And they say:

Some of the reports transmitted about their misdeeds are false; others have been altered through additions, omissions, or distortion of their original meaning. As for the authentic reports, the Companions are excused in these matters: they exercised independent judgment, either correctly or mistakenly.

Nevertheless, they do not believe that every individual Companion is immune to major and minor sins. Rather, sins may occur among them. Yet their early service and virtues warrant forgiveness for whatever sins they may commit, if any should occur. Indeed, they are forgiven for misdeeds for which those who came after them would not be forgiven, because they possess good deeds that erase misdeeds to a degree unmatched by later generations. It has been established through the words of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“They are the best of generations.”

“A mudd (a small measure of food) given in charity by one of them is greater in merit than a mountain of gold the size of Uhud given by those who came after them.”

Furthermore, if one of them has committed a sin, he will either have repented of it, performed good deeds that erase it, been forgiven because of his early service, or been forgiven through the intercession of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to whose intercession they are more entitled than anyone else—or suffered a worldly trial through which his sin was expiated.

If this holds true for established sins, what then of matters in which they exercised independent judgment: if they were correct, they receive two rewards; if they were mistaken, they receive one reward, and their error is forgiven?

Moreover, the objectionable actions of some of them are few and slight, overwhelmed by their virtues and merits: faith in Allah and His Messenger, striving in His cause, migration, giving support, beneficial knowledge, and righteous deeds.