Are 'Isa (peace be upon him) and the other prophets who greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered among the Companions, as well as the believing jinn?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, one of the writers quoted from Imam al-Dhahabi in his book *Tajrid Asma' al-Sahabah*
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : One of the writers quoted from Imam al-Dhahabi in his book *Tajrid Asma' al-Sahabah* that 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) was a Companion and a Prophet.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : As for his being a Companion, he said this is because he met the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him. So the question is: are all the prophets who met the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called Companions, as well as the believing jinn?
The Shaykh : I see that this is an act of excessive effort (takalluf). Counting 'Isa ibn Maryam (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) among the Companions is an act of excessive effort, because all the prophets saw the Prophet (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) and greeted him, and many of them saw him on the Night of the Ascension. The Messenger ascended with his body and truly saw them, spoke to them, and they spoke to him, and he greeted them and they greeted him. So do we say that Adam was a Companion? And Yahya was a Companion? And Musa was a Companion? And Ibrahim was a Companion?
Moreover, describing 'Isa (peace be upon him) as a Prophet among the Ulul 'Azm (Prophets of Determination) is better than describing him as a Companion. He is in no need of being described as a Companion. I do not know where this hidden agenda came from, because this implies that we should not say that Abu Bakr is the best of this Ummah. And there is no doubt that the Rafidah (Twelver Shi'ah) would like this; they would like it if Abu Bakr were not the best of this Ummah. And we say: the best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr.
As for 'Isa ibn Maryam, he is like the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) in his status. And although the Messenger is the best of the Messengers, his status as a Messenger is stronger and better than the status of being a Companion. Do you understand?
And if we wanted to say it this way, we would say that everyone the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) met on the Night of the Ascension are all Companions. I see that this is an act of affectation and excessive effort. And 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and others of the Companions said: "The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr". 'Ali ibn Abi Talib used to preach on the pulpit and say: "The best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr". And Ibn 'Umar used to say, as is authentic from them, that: "They used to choose in the time of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) that the best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr". This was in the time of the Messenger! Yes, and this meeting ends here. And if you see that we should postpone the meetings during the exam days, and for a large part of the vacation because the people will rest a little, if you see this, it is good, and I am inclined to it.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : During the vacation, people come from outside al-Qasim.
The Shaykh : Yes, okay, we will postpone it to next week and then see. Are there exams next week or not?
The questioner : Perhaps.
The Shaykh : Huh? Okay, there is no objection. I like this session, but since you are all present, it is up to you. May Allah write good for us and for you.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : One of the writers quoted from Imam al-Dhahabi in his book *Tajrid Asma' al-Sahabah* that 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) was a Companion and a Prophet.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : As for his being a Companion, he said this is because he met the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and greeted him. So the question is: are all the prophets who met the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called Companions, as well as the believing jinn?
The Shaykh : I see that this is an act of excessive effort (takalluf). Counting 'Isa ibn Maryam (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) among the Companions is an act of excessive effort, because all the prophets saw the Prophet (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) and greeted him, and many of them saw him on the Night of the Ascension. The Messenger ascended with his body and truly saw them, spoke to them, and they spoke to him, and he greeted them and they greeted him. So do we say that Adam was a Companion? And Yahya was a Companion? And Musa was a Companion? And Ibrahim was a Companion?
Moreover, describing 'Isa (peace be upon him) as a Prophet among the Ulul 'Azm (Prophets of Determination) is better than describing him as a Companion. He is in no need of being described as a Companion. I do not know where this hidden agenda came from, because this implies that we should not say that Abu Bakr is the best of this Ummah. And there is no doubt that the Rafidah (Twelver Shi'ah) would like this; they would like it if Abu Bakr were not the best of this Ummah. And we say: the best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr.
As for 'Isa ibn Maryam, he is like the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) in his status. And although the Messenger is the best of the Messengers, his status as a Messenger is stronger and better than the status of being a Companion. Do you understand?
And if we wanted to say it this way, we would say that everyone the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) met on the Night of the Ascension are all Companions. I see that this is an act of affectation and excessive effort. And 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and others of the Companions said: "The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr". 'Ali ibn Abi Talib used to preach on the pulpit and say: "The best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr". And Ibn 'Umar used to say, as is authentic from them, that: "They used to choose in the time of the Messenger (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) that the best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr". This was in the time of the Messenger! Yes, and this meeting ends here. And if you see that we should postpone the meetings during the exam days, and for a large part of the vacation because the people will rest a little, if you see this, it is good, and I am inclined to it.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : During the vacation, people come from outside al-Qasim.
The Shaykh : Yes, okay, we will postpone it to next week and then see. Are there exams next week or not?
The questioner : Perhaps.
The Shaykh : Huh? Okay, there is no objection. I like this session, but since you are all present, it is up to you. May Allah write good for us and for you.