Ali ibn Abi Talib, Fatimah, Ibn Abbas, Hamzah, al-Abbas, and others.

“And his Companions, and whoever worships …”

His statement, “and his Companions”: aṣḥāb is the plural of ṣaḥb, and ṣaḥb is a collective noun for ṣāḥib. Thus, his Companions are all those who met him as believers in him and died upon that, even if they did not see him and even if their companionship with him was not prolonged.

This is one of his distinctive qualities, peace and blessings be upon him. As for anyone else, a person is not regarded as his companion unless he remained with him for a period sufficient for the description of companion to apply to him.

His statement, “and whoever worships”: “whoever” is a relative pronoun that conveys generality.

His statement, “worships,” means worships Allah—that is, humbles himself before Him through worship and obedience.

Worship is founded upon two matters:

1 - Love.
2 - Veneration.

Through love, one seeks to attain the pleasure of the One worshipped; and through veneration, one flees from falling into disobedience to Him. For you venerate Him and thus fear Him, and you love Him and thus seek Him.

The two conditions for its acceptance are sincerity to Allah and following His Messenger.

The phrase “whoever worships” is general, including everyone who worships Allah from this nation and from others. This is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning our words, “Peace be upon us and upon Allah’s righteous servants”: “When you say that, you have invoked peace upon every servant