What is your opinion of someone who says that the verse: "And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment" does not apply to all of the Companions, citing as proof the verse that follows it: "And among those around you of the bedouins are hypocrites, and among the people of Madinah are some who have become accustomed to hypocrisy. You, [O Muhammad], do not know them, [but] We know them. We will punish them twice, and then they will be returned to a great punishment"? And how can this claim be refuted?

The Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) possess virtues mentioned in numerous verses of the Holy Quran, such as His (Allah's) saying: ﴿AND THE FIRST FORERUNNERS [IN FAITH] AMONG THE MUHAJIREEN AND THE ANSAR AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THEM WITH EXCELLENCE - ALLAH IS PLEASED WITH THEM AND THEY ARE PLEASED WITH HIM, AND HE HAS PREPARED FOR THEM GARDENS BENEATH WHICH RIVERS FLOW﴾. Allah Almighty also praised them in the Torah and the Gospel, as in His saying: ﴿MUHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH; AND THOSE WITH HIM ARE FORCEFUL AGAINST THE DISBELIEVERS, MERCIFUL AMONG THEMSELVES. YOU SEE THEM BOWING AND PROSTRATING [IN PRAYER], SEEKING BOUNTY FROM ALLAH AND [HIS] PLEASURE. THEIR MARK IS ON THEIR FACES FROM THE TRACE OF PROSTRATION. THAT IS THEIR DESCRIPTION IN THE TORAH AND THEIR DESCRIPTION IN THE GOSPEL AS A PLANT WHICH EXTRACTS ITS SHOOT AND STRENGTHENS IT SO IT BECOMES THICK AND STANDS UPON ITS STEM, DELIGHTING THE SOWERS - SO THROUGH THEM HE MAY ENRAGE THE DISBELIEVERS. ALLAH HAS PROMISED THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND DO RIGHTEOUS DEEDS AMONG THEM FORGIVENESS AND A GREAT REWARD.﴾ The Companions are distinguished by characteristics that differentiate them from the hypocrites mentioned in the Quran, as in His saying: ﴿AND AMONG THOSE AROUND YOU OF THE BEDOUINS ARE HYPOCRITES, AND AMONG THE PEOPLE OF MADINAH ARE SOME WHO HAVE BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HYPOCRISY. YOU, [O MUHAMMAD], DO NOT KNOW THEM; WE KNOW THEM.﴾ Thus, they cannot be confused. The Companions knew the hypocrites, and their scarcity and humiliation became evident. The Companions are the best of creation after the Prophets, and their lives and virtues are innumerable. Whoever disparages them is either ignorant or has sickness in their heart.