and some of them were present on all these occasions, while others took part in only some of them. Next come those who spent and fought after the conquest; Allah has promised the finest reward to all.
Some scholars held that those who died during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—whether as martyrs, such as Hamzah, Jaʿfar, Saʿd ibn Muʿādh, and Musʿab ibn ʿUmayr, or otherwise, such as ʿUthmān ibn Mazʿūn, of whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “You have departed without becoming entangled in anything of this world”—were superior to those who survived them. This was the view preferred by Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr.
Among the evidence they cited was the statement of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning the martyrs of Uhud: “For these men I bear witness.” Abū Bakr al-Siddīq said, “Are we not their brothers, O Messenger of Allah? We embraced Islam as they did and strove as they strove.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, “Indeed, but I do not know what you will do after me.”
This, however, provides no proof for their position, because the hadith does not apply universally to Abū Bakr and everyone else. A general expression may be intended to refer only to particular people, as in the Prophet’s supplication, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “O Allah, intensify Your punishment of Mudar.” He meant only the disbelievers among them, not the believers. The first view is therefore correct. It is supported by the report from Ibn ʿUmar, who said: “During the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we used to rank people in merit, saying: Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān, then ʿAlī; then we would say no more.” Success comes only through Allah.
Section
On Asceticism and Scrupulousness
Scrupulousness consists in avoiding forbidden and doubtful matters. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “The lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters. Whoever avoids doubtful matters safeguards his religion and his honor”—to the end of the hadith.
Avoiding forbidden things is obligatory, while avoiding doubtful matters is recommended. A person can only be described as scrupulous if he avoids both forbidden and doubtful matters. Asceticism is what prompts one