QUESTION:
In Rashad Khalifa’s English – said to be the most accurate – I came across the verse 9:100:
“As for the early vanguards who immigrated (Muhajirin), and the supporters who gave them refuge (Ansar) and those who followed them in righteousness, God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever. This is the greatest triumph.”
Does that not mean that Abu Bakr, Umar, and Usman have been promised heaven?
ANSWER:
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful.
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Family and damn their enemies.
History informs us that Ubayd-Allah Ibn Jahsh was one of the first forerunners who later immigrated to Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), where he apostatized and converted to Christianity. Undoubtedly, Allah’s eternal satisfaction does not include individuals such as him, despite being one of the forerunners to embrace Islam. The verse does not prove that all forerunners are righteous and that Allah (the Most Exalted) is eternally pleased with them. On the contrary, His satisfaction with them is conditional.
It is clear from the context that the verse does not include all the Muhajireen and Ansar, but only those who are true believers, those who had sincere faith manifested in their words and deeds. If they remained resolute in their faith until the very end, then Allah shall be eternally pleased with them. Therefore, the verse states:
And the first forerunners among the Muhajireen and the Ansar.
Among means that some, not all, of the Muhajireen and Ansar are promised paradise. The verse proceeds to say:
And those who followed them with good conduct.
It proves that those who “follow” would not be considered following “with good conduct” if they were to follow those who have turned hypocrites, such as in the case of Mu’atib Ibn Qushayr, or apostates such as Ubayd-Allah Ibn Jahsh.
Furthermore, if you read the verse that follows, you would find the Holy Qur’an speaks about the presence of hypocrites amongst the first forerunners in the holy city of Madinah. The Qur’an says:
And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites and also from the people of Madinah. They have become accustomed to hypocrisy.
(Qur’an 9:101)
Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman are not only excluded from this verse based on the points mentioned above and the pieces of evidence found in the books of history proving their hypocrisy, but also the fact that they were not the first to embrace Islam. They were not forerunners. For example, history tells us that Abu Bakr and Umar accepted Islam a few years before the Hijra of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family). They were disbelievers for almost thirteen years after the Bi’tha (the beginning of the Prophet’s mission).
The Office of Sheikh al-Habib