Do not revile my Companions, do not revile my Companions. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if one amongst you would have spent as much gold as Uhud it would not amount to as much as one much on behalf of one of them or half of it.
The Book of the Merits of the Companions - Sahih Muslim 2540
This profound hadith from Sahih Muslim contains the Prophet Muhammad's emphatic prohibition against speaking ill of his Companions, coupled with a remarkable declaration of their unparalleled spiritual status.
Prohibition of Reviling the Companions
The repetition "do not revile my Companions" emphasizes the gravity of this prohibition. Classical scholars explain that reviling the Companions constitutes a major sin, as it implies rejection of the Quran's testimony to their virtue and challenges divine selection.
Imam al-Nawawi comments that this prohibition extends to all Companions without exception, for they are the chosen generation through whom Islam was established and transmitted.
The Spiritual Status of the Companions
The oath "By Him in Whose Hand is my life" underscores the absolute certainty of what follows. The comparison with Mount Uhud - a massive mountain near Medina - illustrates that no subsequent generation can equal the Companions' spiritual merit through worldly expenditure.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains that this establishes the Companions' collective superiority over all later Muslims, as their faith was tested through direct companionship with the Prophet and immense sacrifices.
Scholarly Interpretation
Traditional scholars unanimously agree this hadith establishes the obligation to honor all Companions and refrain from criticizing their internal disputes, recognizing these as ijtihad (scholarly reasoning) where each sought what they believed was right.
Al-Qadi Iyad states that loving the Companions is part of faith, while hating them is innovation, for they are the medium through which Islam reached us and their collective integrity is established by Quranic testimony.