What does Al-aṣḥab mean?

Islam > Glossary > Al-aṣḥab

Discover the meaning of the term Al-aṣḥab (أصحاب) in Islamic vocabulary.

Definition Al-aṣḥab

Al-aṣḥab according to Kitab at-Ta'rifat (Al-Jurjani)

One who saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), or kept company with him, believing in him.

Al-aṣḥab according to Dustur al-'Ulama (Al-Ahmadnagari)

The plural of 'sahib', as 'al-athar' is the plural of 'tahir'. Whoever holds that the active participle is not pluralized on the pattern 'af'al' lightens 'sahib' to 'sahb' by dropping the alif; then the unvocalized ha' remains, with some, vocalized with kasra, and, with others, unvocalized; hence it was said it is also the plural of 'sahab', as 'anmar' is the plural of 'namir', or of 'sahab' with the unvocalized ha' unvocalized, as 'anhar' is the plural of 'nahr'. The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) are those who enjoyed his company in his lifetime as believers and died upon faith. As for one whose apostasy intervened between his keeping his company and believing in him: some said he is not a Companion; the more correct view is that he is a Companion, and upon it is the majority, for the name of company remains his whether he returned to Islam in his lifetime (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or after, and whether he met him a second time after returning to Islam or not, as in the story of Ash'ath ibn Qays, who apostatized, was then brought to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) as a captive, returned to Islam, embraced it, his Islam was accepted and he married his sister; and none excluded him from the enumeration of the Companions nor refused to report his hadiths in the Musnads and elsewhere. Designating companionship by 'attaining' it is preferable to the saying of some that 'the Companion is one who saw the Prophet', for that would exclude Ibn Umm Maktum and the like among the blind, who are his Companions (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) without doubt.

Al-aṣḥab according to Al-Qamus al-Fiqhi

Among the Hanafis: the three imams: Abu Hanifa, Abu Yusuf, and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan. 'Al-sahib' (in apposition): the one near you, and your traveling companion. 'Al-sahiba': the feminine of 'sahib'; plural: sawahib. 'The wife': as in the Quran: 'Our Lord, exalted be He, has taken no companion nor child' (al-Jinn 3).

Al-aṣḥab according to Mu'jam Lughat al-Fuqaha

Some jurists also use it for the great scholars of their school.

Al-aṣḥab according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

The plural of 'sahabi': one who met the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) believing in him and died upon faith.