Is it possible for one of the Companions to enter Hellfire, then exit it and enter Paradise, and is the Muslim who does not enter Hellfire better than the Companion who enters it and then exits, taking into consideration that the Companions are the best of the Ummah after the Prophet, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him?

Some Companions may enter Hellfire and then exit it, as is the case for disobedient monotheists in general. However, this does not contradict their superiority over those who came after them. The majority of scholars believe that every Companion is superior in the sight of Allah to anyone who came after them. Ibn Abd al-Barr held that goodness might be in the hereafter just as it is in priority, citing the Hadith (definition): "The similitude of my Ummah is like rain; it is not known whether its beginning is better or its end," and the Hadith: "The Messiah will surely meet people who are like you or better," and "The one who acts upon them will have the reward of fifty of you," and "The best of creation in faith are people in the loins of men who will believe in me though they have not seen me."

Ibn Hajar, however, commented on Ibn Abd al-Barr's view, stating that an increase in reward does not necessitate absolute superiority, and that the Companions' distinction of having seen the Prophet, peace be upon him, is unparalleled. He also noted that the Hadith of Abu Jum'ah uses the wording "greater in reward than us" and not "better than us." Therefore, there is no contradiction between some Companions temporarily entering Hellfire and their superiority over those of subsequent generations who did not enter it.