Companions of the Prophet

The Companions, or Sahaba, were Muslims who met Muhammad, believed in his prophethood, and died as Muslims. They transmitted his teachings and helped shape the early Muslim community.

Abu Bakr: A close Companion of Muhammad and the first caliph after his death. His leadership made him a central figure among the first generation of Muslims.
Sahaba: The Arabic plural for the Companions of Muhammad, used especially in Islamic scholarship. This Arabic name is the standard term for the group defined by the page.
Compilation of the Quran: The historical processes through which the Quran was collected and its written text established. Traditions about the early collection and standardization of the Quran prominently involve the first caliphs.
Ahl al-Bayt: The household of Muhammad, especially as honored in Islamic traditions about his family and descendants. Debates distinguish the Prophet’s household from the broader body of Companions, though the groups overlap.
Hijra: Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622, marking the start of the Islamic calendar. The migration established the Medinan community in which many Companions served and lived.
Umar ibn al-Khattab: A Companion of Muhammad and the second caliph, under whom the early Muslim state expanded. His rule transformed the community the Companions had formed into a rapidly expanding polity.
Ummah: The community of Muslims, understood as a religious body extending across peoples and generations. The Companions were the first generation of the Muslim community.
Rashidun Caliphate: The early caliphate traditionally comprising the rule of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. Companions held its highest offices and directed its expansion and governance.
The Followers: The generation of Muslims who met Companions but did not meet Muhammad. Their later place in Islamic memory contrasts with the defining direct contact of the Companions.
Battle of Badr: A battle in 624 in which Muhammad’s smaller force defeated a Quraysh army near Badr. It became a defining early encounter for the Muslims who fought alongside Muhammad.

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