Islamic Beliefs and Thoughts, A Beacon for Children (Part 7)
Question: How many years did each of the four great Sahaba of the Prophet (PBUH) rule?
Answer: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (MAPH), the first caliph of Islam, ruled for two years, three months, and eight days. Umar al-Farooq (MAPH), the second caliph, ruled for ten years, six months, and five days. The third caliph, Usman al-Zul-nurayn (MAPH), ruled for nearly twelve years minus twelve days. The fourth caliph, Ali al-Murtada (MAPH), ruled for four years, nine months, and one day.
Question: Did the caliphate or emirate system continue or collapse after these four Sahaba?
Answer: The caliphate or emirate system continued, but the Rashidun caliphate lasted for thirty years. After that, the Umayyads ruled for nearly 91 years, the Abbasids for 524 years, and the Ottoman caliphate lasted until March 3, 1924.
Question: Who abolished this system from the world?
Answer: The infidel Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with the help of the British and the cooperation of some corrupt Arab scholars, abolished this system.
Question: What is said if someone curses, insults, or accuses the first four caliphs of Islam of hypocrisy or disbelief?
Answer: According to the majority of Sunni scholars, anyone who curses or insults the four great Sahaba of the Prophet (PBUH)—the first caliphs of Islam—is a sinner and misguided. If they call them cursed, hypocrites, or disbelievers, they themselves become disbelievers.
Question: What if someone insults the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet) or the wives of the Prophet (PBUH), who are the mothers of the believers?
Answer: The purity of the Ahl al-Bayt is mentioned in the Quran, and the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) are referred to as the mothers of the believers. Insulting them, cursing them, and similar acts are considered oppression, sin, and deviation. If someone calls them disbelievers or hypocrites, they themselves become disbelievers. Insulting them and the Sahaba of the Prophet (PBUH) is an insult to the Prophet himself, as it implies a weakness in his leadership. This is also an un-Islamic act.
Question: What kind of people were the Sahaba of the Prophet (PBUH)?
Answer: The Sahaba of the Prophet (PBUH) were all just. Allah, the Exalted, expressed His satisfaction with them in the Quran because the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was their teacher. To claim that there was any weakness in the Prophet’s Sahaba would be to slander the Prophet’s leadership. All of the Sahaba were just, though they were not infallible.
Question: Is there any difference between men and women in the sight of Allah the Almighty?
Answer: No, the only distinction is based on piety. In terms of gender, men and women are equal in the sight of Allah, as stated in the Quran. However, there are differences in their religious duties and responsibilities because the Creator knows which gender should be entrusted with specific responsibilities.
Question: Some people reject all hadiths and Islamic schools of thought, claiming to be “people of the Quran.” What kind of people are they?
Answer: Anyone who rejects all the hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH) is considered a disbeliever. We understand the Quran through the interpretation of the Prophet (PBUH), and we learn our religion from his words, including the way of prayer, the number of units in prayer, the rituals of Hajj, and the rules of Zakat.
Question: What kind of Muslims are referred to as “Sahaba”?
Answer: A Sahabi is a person who saw the Prophet (PBUH), believed in him, and died with complete faith. Some scholars have also added the condition of participation in several battles because there were also hypocrites among them. Only Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (MAPH) knew the identities of the hypocrites.
Question: Who is considered a “Tabi‘i” (follower)?
Answer: A Tabi‘i is a Muslim who saw a Sahabi and died with faith, such as Sufyan al-Thawri, Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib, and Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on them).
Question: Who is considered a “Taba‘al-Tabi‘i” (successor of the followers)?
Answer: A Taba‘al-Tabi‘i is a Muslim who met with the Tabi‘in and died with faith.
Question: What is the era of the Sahabah, Tabi‘in, and Taba‘al-Tabi‘in called?
Answer: This era is called “Khair al-Qurun,” meaning the best of eras. The scholars of that time are known as the “Salaf,” and the Quran and Hadith should be learned according to their interpretation.
Question: Are all Muslims around the world brothers and friends with each other?
Answer: Yes, all Muslims around the world are brothers. The distinction between people is faith and disbelief. For example, the son of Prophet Noah (PBUH) was not among his family because he was a disbeliever, whereas Salman al-Farsi (MAPH) was considered one of the Prophet’s (PBUH) family.
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