In the name of Allāh, ar-Raḥmān (the most merciful), ar-Raḥīm (the bestower of mercy).
“Several Ṣaḥābah (Companions) were honoured with the promise of Paradise during their lifetimes. Among them are ten who stand out as the most esteemed and virtuous. They are all mentioned in the following ḥadīth:”
Abu Bakr will be in Paradise; ‘Umar will be in Paradise; ‘Uthmān will be in Paradise; ‘Alī will be in Paradise; Talḥah will be in Paradise; Zubayr will be in Paradise; ‘AbdurRaḥmān ibn ‘Awf will be in Paradise; Sa’d will be in Paradise; Sa’īd will be in Paradise and Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ will be in Paradise. [1]
An easy way to remember all ten is the following verses of poetry:
“Ten whom Allāh blessed and sealed their fate…
Ṭalḥah, Zubayr, the four who had the caliphate.
Ibn ‘Awf, Sa’d ‘n’ Sa’īd…
Abu ‘Ubaydah, noble in deed.” [2]
Below are brief biographies of the Companions mentioned in the above ḥadīth:
First: Abu Bakr as-Ṣiddīq.
He is ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbī Quḥāfah, better known as Abu Bakr as-Ṣiddīq. He was given the honourific title “as-Ṣiddīq” (The Truthful) due to his unwavering truthfulness in faith, and he was the first to wholeheartedly affirm the miraculous event of al-Isrāʾ wal-Miʿrāj – the night journey of the Prophet ﷺ to Jerusalem and his ascension to the heavens.
Abu Bakr was two years younger than the Prophet ﷺ and was his closest companion – both before and after the advent of Islam. He later became the Prophet’s father-in-law through his daughter ʿĀʾishah. Abu Bakr remained by the Prophet’s side in Makkah and accompanied him during the Hijrah (migration) to Madinah.
Even during the Prophet’s lifetime, the Companions recognized Abu Bakr’s unparalleled virtue, acknowledging him as the best among them. Indeed, he is regarded as the greatest person after the Prophets and Messengers.
He was known for his piety, worship, generosity, humility, knowledge, and courage in jihad. Abu Bakr participated in all the battles alongside the Prophet ﷺ. He was also the first man to embrace Islam, and many prominent Companions accepted Islam through his daʿwah, including ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, az-Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām, ʿAbdur-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ, and Ṭalḥah ibn ʿUbaydillāh.
After the Prophet ﷺ passed away, Abu Bakr was appointed as the first Caliph of Islām. His caliphate lasted for two years. It was a turbulent time for the Muslims, however he remained firm against those internal rebellions by apostates and refused to pay zakāh thereby bringing stability to the Arabian Peninusla. During his caliphate, parts of Iraq and Syria were conquered, which paved the way for further conquests by ‘Umar.
He passed away in the year 13 AH due to illness and was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ in the house of his daughter ʿĀishah.
O people, I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best among you. If I do well, help me; and if I go wrong, then correct me.
Truth is honesty, and falsehood is betrayal.
The weak among you shall be strong with me until I restore to them their rights, inshaAllāh.
And the strong among you shall be weak with me until I take from them what is due [to others], inshaAllāh.No people abandon striving in the path of Allah except that Allah humiliates them.
And no obscenity becomes widespread among a people except that Allah envelops them in trials.Obey me as long as I obey Allāh and his Messenger ﷺ; but if I disobey Allāh and his Messenger, then you owe me no obedience.
Arise now to ṣalāh, may Allāh have mercy on you. [3]
Second: ‘Umar Ibn al-Khaṭṭāb.
He is ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ibn Nufayl al-ʿAdawī al-Qurashī. He was given the honourific title “al-Fārūq” (Criterian between truth and falsehood) because of his firmness and unwavering commitment to justice.
He embraced Islām six years after the beginning of Prophethood. Unlike many of the early Companions who practised their faith in secret, ʿUmar accepted Islam openly. He prayed publicly when others prayed in secrecy, and he boldly announced his intention to make hijrah, while most of the Companions migrated in secret. His acceptance of Islam marked a turning point: the Muslims gained strength, courage, and honour, and they began praying openly for the first time.
He was among the closest people to the Prophet ﷺ and also became his father-in-law when the Prophet ﷺ married his daughter Ḥafṣah. ʿUmar was known for his courage, integrity, and deep devotion to the Prophet ﷺ. He is regarded as the second greatest Companion, after Abu Bakr.
After the death of Abu Bakr, ʿUmar became the second Caliph of Islām. His caliphate lasted ten years and six months, during which the Islamic Empire expanded rapidly. Under his leadership, major regions were conquered, including Persia, Iraq, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Armenia, Khurāsān (covering parts of present-day Azerbaijan and Afghanistan), and Baluchistan.
His son, ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar, became renowned for his deep knowledge, understanding, and his strict adherence to the Sunnah.
ʿUmar was martyred in the year 24 AH by a Persian hypocrite while he was leading the prayer. He was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr in the house of ʿĀishah, as he had wished.
The one who laughs too much loses his dignity; the one who jokes too much is belittled; the one who does something excessively will be known for it.
The one who talks excessively will make more mistakes; the one who makes many mistakes loses his sense of shame; the one who loses his shame will lose his piety; and the one who loses his piety, his heart dies. [4]
[To be continued…]
Footnotes
[1] Narrated by ‘AbdurRaḥmān Ibn ‘Awf; Collected by at-Tirmidhī.
[2] TN: I wrote these verses of English poetry to help in memorising the names of the ten companions. Admittedly, I have little experience in poetry.
[3] The famous khutbah given by Abu Bakr as-Siddīq after assuming the caliphate, mentioned by Ibn Kathīr in al-Bidāyah wan-Nihāyah.
[4] Well-known words of advice attributed to ‘Umar, mentioned in al-Iḥyā Vol 3 Page 113
