Sahaba

The Sahaba are the people who met Muhammad as believers and died as Muslims. They transmit accounts of his life and teachings and hold a foundational place in Islamic history.

Muhammad: The 7th-century Arabian religious and political leader regarded by Muslims as the final prophet of God. The Sahaba are defined by their personal contact with him.
Abu Bakr: A close companion of Muhammad and the first caliph after his death. His leadership made him a defining figure in accounts of the early community.
Hijra: Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The migration created the Medinan community in which many prominent Companions served.
Sunnah: The normative example of Muhammad’s conduct as preserved and interpreted in Islamic tradition. Companions helped transmit descriptions of the conduct that defines the Sunnah.
Companion (Islamic terminology): A person classified as a Companion of Muhammad under a particular Islamic scholarly definition. Scholars differ over the contact and faith criteria required for this status.
Hadith: Reports about Muhammad’s words, actions, and approvals, preserved and evaluated in Islamic tradition. Companions are central transmitters in the chains of hadith.
Umar ibn al-Khattab: The second caliph, who led the Muslim community from 634 to 644. His rule is associated with rapid expansion and the formation of early administration.
Constitution of Medina: A set of agreements traditionally associated with Muhammad’s community in Medina. It offers a glimpse of the political community in which the Companions lived.
Islamic historiography: The study and writing of history within Islamic scholarly traditions. Accounts of the Sahaba became a major foundation of early Islamic historical writing.
Hadith criticism: Methods for assessing the reliability of hadith reports, their transmitters, and their chains. Its methods raise questions about how Companion testimony is weighed.

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