Ranking the Sahaba

[Farid]

Bismillah alrahman alraheem,

In Musnad Ahmad in an authentic report from Shuraih bin Ubaid, he said:

"Utba (bin Abd) said that Al Irbadh (bin Sariyah) is better than him.

Al Irbadh would say: He is better than me for he beat me to the Prophet peace be upon him by a year."

The narration implies that what one does during his time with the Prophet peace be upon him cannot be matched by the good deeds he does after the Prophet's death.

The narration also demonstrates the modesty of the companions and their respect for one another.

[Sheikh]

The narration implies that what one does during his time with the Prophet peace be upon him cannot be matched by the good deeds he does after the Prophet's death.

Asalaam alykom,


Wouldn't good deeds performed after the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) be ranked higher than those performed in his presence?  My thought process is that it would be easier to perform good deeds when he is around than it is to perform them after his death.


Doing my job is sure easier when my boss is watching than when I'm alone and bored.   

[Furkan]

It's being blessed to be with rasulullah.

[Farid]

Hahah, great question akhi Sheikh.

I believe that the narration is referring to the jihad, charity, and da'awa works that led to the spread of Islam.

Imagine how hard it was to spread Islam pre-Hijra. If you managed to get one convert (x), and he gets (y) to convert, then you get the ajr of (x) as well, without him losing any ajr.

Think of the Battle of Badr. If the Sahaba did not win that battle, then Islam would cease to exist.

As Rasool Allah peace be upon him said: If you spend (in the sake of Allah) gold the size of Uhud, you would not reach them (in deeds).

Saheehain.

Something along those lines.