Abdul Wahid Hamid This book highlights aspects of the lives of thirty Companions of the Prophet, some famous, others almost completely unknown. Here the trials and triumphs of the early Muslims as individuals are well-portrayed. Their various paths to Islam - sometimes direct, sometimes long and tortuous, their devotion to the noble Prophet, their endeavours in peace time and their exploits in war - all serve to cast them in a heroic mould. This is the first of two (formerly published as a series of three) books based on original Arabic sources and written in a style that is lively and often gripping. The lives of the Sahabah or Companions of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, is a rich storehouse of knowledge, guidance and inspiration. The men and women whose stories are told here helped to lay the foundations of a new world order, and it is only fitting that they should be more widely known
This Companions of the Prophet series by Abdul Wahid Hamid, published by MELS, is hands down THE BEST English language collection of Sahaba stories ever.
Beautifully written with vibrant, powerful energy, I can truly say that these books instilled in me a love of stories of the Sahabah from a young age. The author mentions not only the most famous Sahabah, but also the more obscure ones, whose stories are rarely mentioned in most English books.
This book is ideal for everyone from young adults to elders, and possibly even from middle grade onwards. I cannot recommend this series enough - as a personal read, as ideal for reading aloud in youth groups/ halaqas, and as required reading for Islamic school classes.
A really wonderful collection of short stories of the companions - a very concise read; each companion is given a short introduction & their key moments/events. It is very inspiring too, as the author draws out lovely conclusions from each person. I'd say it is a good starting point for learning about the companions, as there is not much depth - four/five pages per person doesn't provide a substantial amount of detail. Nevertheless the writing is clear and eloquent, and overall very inspiring.
It’s so hard to find Islamic books that have a narrative style that does justice to its contents, but with every chapter of every companion (peace be upon them) I felt like I was living then and there with them and seeing the nuances of their behaviour so vividly. Such a pity they no longer print these books. Would recommend a thousand times over.
I loved how the the author highlighted the key characteristics of each of the companions giving readers a fuller understanding of society during the time of our beloved prophet. It was a beautiful compilation.
I really enjoyed this book; it has a simple narrative and narrates some truly beautiful stories. What I also liked was that the author decided to include profiles of some lesser-known companions, such as Julaybib. There is a general list of references at the end of the book, but the author does use references within his writing. I appreciate that this allows for it to flow like a storybook, but as we are dealing with non-fictional accounts, it would have added to the credence of the book.
A must read! Loved this book! I read it as I sat in the Prophet's mosque in Madinah. It really touched my heart to get such valuable insight in to what these amazing companions were about and the circumstances they arose from.
It’s amazing and addictive, and it really changed my life. I have and am going to read it over and over again to memorise the stories. The way this book is written is so motivational its what keeps me going when I am struggling with my faith. :)
"My Companions are like the stars, whichever of them you follow you will be rightly guided"
Whatever you think of the strength of this hadith, I thought this book really showed the unique qualities and story of each companion mentioned in an engaging way. Nicely written, and a great selection of companions. Looking forward to book 2!
I thought this book was poorly written, which was off-putting. The stories, however, were interesting. I was also unimpressed with the sources used for this book, so I personally would take the stories with a pinch of salt, unless I found corroboration for them elsewhere. It was a nice light read during Ramadan though. :)