas rescued him, saying: “Woe to you! Do you not know he is from Ghifar, and your trade route to Syria passes through their land?” The next day he did the same, and they beat him again until Al-Abbas saved him. 3.

Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Prophet ﷺ appointed Abdullah ibn Jubayr over the archers on the Day of Uhud — they were fifty men — and said: “If you see us being carried away by birds, do not leave your position until I send for you. And if you see us defeating the enemy and trampling them, do not leave until I send for you.”

They defeated the enemy. I saw the women running with their anklets and legs visible, lifting their garments.

The companions of Abdullah ibn Jubayr said: “The spoils! O people, the spoils! Your companions have won — what are you waiting for?”

Abdullah ibn Jubayr said: “Have you forgotten what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to you?”

They insisted on going for the spoils. When they left their position, the tide turned against them and they returned defeated.

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