Protection of the Finality of Prophethood and the Companions (رضي الله عنهم)

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) and the Finality of Prophethood (ﷺ)

The Role of the Noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم) in the Protection of the Finality of Prophethood

The role played by the noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم) in safeguarding the Finality of Prophethood is a shining chapter in the history of Islam. After the Prophethood of the Noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), it was a matter of faith for the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) not to tolerate any false claimant to Prophethood. They offered the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to protect this belief.

During his caliphate, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه) took decisive action against false prophets and declared:

If anyone refuses to pay zakat, I will fight him—let alone someone who falsely claims Prophethood!

In the caliphates of Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) and Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه), there was also no compromise on the belief in the Finality of Prophethood.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (رضي الله عنه) consistently upheld this belief throughout his life and did not tolerate any false prophet.

1. Jihad Against False Claimants of Prophethood

After the passing of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), when certain individuals falsely claimed to be prophets, the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) launched full-scale actions against them.

The Battle Against Musaylimah the Liar

Musaylimah the Liar had claimed prophethood during the lifetime of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ), who declared him a liar. During the caliphate of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), when Musaylimah rebelled against Madinah, the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) engaged in the Battle of Yamamah to quell this uprising.

Under the leadership of Khalid ibn al-Walid (رضي الله عنه), the Muslim army demonstrated exceptional bravery in this battle.

Wahshi (رضي الله عنه)—who had previously killed Hamzah (رضي الله عنه) but later accepted Islam—was the one who killed Musaylimah, thereby ending this great fitnah (trial).

Approximately 1,200 Companions and Followers (Tabi’in) were martyred in this battle, including 700 Huffaz (memorizers) of the Qur’an.

Since Musaylimah was a false claimant to Prophethood and had many followers who accepted him as a prophet, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), upon assuming the caliphate, launched jihad against the apostates and false claimants of Prophethood.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عَوْنٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ وَذَكَرَ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ قَالَ أَتَى أَنَسٌ ثَابِتَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ وَقَدْ حَسَرَ عَنْ فَخِذَيْهِ وَهْوَ يَتَحَنَّطُ فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ مَا يَحْبِسُكَ أَنْ لاَ تَجِيءَ قَالَ الآنَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي‏.‏ وَجَعَلَ يَتَحَنَّطُ، يَعْنِي مِنَ الْحَنُوطِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ فَجَلَسَ، فَذَكَرَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ انْكِشَافًا مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَقَالَ هَكَذَا عَنْ وُجُوهِنَا حَتَّى نُضَارِبَ الْقَوْمَ، مَا هَكَذَا كُنَّا نَفْعَلُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، بِئْسَ مَا عَوَّدْتُمْ أَقْرَانَكُمْ‏.‏ رَوَاهُ حَمَّادٌ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ‏.‏

Narrated Ibn `Aun: Once Musa bin Anas while describing the battle of Yamama, said, “Anas bin Malik went to Thabit bin Qais, who had lifted his clothes from his thighs and was applying Hunut to his body. Anas asked, ‘O Uncle! What is holding you back (from the battle)?’ He replied, ‘O my nephew! I am coming just now,’ and went on perfuming himself with Hunut, then he came and sat (in the row). Anas then mentioned that the people fled from the battle-field. On that Thabit said, ‘Clear the way for me to fight the enemy. We would never do so (i.e. flee) in the company of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). How bad the habits you have acquired from your enemies!” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2845)

The Laziness of Some People During the Battle and the Martyrdom Zeal of Sayyiduna Thabit bin Qays (رضي الله عنه):

In another narration, it is mentioned that when Sayyiduna Thabit bin Qays (رضي الله عنه) saw some of his companions temporarily facing defeat during the Battle of Yamamah, he applied perfume, donned his shroud, and said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَبْرَأَ إِلَيْكَ ممَّا جَاءَ بِهِ هَؤُلَاءِ، وَأَعْتَذِرُ إِلَيْكَ مِمَّا صَنَعَ هَؤُلَاءِ

O Allah, I absolve myself before Your Court of what they have done, and I seek Your pardon for what they have done.

Then he fought the disbelievers with great valor and attained martyrdom.

المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم: 5035 إسناده صحيح

Seventy Ansar Companions (رضي الله عنهم) Sacrificed Their Lives for the Protection of the Finality of Prophethood

In the battle fought against Musaylimah the Liar, many noble Companions (رضي الله عنهم) sacrificed their lives while defending the finality of the Prophethood of the Noble Prophet (ﷺ). Among those martyred, seventy belonged solely to the Ansar, apart from others. Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrates:

“In the Battle of Yamamah, seventy (70) Companions (رضي الله عنهم) from among the Ansar were martyred.”
Mustakhraj Abi Awanah: 6849

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا حُجَيْنُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ الضَّمْرِيِّ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَدِيِّ بْنِ الْخِيَارِ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا حِمْصَ قَالَ لِي عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ هَلْ لَكَ فِي وَحْشِيٍّ نَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ قَتْلِ حَمْزَةَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ وَكَانَ وَحْشِيٌّ يَسْكُنُ حِمْصَ فَسَأَلْنَا عَنْهُ فَقِيلَ لَنَا هُوَ ذَاكَ فِي ظِلِّ قَصْرِهِ، كَأَنَّهُ حَمِيتٌ‏.‏ قَالَ فَجِئْنَا حَتَّى وَقَفْنَا عَلَيْهِ بِيَسِيرٍ، فَسَلَّمْنَا، فَرَدَّ السَّلاَمَ، قَالَ وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ مُعْتَجِرٌ بِعِمَامَتِهِ، مَا يَرَى وَحْشِيٌّ إِلاَّ عَيْنَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ يَا وَحْشِيُّ أَتَعْرِفُنِي قَالَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ إِلاَّ أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ عَدِيَّ بْنَ الْخِيَارِ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً يُقَالُ لَهَا أُمُّ قِتَالٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي الْعِيصِ، فَوَلَدَتْ لَهُ غُلاَمًا بِمَكَّةَ، فَكُنْتُ أَسْتَرْضِعُ لَهُ، فَحَمَلْتُ ذَلِكَ الْغُلاَمَ مَعَ أُمِّهِ، فَنَاوَلْتُهَا إِيَّاهُ، فَلَكَأَنِّي نَظَرْتُ إِلَى قَدَمَيْكَ‏.‏ قَالَ فَكَشَفَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ تُخْبِرُنَا بِقَتْلِ حَمْزَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ، إِنَّ حَمْزَةَ قَتَلَ طُعَيْمَةَ بْنَ عَدِيِّ بْنِ الْخِيَارِ بِبَدْرٍ، فَقَالَ لِي مَوْلاَىَ جُبَيْرُ بْنُ مُطْعِمٍ إِنْ قَتَلْتَ حَمْزَةَ بِعَمِّي فَأَنْتَ حُرٌّ، قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَنْ خَرَجَ النَّاسُ عَامَ عَيْنَيْنِ ـ وَعَيْنَيْنِ جَبَلٌ بِحِيَالِ أُحُدٍ، بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُ وَادٍ ـ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ النَّاسِ إِلَى الْقِتَالِ، فَلَمَّا اصْطَفُّوا لِلْقِتَالِ خَرَجَ سِبَاعٌ فَقَالَ هَلْ مِنْ مُبَارِزٍ قَالَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِ حَمْزَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ يَا سِبَاعُ يَا ابْنَ أُمِّ أَنْمَارٍ مُقَطِّعَةِ الْبُظُورِ، أَتُحَادُّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ثُمَّ شَدَّ عَلَيْهِ فَكَانَ كَأَمْسِ الذَّاهِبِ ـ قَالَ ـ وَكَمَنْتُ لِحَمْزَةَ تَحْتَ صَخْرَةٍ فَلَمَّا دَنَا مِنِّي رَمَيْتُهُ بِحَرْبَتِي، فَأَضَعُهَا فِي ثُنَّتِهِ حَتَّى خَرَجَتْ مِنْ بَيْنِ وَرِكَيْهِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَكَانَ ذَاكَ الْعَهْدَ بِهِ، فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ النَّاسُ رَجَعْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَأَقَمْتُ بِمَكَّةَ، حَتَّى فَشَا فِيهَا الإِسْلاَمُ، ثُمَّ خَرَجْتُ إِلَى الطَّائِفِ، فَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَسُولاً، فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَهِيجُ الرُّسُلَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا رَآنِي قَالَ ‏”‏ آنْتَ وَحْشِيٌّ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَنْتَ قَتَلْتَ حَمْزَةَ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْتُ قَدْ كَانَ مِنَ الأَمْرِ مَا بَلَغَكَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ فَهَلْ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تُغَيِّبَ وَجْهَكَ عَنِّي ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ، فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجَ مُسَيْلِمَةُ الْكَذَّابُ قُلْتُ لأَخْرُجَنَّ إِلَى مُسَيْلِمَةَ لَعَلِّي أَقْتُلُهُ فَأُكَافِئَ بِهِ حَمْزَةَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَ النَّاسِ، فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا كَانَ ـ قَالَ ـ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ قَائِمٌ فِي ثَلْمَةِ جِدَارٍ، كَأَنَّهُ جَمَلٌ أَوْرَقُ ثَائِرُ الرَّأْسِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَرَمَيْتُهُ بِحَرْبَتِي، فَأَضَعُهَا بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيْهِ حَتَّى خَرَجَتْ مِنْ بَيْنِ كَتِفَيْهِ ـ قَالَ ـ وَوَثَبَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ، فَضَرَبَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ عَلَى هَامَتِهِ‏.‏ قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ فَأَخْبَرَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ فَقَالَتْ جَارِيَةٌ عَلَى ظَهْرِ بَيْتٍ وَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَتَلَهُ الْعَبْدُ الأَسْوَدُ‏.‏

Narrated Jafar bin `Amr bin Umaiya: I went out with ‘Ubaidullah bin `Adi Al-Khaiyar. When we reached Hims (i.e. a town in Syria), ‘Ubaidullah bin `Adi said (to me), “Would you like to see Wahshi so that we may ask him about the killing of Hamza?” I replied, “Yes.” Wahshi used to live in Hims. We enquired about him and somebody said to us, “He is that in the shade of his palace, as if he were a full water skin.” So we went up to him, and when we were at a short distance from him, we greeted him and he greeted us in return. ‘Ubaidullah was wearing his turban and Wahshi could not see except his eyes and feet. ‘Ubaidullah said, “O Wahshi! Do you know me?” Wahshi looked at him and then said, “No, by Allah! But I know that `Adi bin Al-Khiyar married a woman called Um Qital, the daughter of Abu Al-Is, and she delivered a boy for him at Mecca, and I looked for a wet nurse for that child. (Once) I carried that child along with his mother and then I handed him over to her, and your feet resemble that child’s feet.” Then ‘Ubaidullah uncovered his face and said (to Wahshi), “Will you tell us (the story of) the killing of Hamza?” Wahshi replied “Yes, Hamza killed Tuaima bin `Adi bin Al-Khaiyar at Badr (battle) so my master, Jubair bin Mut`im said to me, ‘If you kill Hamza in revenge for my uncle, then you will be set free.” When the people set out (for the battle of Uhud) in the year of ‘Ainain ..’Ainain is a mountain near the mountain of Uhud, and between it and Uhud there is a valley.. I went out with the people for the battle. When the army aligned for the fight, Siba’ came out and said, ‘Is there any (Muslim) to accept my challenge to a duel?’ Hamza bin `Abdul Muttalib came out and said, ‘O Siba’. O Ibn Um Anmar, the one who circumcises other ladies! Do you challenge Allah and His Apostle?’ Then Hamza attacked and killed him, causing him to be non-extant like the bygone yesterday. I hid myself under a rock, and when he (i.e. Hamza) came near me, I threw my spear at him, driving it into his umbilicus so that it came out through his buttocks, causing him to die. When all the people returned to Mecca, I too returned with them. I stayed in (Mecca) till Islam spread in it (i.e. Mecca). Then I left for Taif, and when the people (of Taif) sent their messengers to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ), I was told that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not harm the messengers; So I too went out with them till I reached Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ). When he saw me, he said, ‘Are you Wahshi?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Was it you who killed Hamza?’ I replied, ‘What happened is what you have been told of.’ He said, ‘Can you hide your face from me?’ So I went out when Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) died, and Musailamah Al-Kadhdhab appeared (claiming to be a prophet). I said, ‘I will go out to Musailamah so that I may kill him, and make amends for killing Hamza. So I went out with the people (to fight Musailamah and his followers) and then famous events took place concerning that battle. Suddenly I saw a man (i.e. Musailamah) standing near a gap in a wall. He looked like an ash-colored camel and his hair was dishevelled. So I threw my spear at him, driving it into his chest in between his breasts till it passed out through his shoulders, and then an Ansari man attacked him and struck him on the head with a sword. `Abdullah bin `Umar said, ‘A slave girl on the roof of a house said: Alas! The chief of the believers (i.e. Musailamah) has been killed by a black slave.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4072)

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) and the Protection of the Finality of Prophethood

The Tabi’i, Abdur Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, narrates that during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman (رضي الله عنه), a man came to (my father) Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) and said, “O Abdur Rahman! There is a group of people here who are reading the book of Musaylimah the Liar.” Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) said, “Is there any book besides the Book of Allah? And is there any messenger besides the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)? Especially now that Islam has spread (meaning, such a thing is inconceivable).”

He sent that man back, but the man returned again and said, “By Allah, besides whom there is no other deity! These wretched people are gathering in a house and reading the book of Musaylimah. They even possess it in the form of a scroll.”

This incident took place during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (رضي الله عنه).

So Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) instructed a skilled horseman named Qirzah, saying, “Go and surround them in that house and arrest them all.” Qirzah captured eighty (80) individuals and brought them back.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) said:
“Woe and destruction be upon you! Is there any book besides the Book of Allah? And is there any messenger besides the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)?”
They said, “We repent to Allah, Lord of Might and Majesty. Indeed, we have greatly wronged ourselves.”

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) did not have them killed. Rather, he forgave them and sent them off toward the land of al-Sham (Greater Syria)—except for their leader, Ibn Nawwahah, because he refused to repent.

So Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) gave the order concerning him to Qirzah:
“Take him and sever his head from his body, and cast it into his mother’s lap. For I have seen him before, and I am aware of his evil deeds.”

Thus, Qirzah carried out the command and beheaded him.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) then narrated that both Ibn Nawwahah and Ibn Athal had previously come as emissaries of Musaylimah to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Upon seeing Ibn Nawwahah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had said:

تَشْهَدُ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : تَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُسَيْلِمَةً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : لَوْلَا إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ لَقَتَلْتُكَ فَجَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَنْ لَا يُقْتَلَ رَسُولٌ

Do you bear witness that I am the Messenger of Allah?
He replied, “Do you bear witness that Musaylimah is the Messenger of Allah?”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “If you were not an envoy, I would certainly have killed you.”
From that moment, the practice of not killing envoys was established.
Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn by Al-Hakim: 4378

This narration indicates that the trial of false claimants to prophethood persisted for quite some time. Even during the caliphate of Sayyiduna ‘Uthman (رضي الله عنه), a significant number of people still existed who regarded Musaylimah the Liar as their prophet, followed him, and lived their lives according to his so-called scripture.

The Battle of Sayyiduna Khalid ibn al-Walid (رضي الله عنه) Against Tulayhah al-Asadi

Tulayhah al-Asadi the liar was also a claimant to prophethood. At the command of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضي الله عنه), Sayyiduna Khalid ibn al-Walid (رضي الله عنه) fought against him. Tulayhah was an extremely fierce warrior; he even martyred Sayyiduna ‘Ukasha ibn Mihsan (رضي الله عنه) and Sayyiduna Thabit ibn Aqram (رضي الله عنه).
However, the truth soon became clear to him. He accepted Islam, performed ‘Umrah with the Muslims, and rejoined the Ummah.
Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi: 16728 – Its chain is Hasan

Al-Aswad al-‘Ansi and Fayruz al-Daylami (رضي الله عنه)

In Yemen, a man named Al-Aswad al-‘Ansi also falsely claimed prophethood. During the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ), Sayyiduna Fayruz al-Daylami (رضي الله عنه) along with other companions killed him, thus purifying Yemen from this trial.

The Consensus of the Companions on the Finality of Prophethood

There was complete consensus among the noble companions that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final prophet, and that no prophet can come after him.
Hence, whenever anyone falsely claimed prophethood, the companions (رضي الله عنهم) acted decisively and without any disagreement against such individuals.

The companions sacrificed their lives to protect the belief in the Finality of Prophethood, demonstrating that there can be no compromise on this fundamental creed. As a result of their sacrifices, the Muslim Ummah remains united on this belief to this very day. May Allah also grant us steadfastness upon this creed. Ameen!

تحفظ ختم نبوت اور صحابہ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم