Is it Possible to Become a Companion of the Prophet Today?
Raees Ahmed asks:
I would like to know if a Saint of God has the same rank as a Companion of the Prophet or higher.
Many people ask such questions
and I have to give an honest answer.
Look, before you hear the answer to your question
please pay attention to the following point.
What is Sohbat (company)?
Would it be called 'being in my company' if you are sitting next to me?
Yes, it would because you are sitting close to me.
But then if someone is sitting on my lap, they are also in my company. So which would be 'better'?
So there are different types of company.
Therefore, we come to know that there are different types of company.
The biggest doubt in the minds of the Muslims about 'sohbat' is due to the fact that they have only considered Prophet Mohammad's physical company to be 'sohbat'.
When I didn't have esoteric knowledge, I would also remain quite sceptical and I would doubt many things.
I had never read any narrations about any Companion of the Prophet that they made grand declarations like Sultan Haq Bahu.
I had never heard that Abu Bakr Siddique said something along those lines.
I never heard that Abu Hurrera said something like that.
Whereas, Sultan Sahib wrote in his book, 'I can see God whenever I want.'
I used to think, 'How can it be that a Companion of the Prophet didn't say anything like this but a Saint did?'
Do you understand?
Isn't that right?
And then
an objection rose in my mind.
Yes.
This objection would come out whenever I felt overcome with the Prophet's love.
I'd think, 'O' Messenger of God, wouldn't it have been wonderful if I had been born in your era?
I would have been able to see you and I would have been called a Companion.'
'But I have been born 1400 years after your departure and now I cannot see you. How am I at fault for this?'
Not only would this objection be raised from within me but I also lost my self-esteem.
I didn't feel any enjoyment of faith.
Moreover, the religious clerics would also say that a common follower of the Prophet could never amount to the ranks of a Companion of the Prophet no matter what.
This would discourage me even more.
I'd think, 'But how am I at fault for this?'
We all wish we were the Companions.
We all wish we could have faiths like the Companions!
So will we never obtain a faith like them?
We can never be called 'Companions'. Why is that?
And then, my complaints would be directed towards God.
I would say, 'O' God, why did you have me born in this era?
'I should have been born in the Prophet's era.'
And then I would think, 'Oh my gosh!
To be a Companion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is not by destiny, it's only by a chance! That he was born in that era and I wasn't born by any chance.'
It was just by chance that they were born into that era and because of that they were lucky.
We were not born in that era; this is our misfortune.
So, if this is all 'by chance' then the system is highly flawed
because one became a Companion of the Prophet by chance and another was utterly deprived of such bounty by chance.
Doesn't God have any control over this?
They became Companions by chance and we were deprived by chance!
This would make the system flawed.
Do you understand what I am saying?
But when the reality was unveiled and I came to know the truth...
I came to know that such injustice could never be served in God's court.
The greatest aspect of [Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)'s] company has been available [since the era of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)] to date.
The company of the Prophet which renders far more benevolence than just the physical company of the Prophet was available 1400 years ago and it is available even today!
Otherwise, it would be a great injustice that someone became a Companion of the Prophet simply because he was born in that era
and the only reason why I couldn't become a Companion of the Prophet is that I was not born in that era.
This wouldn't be God's grace.
Therefore, there are different types of Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) company.
One is his physical company and one is the company of his Spiritual Heart.
One is the company of his Lower Self and one is the company of his Soul.
One is the company of his Soul.
It is evident that one was present in the physical company of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) yet remained to be Abu Jahl ('The Father of Ignorance'),
but it has never happened that one who was present in the company of the Prophet's Soul did not become Bilal or Owais Karni or Abdul Qadir Jilani, Data or Khwaja.
This has never happened!
There is no guarantee for one who was present in the physical company of the Prophet;
one became Abdullah Ibn-e-Abi, another became Abu Jahl and another became Ali!
One who became [Ali] was blessed and one who didn't was not blessed.
Therefore, there is no guarantee for the physical company the Prophet.
However, those who obtained the esoteric company of the Prophet regardless of the era either became Owais Karni or Abdul Qadir Jilani, etc.
You do not find the teachings of Abdul Qadir Jilani in any of the Companions' narrations.
The religious clerics add the phrase 'Radhiallah tallah' with the names of the Companions and 'Rehmatullah' with the names of Saints.
When I lived in Pakistan and I was conducting my research on Sufism, I added the phrase 'Radhiallah tallah' with Abdul Qadir Jilani's name, as per the norm.
A man said to me, 'Abdul Qadir Jilani is not a Companion of the Prophet, why have you attached 'Radhiallah tallah' with his name?'
I asked him, 'How do you know he is not a Companion?'
He said, 'He wasn't alive in the Prophet's era.'
I said, 'Really? But he has witnessed the divine splendour and so he has been in God's company.'
Was he not present in God's company?
Do not think becoming a Companion of the Prophet was only possible in those 23 years [in which Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) preached Islam].
Don't think one could only a Companion in those 23 years.
What's interesting is that the Barelvis talk about the Eternal Life of Prophet Mohammad
but despite that if one is successful in meeting the Prophet today, they do not consider that person to be a Companion of the Prophet.
These are their double standards.
These are double standards.
This proves that the tenets which they seemingly uphold and consider to be the reason for their greatness are limited to lip service; these tenets are not settled in their hearts.
These tenets are not a part of their faith.
Now look, Sultan Haq Bahu has written in his book that he has pledged allegiance at the hands of Prophet Mohammad.
So now, I would like any learned religious cleric or religious scholar from anywhere who has completed the lessons of all Prophetic Traditions to tell me
whether or not he was a Companion of the Prophet since he pledged allegiance at the hands of the Prophet?
Or else you should say that Sultan Sahib is a liar.
This is where they beat around the bush.
Either say he is a Companion or he isn't.
And if you say that he is not a Companion then prove how he isn't.
[In that case] you should say that one cannot pledge allegiance to the Prophet now.
If a pledge of allegiance cannot be performed then everything is over.
How is it over?
If a spiritual pledge of allegiance cannot be performed then the pledge of allegiance of Owais Karni [to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)] is also invalid.
Am I right?
And then they say that Owais Karni's mother was elderly and it was because he was serving his elderly and infirmed mother that he could not meet the Prophet.
Oh wow.
Such a great lover of the Prophet and he dismissed the physical company of the Prophet for his mother's sake?
Had Owais Karni not read the Prophetic Tradition which says: None can become a Devout Believer until they love me [Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)] more than their fathers, mothers and anyone else.
What the religious clerics say are their own concocted philosophies!
These treacherous religious clerics have disbanded the Nation of Prophet Mohammad; they have rotted your faith!
You are living a lie!
The truth is that one could be a Companion 1400 years ago and one can become a Companion today.
It is even possible that someone who obtained the company of Prophet Mohammad's Soul today would be granted a higher rank than the Companion who only obtained the Prophet's physical company 1400 years ago.
So, who is greater? A Companion or a Saint?
No, no, no.
Not every saint.
Is a Companion greater or a Saint?
The one who obtained the company of the Prophet's Soul is greater regardless of the era.
No matter which era they are born in.
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is unbound by time and space!
His love is unbound by time and space!
His association is unbound by time and space!
No matter which era you are born in if you establish a connection with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) then you are great.
But only if you truly establish a connection with Prophet Mohammad.
Sending benedictions upon the Prophet upon the rosary is not the love of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Seeing his beauty and obtaining access to his Soul is the mark of greatness.
ALRA TV: Bringing Light, Love and Peace in Your Life.