EXTENDED COMPANIONSHIP
Through Contemplation
THE Prophet of Islam was born in 570 CE at Makkah and died in 632 CE at Madinah. The Muslims, of that time who were the Prophet’s Companions, are called Sahaba (Companions). The number of his Companions was about one lakh twenty four thousand. The lives of Companions are well recorded in the books of ‘Rijal’. But the number of Companions is not limited to those whose lives have been recorded in these Arabic books. There are companions other than those physically present during the Prophet’s life time, they may be called the spiritual companions of the Prophet, and are spread throughout the whole of human history.
Who were these spiritual companions? They were those honest people who were born as seekers of truth. Then they discovered the Prophet through further study, and decided to follow the pattern of his life.
Their sole concern was to understand the example of the Prophet and then sincerely follow it. Some of those spiritual companions may be called “companion plus.” They were in a position to know more regarding the life and history of the Prophet of Islam in greater detail which was naturally not available to the believers of the early period. These historical details were recorded in the books of Hadith (sayings and deeds of the Prophet of Islam) and Seerah (life of the Prophet) in the later periods of Islamic history.
The spiritual companions of the Prophet were those honest people who were born as seekers of truth. Then they discovered the Prophet through further study, and decided to follow the pattern of his life.
People of this kind are bound to receive continuous inspiration from God Almighty. This will enable them to develop their personality on prophetic lines. Such people will remain continuously in touch with the Prophet in a spiritual sense.
Although the Prophet of Islam died in 632 CE, his guidance will continue forever. In the physical sense, the Prophet of Islam is no more, but in the spiritual sense he exists like a living personality. Anyone who is eager to receive his guidance can receive it through study and contemplation.