Is the statement of a Companion a binding authority that must be followed?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O honorable Shaykh. Is the statement of a Companion considered a binding authority that must be followed?
The Shaykh : Many scholars say: The statement of a Companion is not a binding authority that must be followed, and the authority lies in what Allah and His Messenger said, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:59] And some scholars say: The statements of the Rightly Guided Caliphs are an authority, such as Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali, on the condition that they do not contradict an explicit text or the statement of another Companion. If they contradict an explicit text, it is obligatory to return to the text. If they contradict the statement of another Companion, the stronger of the two statements must be sought, and this is the correct position, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Mishkat al-Masabih 165Sahīh (Zubair `Aliza'i) And his saying specifically regarding Abu Bakr and 'Umar: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3662Hasan (Darussalam) And his saying about them: Sahih Muslim 681.
As for the general Companions who do not have jurisprudence in the religion, such as if a Bedouin comes to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), embraces Islam, and then returns to his camels and sheep, this is a Companion. The statement of such a person is not an authority that must be followed due to his limited knowledge of the limits of Allah. This detailed statement is the correct one. Yes.
The Shaykh : Many scholars say: The statement of a Companion is not a binding authority that must be followed, and the authority lies in what Allah and His Messenger said, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلاًYou must therefore follow my sunna and that of the rightly guided Caliphs
عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين من بعديStick to the two after me, Abu Bakr and 'Umar.
اقتدوا باللذين من بعدي أبي بكر وعمرSo if you had obeyed Abu Bakr and Umar, you would have gone on the right path
إن يطيعوا أبا بكر وعمر يرشدواAs for the general Companions who do not have jurisprudence in the religion, such as if a Bedouin comes to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), embraces Islam, and then returns to his camels and sheep, this is a Companion. The statement of such a person is not an authority that must be followed due to his limited knowledge of the limits of Allah. This detailed statement is the correct one. Yes.