His statement (they remained apostates): Why did the four caliphs not exclude themselves from them?
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The questioner : The Companions who committed apostasy: Why do they say that the four caliphs are not included among them?
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : The Companions who committed apostasy: Why are the four caliphs, or those known for their virtue, not included among them?
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : Meaning, they were few in number and not specifically identified.
The Shaykh : They were not identified, right? But it is impossible for the four caliphs to be among them, because the four caliphs, the ten promised Paradise, Thabit ibn Shamas, 'Ukashah ibn Mihsan, and other Companions whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) testified would enter Paradise— it is impossible for them to commit apostasy. This is impossible; there is no doubt about this. However, it remains with the general Companions who are not established to have committed apostasy. We say that this hadith does not indicate the apostasy of the Companions, but rather a small group whose companionship was not long. They were mere associates, as we say in colloquial language, "By Allah, he is a *suwayhib*," meaning:
The questioner : His companionship was brief.
The Shaykh : He is not a true companion, but a *suwayhib* of yours. Now, there is no doubt that apostasy occurred among these people during the time of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and Abu Bakr fought them. How could Abu Bakr be an apostate when he is the one who fought the apostates? An apostate welcomes apostates; he does not fight them. But you know that the aim of the Rafidah in this criticism of the Shari'ah is that the Shari'ah is received from the Companions, then the criticism extends to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), that his Companions are of this level of open sinfulness and lewdness, specifically that his closest Companions died in a state of lewdness or disbelief. Then the criticism extends to the Lord of the Worlds (Mighty and Majestic), who made for His best creation Companions like these. And therefore, the consequences of falsehood always come out false.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : The Companions who committed apostasy: Why are the four caliphs, or those known for their virtue, not included among them?
The Shaykh : Why?
The questioner : Meaning, they were few in number and not specifically identified.
The Shaykh : They were not identified, right? But it is impossible for the four caliphs to be among them, because the four caliphs, the ten promised Paradise, Thabit ibn Shamas, 'Ukashah ibn Mihsan, and other Companions whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) testified would enter Paradise— it is impossible for them to commit apostasy. This is impossible; there is no doubt about this. However, it remains with the general Companions who are not established to have committed apostasy. We say that this hadith does not indicate the apostasy of the Companions, but rather a small group whose companionship was not long. They were mere associates, as we say in colloquial language, "By Allah, he is a *suwayhib*," meaning:
The questioner : His companionship was brief.
The Shaykh : He is not a true companion, but a *suwayhib* of yours. Now, there is no doubt that apostasy occurred among these people during the time of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and Abu Bakr fought them. How could Abu Bakr be an apostate when he is the one who fought the apostates? An apostate welcomes apostates; he does not fight them. But you know that the aim of the Rafidah in this criticism of the Shari'ah is that the Shari'ah is received from the Companions, then the criticism extends to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), that his Companions are of this level of open sinfulness and lewdness, specifically that his closest Companions died in a state of lewdness or disbelief. Then the criticism extends to the Lord of the Worlds (Mighty and Majestic), who made for His best creation Companions like these. And therefore, the consequences of falsehood always come out false.