بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The Shi’a devote a great respect for some of the companions of the Prophet S) who closely followed Prophet and the Ahlul-Bayt before and after death of Prophet (S). Among these great companions, are the following individuals:

Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari

The Holy Prophet said concerning Abu Dharr al-Ghifari that "Heaven has not shaded, nor has the earth carried a person more straight forward than Abu Dharr. He walks on earth with the immaterialistic attitude of Jesus, the son of Mary.”

Sunni references:

- Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p334, Tradition #3889
- Tahdhib al-Athar, v4, pp 158-161
- Musnad Ahmad Hanbal, #6519, #6630, #7078
- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p342
- al-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa’d, v4, part 1, pp 167-168
- Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, pp 329-330

Ammar Ibn Yasir

The Holy Prophet had told Ammar Ibn Yasir along with his parents that:

Sunni Reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p233,

The Holy Prophet also told him that

"Ammar be cheerful, the aggressor party shall kill you."

Sunni references:

- al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p383

- Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, chapter MCCV, Traditions #6968& #6970

The English translator of Sahih Muslim (Abdul Hamid Siddiqui) has written in the footnote of the above traditions that:

This narration is clearly indicative of the fact that in the conflict between Hadrat ‘Ali and his opponents, Hadrat ‘Ali was on the right as Ammar Ibn Yasir was killed in the Battle of Siffin fighting in the camp of Hadrat ‘Ali. (Footnote of Sahih Muslim, English version, v4, p1508).

Al-Miqdad Ibn Al-Aswad

He is among the four men whom the Prophet (S) was commanded to love, as the Prophet said:

"God commanded me to love four, and He informed me that he loves them. People asked him: Messenger of God who are they? He said: ‘Ali is from them (repeating that three times). And Abu Tharr and Salman and al-Miqdad."

Sunni reference: Sunan ibn Majah, v1 p53 Hadith 149

The Messenger of Allah also said:

"Every prophet was given by God seven righteous companions. I was given fourteen righteous companions". He included in them ‘Ali, al- Hasan, al-Husayn, Hamza, Ja’far, Ammar Ibn Yasir, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, and Salman.

Sunni references:

- Fada’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, Traditions #109, #277
- Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p329, p662
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp88,148,149 from several chain of narrators
- al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v6, p264, p265
- Hilyatul Awliya’, by Abu Nu’aym, v1, p128

Salman Al-Farsi

Concerning him, the Messenger of Allah (S) said that

"Paradise longs for three men, ‘Ali, Ammar and Salman."

Sunni reference: Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p332, Tradition #3884

Ibn Abbas

He was the person about whom the Prophet (S) said:

"God I ask Thee to teach him the interpretation and make him knowledgeable in religion and make him from the people of belief."

Sunni reference: al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p536