chain of transmission, that he said:

“The best generation is the generation among whom I was sent, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”

It is also authentically reported from him in the Sahīh:

“There was a dispute between ‘Abd al-Rahmān and Khālid, and he said: ‘Khālid, do not revile my Companions. By Him in whose hand is my soul, if any of you were to spend gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal a mudd (a measure of food) given by any one of them, nor even half of it.’”

He said this to Khālid and others like him who embraced Islam after al-Hudaybiyya, comparing them with the earliest forerunners. He was saying that if any of them spent gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal one mudd given by any of those forerunners, nor even half a mudd. Those who embraced Islam after al-Hudaybiyya were included, with this standing, in His words, Most High:

“Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquest and fought. Those are greater in rank than those who spent afterwards and fought. Yet to each Allah has promised the finest reward.”

How, then, could he come after his Companions?

Companionship is a general term encompassing anyone who kept company with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, whether briefly or for a long time. Each person’s share of companionship, however, corresponds to its extent. Whoever kept his company for a year, a month, a day, or an hour, or saw him while being a believer, has a corresponding share of companionship. Thus, it is authentically reported in the Sahīh that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Groups of people will go forth to battle, and they will ask: ‘Is there anyone among you who kept company with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?’ In another wording: ‘Is there anyone among you who saw the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?’ They will say, ‘Yes,’ and victory will be granted to them. Then groups of people will go forth to battle, and they will ask: ‘Is there anyone among you who kept company with someone who kept company with the Messenger of Allah