The Best Three Generations

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said in a famous hadeeth, narrated by 'Imraan bin
Husayn (RA):

"Verily the best among you (to follow) is my generation (the Messenger Muhammad
(SAW) and his Companions (RA)), then those who follow, and then those who follow
them…" (Saheeh Muslim, the Virtues of the Sahaabah, chapter 52 hadeeth no. 2535)

From this hadeeth we can understand the following; undoubtedly, the best people to
understand Islaam, the Qur'aan, Sunnah, and Sharee'ah terminology etc., are those from
the first generation in Islaam – the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and His Companions
(RA). The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) also praised those who follow this first
generation, and then those who follow the followers of the first generation. In other
words, the best generations in Islaam are:

a) The first generation – the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his Companions

b) The second generation – those who followed the first generation (known as the
Taabi'een)

c) The third generation (ended 240-260 AH) – those who followed the Taabi'een (known
as Taabi' ut-Taabi'een)

This is the order in which the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) praised them; therefore, as
his followers, we must also praise them in the same order.

It is very foolish for people nowadays to follow those who are not from the first
generation in Islaam. Today, people follow the likes of Imaam Abu Haneefah or Imaam
ash-Shaafi'ee instead of following the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) and his
Companions. If you say to them, "Abu Bakr said…" they say, "…yes, BUT Abu
Haneefah said…" Thus, they override the saying of a Sahaabi, one who has been praised
by Almighty Allah in the Qur'aan.

We do not deny that scholars such as Abu Haneefah, Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, Ahmad bin
Hanbal etc. were great 'ulamaa and followers of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah – May
Allaah (SWT) be pleased with them all. Rather, the problem arises when people choose
to follow them instead of the first generation, which is clearly contradicting what Allaah
and His Messenger (SAW) ordered us to do; and this is manifested in a person who says,
for example, "I am Hanafi" or "I am Shaafi'ee", which is clearly implying that they only
follow the opinion of Imaam Abu Haneefah or Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee.

Therefore, it is vital for us to understand that our Islaamic standard is the first generation
in Islaam; those who follow this generation are followers of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah,
and hence are from the Saved Sect. And those who follow anyone other than the first
generation, for example, "great scholars" such as the apostate Ibn Baaz or Ibn
'Uthaymeen etc., have deviated from the straight path and from as-Salaf as-Saalih (the
Pious Predecessors).

However, there is also a system of ranking, in terms of virtues, amongst the first
generation. Imaam al-Haafiz adh-Dhahabi (a follower of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah
and a student of Sheikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah) said in his Kitaab ul-Kabaa'ir (The
Book of Major Sins), in the chapter of The Seventieth Major Sin: Cursing any of the
Companions of Allaah's Messenger (SAW):

"The noble qualities and merits of the Companions (RA) are too numerous to be
mentioned here. However, the scholars of the Sunnah agree that the noblest among the
Companions are ten, and among the ten, four are ranked as highest. These are, in order of
their rank: Abu Bakr, then 'Umar bin al-Khattaab, then 'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan, and then
'Ali bin Abee Taalib – May Allaah be pleased with them all. There is no doubt concerning
this, and whoever doubts it is an innovator (mubtadi') and a malicious hypocrite
(munaafiq khabeeth)."

Hence, the scholars of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah unanimously agree that Abu Bakr as-
Siddeeq was the greatest companion of Rasool-Ullaah (SAW), then 'Umar, then
'Uthmaan, and then 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them all). This is how Allaah (SWT)
has destined for it to be, and those who favour the Companions in any other order have
gone astray from as-Salaf as-Saalih, such as the apostate Shee'ah Raafidah. Furthermore,
the Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:

"Abu Bakr will be in Paradise, 'Umar will be in Paradise, 'Uthmaan will be in Paradise,
'Ali will be in Paradise, Talhah will be in Paradise, az-Zubayr will be in Paradise, 'Abdur-
Rahmaan bin 'Awf will be in Paradise, Sa'd bin Abee Waqqaas will be in Paradise, Sa'eed
bin Zayd will be in Paradise and Abu 'Ubaydah bin al-Jarraah will be in Paradise."
(Saheeh al-Jaami' as-Sagheer, 1/70, no. 50)

The Companions named above were famously known as "Al-'Asharah fil-Jannah (the Ten
in Paradise)". They were the greatest Companions of Rasool-Ullaah and this is their
order.

We can therefore come to the conclusion that the best Companions were (in order):

a) The Ten Promised Paradise

Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq

'Umar bin al-Khattaab
'Uthmaan bin 'Affaan
'Ali bin Abee Taalib
Talhah
Az-Zubayr
'Abdur-Rahmaan bin 'Awf
Sa'd bin Abee Waqqaas
Sa'eed bin Zayd
Abu 'Ubaydah bin al-Jarraah

b) The People of Badr (those who participated in the Battle)

c) Those who made al-bay'atu tahtash-shajarah (the pledge beneath the tree)

Allaah (SWT) says in the Qur'aan:

"…Allaah was well-pleased with the Believers when they swore allegiance unto thee
beneath the tree…" (EMQ al-Fath, 48:18)

d) Al-Ansaar

Allaah (SWT) says:

"And the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhaajiroun (those who migrated from Makkah
to al-Madeenah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of al-Madeenah who helped and gave aid to
the Muhaajiroun) and also those who followed them exactly (in faith). Allaah is well-
pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him…" (EMQ at-Tawbah, 9:100)

Therefore, dear Muslims, know that these men were the best people to understand the
Deen – not Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) or even Abu Haneefah (RA), despite being great
scholars who followed Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah.

If there was any dispute between the Companions, we will refer to and favour the most
virtuous from amongst them in this order.

The Messenger Muhammad (SAW) said:

"Allaah looked to the people of Badr (and said): 'Do whatever you wish, Allaah has
forgiven you.'" (Saheeh Muslim no. 2494)