What is the virtue of the Companions and what distinguishes them from others?

Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah believe in the justice and virtue of the Companions, due to Allah's praise for them in the Qur'an and the commendation they received in the Prophetic Sunnah. They are the best of people after the prophets, and Allah chose them to accompany His Prophet and inherit his message. Allah bore witness to the purity of their hearts and the sincerity of their faith, was pleased with them, and promised them Paradise. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, praised them and forbade reviling them, clarifying that they are the best generations. The Companions are not infallible from error or sins, but whatever issues from them is forgiven due to their companionship and their precedence in Islam. Allah has overlooked their mistakes and forgiven them.