SAHABA
The sahaba (pl. ashab) means the Companions of the Prophet. The plural "Companions of the Prophet" (ashab al-nabi), otherwise known simply as the Companions (sahaba) is derived from the root s-h-b. The phrase ashab al-nabi does not appear in the Koran. Nor does the plural form sahab occur there. Of the 94 times that the noun sahib and its plural ashab do appear in the Koran. The Koran qualifies the Prophet however thee times as "your companion" and once as "their companion." In these four cases the Prophet is however not being described as the companion of the faithful but rather as the companion of those who disbelieve.
The ashab al-nabi was a circle or body of the faithfuls who had seen the Prophet even if only for a short time, or at an early age. Amr bin Wasil al-Kinani Abul Tufail who died shortly after 100/720 is styled the last of the Companions and was quite a little child when he saw the Prophet. Another tradition has it that Abdullah bin Unais was the last to die among the Companions.
The categories of the sahaba are determined by the different nature of their share in the Prophet's enterprises: Muhajirun, Ansar, Badriyun (who took part in the battle of Badr), etc. The followers of the Companions are called tabi'un and the followers of the followers of the Companions are called atba al-tabi'un (followers of the followers of the Companions).
- 6116 reads