Respecting the Righteous Companions

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                    Respecting the Righteous Companions

The Shia devote a great respect for some of the companions of the Prophet
(PBUH&HF) who closely followed Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt before and after
death of Prophet (PBUH&HF). Among these great companions, are the following
individuals:

====================
Abu Dhar al-Ghifari
====================

The Holy Prophet said concerning Abu Dhar al-Ghifari that

     "Heaven has not shaded, nor has the earth carried a person more
     straight forward than Abu Dhar. He walks on earth with the
     immaterialistic attitude of Jesus, the son of Mary."

Sunni references:
- Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p334, Tradition #3889
- Tahdhib al-Athar, v4, pp 158-161
- Musnad Ahmad Hanbal, #6519, #6630, #7078
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p342
- al-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'd, v4, part 1, pp 167-168
- Majma' al-Zawa'id, by al-Haythami, v9, pp 329-330


===============
Ammar Ibn Yasir
===============

The Holy Prophet had told Ammar Ibn Yasir along with his parents that:

     "Family of Yasir, be patient, for your destination is paradise,"

Sunni Reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p233,


The Holy Prophet also told him that

     "Ammar be cheerful, the aggressor party shall kill you."

Sunni references:
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p383
- Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, Traditions #6968& #6970

The English translator of Sahih Muslim (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui) has written
in the footnote of the above traditions that:

     This narration is clearly indicative of the fact that in the conflict
     between Hadrat Ali and his opponents, Hadrat Ali was on the right as
     Ammar Ibn Yasir was killed in the Battle of Siffin fighting in the
     camp of Hadrat Ali. (Footnote of Sahih Muslim, English version, v4,
     p1508).


======================
al-Miqdad Ibn al-Aswad
======================

He is among the four men whom the Prophet (PBUH&HF) was commanded to love,
as the Prophet said:

     "God commanded me to love four, and He informed me that he loves them.
     People asked him: Messenger of God who are they? He said: Ali is from
     them ( repeating that three times ). And Abu Tharr and Salman and al-
     Miqdad."

Sunni reference: Sunan ibn Majah, v1 p53 Hadith 149

The Messenger of Allah also said:

     "Every prophet was given by God seven righteous companions. I was
     given fourteen righteous companions".  He included in them Ali, al-
     Hasan, al-Husain, Hamza, Ja'far, Ammar Ibn Yasir, Abu Dhar, Miqdad,
     and Salman.
     
Sunni references:
- Fada'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, Traditions #109, #277
- Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p329, p662
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp88,148,149 from several chain of narrators
- al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v6, p264, p265
- Hilyatul Awliya', by Abu Nu'aym, v1, p128

===============
Salman al-Farsi
===============

Concerning him, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said that

     "Paradise longs for three men, Ali, Ammar and Salman."

Sunni reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p332, Tradition #3884


=========
Ibn Abbas
=========

He was the person about whom the Prophet (PBUH&HF) said:

     "God I ask Thee to teach him the interpretation and make him
     knowledgeable in religion and make him from the people of belief."

Sunni reference: al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p536