Hadith Text

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in Allah's Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them."

Source Reference

Sahih al-Bukhari 3673

Book: Companions of the Prophet

Author: Sahih al-Bukhari

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the supreme status of the Prophet's companions and prohibits speaking ill of them. The companions (Sahaba) are those who met the Prophet while believing in him and died upon Islam.

The comparison of spending gold equal to Mount Uhud versus a mere mudd (a small dry measure approximately equal to 675 grams) illustrates the immense superiority of the companions' deeds. Their faith and sacrifices occurred during the foundational period of Islam when support was most needed and risks were greatest.

Scholars explain that the companions' merit stems from their direct companionship with the Prophet, their precedence in embracing Islam, their participation in critical battles, and their role in transmitting the religion to subsequent generations. Their collective integrity is established by Quranic verses and multiple prophetic traditions.

This prohibition includes both verbal abuse and holding negative beliefs about their collective righteousness. While individual companions may have differed in certain matters, their overall status as trustworthy transmitters of Islam remains unquestioned in orthodox Islamic scholarship.

Legal and Spiritual Implications

Speaking ill of any companion is considered a major sin that threatens one's faith. Scholars classify those who revile the companions as innovators (ahlul bid'ah) whose testimony may be rejected.

The spiritual lesson emphasizes that the value of deeds is not merely in their quantity but in their timing, sincerity, and circumstances. The companions' early support for Islam during its most vulnerable period carries incomparable merit.

This teaching fosters unity among Muslims by preserving the honor of those who laid Islam's foundations and prevents sectarian divisions that often begin with criticism of early Muslim figures.