DID IMAM AL-SADIQ (ع) PRAISE ALL THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET (ص)?

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Did Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) praise the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) as indicated in this narration?

Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja‘far al-Hamadani (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim narrated from his father, who narrated from Muhammad ibn Abi ‘Umayr, from Hisham ibn Salim, from Abu ‘Abd Allah (peace be upon him), who said:

كان أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله اثني عشر ألفا ثمانية آلاف من المدينة، و ألفان من مكة، وألفان من الطلقاء، ولم ير فيهم قدري ولا مرجي ولا حروري ولا معتزلي، ولا صحاب رأي، كانوا يبكون الليل والنهار ويقولون: اقبض أرواحنا من قبل أن نأكل خبز الخمير.

“The companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) were twelve thousand—eight thousand from Medina, two thousand from Mecca, and two thousand from among the Tulaqāʾ (those who accepted Islam upon the conquest of Mecca). Among them, there was neither a Qadari nor a Murjiʾi, nor a Haruri, nor a Mu‘tazili, nor anyone who followed personal opinion (raʾy). They would weep night and day, saying: ‘Take our souls before we eat barley bread.’” [1]

Source: Al-Khiṣāl , Shaykh al-Ṣadūq, Page 640

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and his pure, righteous family. May Allah’s curse be upon all their enemies.

Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Upon reviewing the Shaykh's statement:

As for the beginning of the narration, it is in the context of affirming that sectarian tendencies were not prevalent among them, as they were unfamiliar with the doctrinal schools that were innovated after their time. This assertion is correct; however, it does not necessarily imply their integrity (‘adālah). Indeed, many individuals may be impious and indifferent to religious commitment, engaging in various misdeeds, yet without adhering to any of the later-introduced sectarian ideologies.

As for the latter part of the narration, it serves to illustrate that they sought the Hereafter and feared the material world overtaking them, lest they be led astray. The reference to "barley bread" (khubz al-khamīr) is a metaphor for the world turning in their favor. However, this description must necessarily be confined to a specific group among them, for it is evident that some among them sought worldly gain rather than the Hereafter, as indicated by Allah’s words:

مِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ الدُّنْيَا وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَ

"Among you are those who desire the world, and among you are those who desire the Hereafter." (Qur’an 3:152).

The Imam (peace be upon him) would not contradict the Book of Allah. [2]

Moreover, this description of them pertains to a period before trials and tribulations befell them—one of the most significant being the trial of wealth, which they fiercely competed for, leading to strife and destruction, as foretold by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is reported that he said:

سبحان اللَّه! ماذا أنزل الله من الخزائن؟! وماذا أنزل من الفتن

“Glorified be Allah: What great [how many] treasures will be sent down, and what great [how many] afflictions will been sent down!” [3]

Regarding the commentary [of this narration], Ibn Hajar cites Ibn Battal, who explains [the narration as follows]:

في الخزائن تنشأ عنه فتنة المال بأن يتنافس فيه فيقع القتال بسببه

“Among the trials arising from wealth is the rivalry over it, leading to conflict and bloodshed.” [4]

The Shi‘a believe that the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) were, in general, on a righteous path at the beginning of their journey. However, as trials and tribulations befell them, only a small number remained steadfast—“none were saved except as few as the stray cattle,” as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) reportedly stated.

Their situation is comparable to that of the Children of Israel, who began in righteousness but whose majority ultimately deviated into wrongdoing. This was foretold by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in his well-known statement:

لتتبعن سنن من كان قبلكم

“You will surely follow the ways of those who came before you…” [5] and so on.

Thus, one who cites this hadith from Imam al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) as evidence is akin to someone who selectively references only the verses of the Qur’an that praise the Children of Israel—such as: “And We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, and judgment, and prophethood; and We provided them with good things and favored them over all the worlds” (Qur’an 45:16)—while disregarding the many other verses that censure them and describe their downfall. A fair-minded individual must consider both aspects together to attain a complete and accurate understanding.

Accordingly, it is necessary to consider the statements of Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) collectively. He is the same Imam who also said regarding the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):

إي والله یابن أعین هلك الناس أجمعون... هلكوا إلا ثلاثة، ثم لحق أبو ساسان وعمار وشتیرة وأبو عمرة، فصاروا سبعة

“Yes, by Allah, O Ibn A‘yan, the people [companions] have all perished… they perished except for three. Then Abu Sasan, ‘Ammar, Shutayra, and Abu ‘Amrah joined them, making them seven in total.” [6]

This, along with numerous other narrations from him and the rest of the pure Imams (peace be upon them), illustrates the unfavorable fate of the majority of the Prophet’s companions after his passing (peace and blessings be upon him and his family).

May Allah grant you success in attaining His pleasure,

References

[1] Al-Khiṣāl , Shaykh al-Ṣadūq, Page 640

[2] Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, has made it clear that not all companions are upon goodness, as the Shi'ite Scholar Al-Kulayni has transmitted the following hadith, with an authentic chain, from Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, with the following words:

اللهَ اللهَ فِي أَصْحَابِ نَبِيِّكُمُ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُحْدِثُوا حَدَثاً وَلَمْ يُؤْوُوا مُحْدِثاً فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وعلى آله أَوْصَى بِهِمْ وَلَعَنَ الْمُحْدِثَ مِنْهُمْ وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ وَالْمُؤْوِيَ لِلْمُحْدِثِ

(I remind you of) Allah, (I remind you of) Allah, about the companions of your Prophet, the companions who did not invent heresy or give protection to heretics. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has urged to be good to them, has condemned the heretics among them and others who protect heretics.

[Al-Kāfi, Shaykh Kulayni, Volume 7, Book 1, Chapter 35, Hadith 7]

The Shi'ite Scholar Allamah Al-Majlisi has stated the following regarding the chain:

صحيح

"It's Authentic."

[Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl, Volume 3, Page 83]

[3] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muhammad Al-Bukhari, Book 61, Hadith 107

[4] Fath Al-Bari, Ibn Hajar Hajar Al-Asqalani, Volume 13, Page 23

[5] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muhammad Al-Bukhari, Book 96, Hadith 50

[6] Muʿjam al-Aḥādīth al-Muʿtabara [the compilation of the reliable narrations], Asif Al-Mohseni, Book 3, Chapter 12

The original text in arabic can be found here

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