Tasdid al-Isaba fima shajara bayn al-Sahaba
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Tasdid al-Isaba fima shajara bayn al-Sahaba (Directing the Mark Concerning What Transpired Among the Companions) is a theological and historical treatise written by the contemporary Saudi scholar Dhiab al-Ghamdi (Dhiab ibn Sa'd Al Hamdan al-Ghamdi) on the disputes and civil strife (fitna) among the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Background and Methodology
The work addresses the early internal conflicts among the Companions, examining the topic at the intersection of three Islamic disciplines: theology (aqidah), history (tarikh), and hadith criticism (ilm al-hadith). Al-Ghamdi observed that while theological works mandate withholding judgment and refraining from delving into their disputes (al-imsak amma shajara baynahum) and history books record detailed narratives, hadith criticism serves as the governing standard to evaluate sound reports from weak ones.
The author composed the treatise to clarify the Sunni framework, defend the integrity (adala) and honor of the Companions, and counter sectarian and secular depictions that exploit historical reports to undermine Islamic beliefs.
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into eight chapters (abwab), concluding with a summary formulated into eight focal points:
- Chapter 1: Discusses history across three sections: its definition, its importance, and the danger of speaking about historical events without knowledge.
- Chapter 2: Divided into two sections examining the fitna and the battles of the Camel and Siffin—identifying errors in accepting or rejecting historical reports and errors in recounting the subject matter—and assessing the actual number of Companions who took part.
- Chapter 3: Outlines the events between the Companions across three points: the starting point of the disagreement, their underlying motives, and the obligation of silence regarding their conflicts.
- Chapter 4: Details the virtues of the Companions in six sections, addressing their merits, the obligation of loving them, supplicating and seeking forgiveness for them, their uprightness (adala), the ruling on reviling them, and the specific virtues of Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan.
- Chapter 5: Compiles statements from the early generations (salaf) establishing the obligation to refrain from probing into disputes among the Companions.
- Chapter 6: Details the negative repercussions of publicizing and circulating these disputes among lay Muslims.
- Chapter 7: Addresses two objections, clarifying the ruling on discussing these conflicts with good intentions and love, as well as the justification of repeating them simply because they appear in standard history compendia.
- Chapter 8: Provides a comprehensive summary of the findings.
Publication and Reception
An abridged version of the study initially appeared as an article titled Fadilat al-imsak amma shajara bayn al-Sahaba ("The Virtue of Refraining from What Transpired Among the Companions") in issue 134 of the journal al-Bayan in Shawwal 1419 AH. Following the exhaustion of the second edition, the author completed a revised and expanded third edition in Ta'if on 1 Muharram 1423 AH.
The book was reviewed and commended by senior Saudi scholars:
- Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, wrote an endorsement praising its clarity, defense of the Companions, and adherence to the Sunni methodology.
- Abdullah ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Aqil, former head of the Permanent Committee of the Supreme Judicial Council, commended the work in Rabi' al-Thani 1426 AH, noting its concise and balanced presentation, respectful tone, and substantial reliance on earlier verifiers, particularly Ibn Taymiyyah in his Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah.
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