the Messenger, believed in him, and followed the light sent down with him—this is the creed of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah.

When Allah mentioned the Emigrants and the Helpers in Sūrat al-Hashr, He, exalted is He, said:

“[It is] for the poor Emigrants who were driven out of their homes and possessions, seeking favor from Allah and His good pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger; they are the truthful. And those who, before them, had settled in the city and embraced the faith love those who migrate to them; they find no need in their breasts for what they have been given and prefer them over themselves, even though they too are in need. Whoever is shielded from the stinginess of his own soul—it is they who will prosper. And those who come after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancor toward those who believe.’” (59:8–10)

Such, then, is the stance of Muslims toward the Companions of the Messenger of Allah: they seek forgiveness for them and ask Allah not to let any hatred for the Companions settle in their hearts. The Prophet’s household enjoy the rights of kinship and of faith alike, and the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah is to show loyalty and love to the family of the Prophet.

As for the Nasibis, they side with the Companions but detest the Prophet’s household; they were called Nasibis because they fixed enmity against the family of the Prophet. The Rafidis, on the contrary, claim allegiance to the Prophet’s family,