Look, let’s drop the filters. You’ve compared yourself, right? Wondered why your eeman swings up and down like Wi-Fi signals? Ever thought, “How could those early Muslims—the Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them)—be on another level of faith, while we’re struggling with basics?”
Honestly, you’re not alone. The average Companions’ faith wasn’t just stronger—it was unrepeatable. One Sahabi’s iman outweighed, in the Divine Scale, the belief of countless Muslims today. But why? What did they have that we lost? The answer isn’t romanticizing the past. It’s seeing what you can revive in your own heart, right now.
Living Under the Sword: The Reality of Early Iman
Picture this: You’re in 7th-century Arabia. No inheritance, no privilege. Islam is a wanted crime. The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) experienced persecution, torture, exile, and public humiliation—before there was any promise of power, peace, or political gain. They were hunted, hated, even by their own families.
Now compare: You grow up hearing about Islam. You might pray, maybe skip sometimes. If it’s hard, you have the option to hide it, turn off your phone, change your feed.
Here’s what changes faith in those split seconds:
The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) risked everything. “They gave their blood, wealth, and comfort for Islam before any benefit ever arrived. They believed when belief cost everything and brought nothing—at least, nothing visible.”
[Surah Al-Fath, Ayah 18]
“Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave the Bay’ah (pledge) to you (O Muhammad ﷺ) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down tranquility upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.”According to renowned mufassirun, this ayah sealed the status of these Companions forever with Allah ﷻ.
Hadith: Even An Ocean of Gold…
Let me tell you a hadith that should burn into your memory.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 3673):
“If one of you were to spend gold equivalent to [Mount] Uhud in charity, it would not amount to a handful, or even half a handful, of what they (the Sahaba) gave.”
No act, no matter the quantity, can match the reward of the earliest faith—because theirs wasn’t just belief, it was absolute certainty when all odds were against them.
Sincerity Over Calculation
Wait—I need to mention this…
Today, sincerity rarely comes without show. Your charity is a screen grab. Your prayer is for approval—if not from others, then at least from your own sense of achievement. The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them), acted from a pure core. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) Himself testifies:
[Surah Al-Fath, Ayah 29]
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves…”
Scholars of tafsir such as Ibn Kathir document that these verses single the Sahaba out for their distinctive purity and sincerity—a level unprecedented before or after.
They Saw the Prophet ﷺ. But That’s Not Why…
Now, you might think—“That’s just because they got to see Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.” But here’s the thing. The real virtue isn’t just being alive with the Prophet ﷺ; it’s believing with zero evidence—in the face of torture, rejection, and fear.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in Sahih al-Bukhari (Fada’il al-Ashab, 1):
“The best of people are my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”
Notice: It’s not about proximity—it’s about virtue, tested and proven in hardship.
Another powerful narration—listen carefully—explains the weight of faith before Islam “succeeded”:
“Those who spent and fought before the conquest (of Makkah) are greater in rank than those who did so afterwards…”
(Quran, Surah Al-Hadid:10, as explained by scholars of tafsir and verified by jurists—see alim.org)
Scenarios: Their Iman vs. Ours
- Empty Stomachs, Full Hearts: Battles like Badr or Tabuk. None of them knew if they’d live—there were days they had to tie stones to their bellies. Yet, the Companions (May Allah be pleased with them) raced forward, not away.
- Hijrah Costs: Imagine leaving your house, business, friends, entire hometown—knowing you’ll never return. That’s hijrah, documented in detail by Islamic historians. How many of us would drop our phones and packs today for the chance to keep iman?
Ulama: Explaining the Sahaba’s Secret
You know what all the scholars say? It’s not magic, and it’s not birthright. It’s circumstance married to sincerity—tazkiyya in its rawest form.
- Best deeds are judged not by size, but by sincere risk and sacrifice.
- Only the earliest, purest faith can split world history—later generations inherit Islam when it’s “established,” not on the edge.
- After the Prophets, no ummah can equal the Sahaba—not in Quranic witness, not in struggle, nor in spiritual potential.
- The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) lived the meaning of Islam—submission not just in ritual, but in the sacrifice of everything.”
What’s Different Today?
Here’s what you never hear on social feeds:
- You inherit Islam, they found it in the dark.
- You have a million distractions; they had only one aim: please Allah ﷻ, survive, or die on iman.
- Your comfort is the norm—their hardship was their crucible.
[Surah Imran, Ayah 110]
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah…”
Classical mufassirun say this ayah includes the Sahaba as the highest rank—because they became the walking, breathing standard for all believers after them.
Lessons We Can Actually Use
1. Get Real About Your Struggle:
Acknowledge, as the Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) did, that faith will cost you—maybe not your life, but at least your comfort, habits, and ego.
2. Find Sincerity When No One’s Watching:
Every sacrificed excuse, every quiet prayer, every rebuffed temptation is your private jihad.
3. Choose Sacrifice Over Applause:
Give for Allah ﷻ, not for likes. Practice generosity, secrecy, and honesty—even if it’s small, it’s gold in Allah’s scale if you mean it.
4. Don’t Despair:
Remember, even if you feel small next to a Sahabi, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said about later generations,
“Glad tidings to the strangers… those who revive my sunnah when people have neglected it.” (Musnad Ahmad)
Featured Snippet Section
Question: Why was the faith of the Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) unmatched by later generations?
Answer: The Sahaba’s faith was forged in struggle and pure sincerity—risking everything for Islam when belief brought only loss and pain. Their sacrifices, verified by Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) in the Quran and confirmed in hadith, made their deeds heavier than those of any Muslim after them.
Friday night—picture yourself: scrolling, comparing, feeling “less.” The truth? You don’t need to become a Sahabi (May Allah be pleased with him/her)—you just need to take their blueprint and smuggle as much of it as you can into your daily battle. Start with sincerity. Trade comfort for some level of meaningful discomfort—remove a vice, revive a neglected sunnah, pray as if nobody but Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) will know.
Who knows: in a moment of real sincerity, Allah ﷻ might grant you, if not their rank, at least a share in their light.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars in their local area for specific religious rulings, detailed interpretations, and matters requiring expert guidance.