In Saheeh Bukhaaree and Muslim from Jaabir that "the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said to us on the Day of Hudaybiyyah, 'you are the best people on the face of the earth,' and we numbered fourteen hundred and if I could see now I would show you the place under the Tree (where we gave our pledge of allegiance)." {7}

It was these people and those who followed them that Allaah promised the best reward.

The way of the Companions of the Prophet (SAW) was that they would worship Allaah Alone in the way they were commanded by their Prophet. Therefore the lawful was what he made to be lawful, the unlawful was what he prohibited and the religion comprised of only what he legislated. They prayed the five daily prayers at their correct times in congregation in the Mosques as they had been ordered to do so by Allaah. They fasted the month of Ramadan, they performed the Hajj to the Ancient House, they gave in zakaah, they enjoined the good and forbade the evil and they performed Jihad in the Way of Allaah. They worshiped Allaah through doing everything that their Prophet ordered them to do, they did not worship any save Allaah and they did not supplicate to anything else alongside Allaah - not anything in the heavens or the earth, not the Angels, the stars, the Prophets and those who resembled them most after them. Rather they knew that doing any of this was from associating partners with Allaah which Allaah and His Messenger had explicitly forbidden.

They did not supplicate to a created object, nor an Angel, or a Jinn, or a man be he a Prophet or other than a Prophet - neither at his grave nor in his absence. They did not seek help except with Allaah and they did not seek victory except with Allaah. They did not put their trust in anything other than Allaah and they did not supplicate to any created being be he absent or dead, neither did they seek succour and relief with him, they did not complain to him and they did not seek forgiveness, guidance or victory from him. Rather they sought all of this from Allaah Alone.

They did not do what the Christians used to do and seek intercession with the Angels or the Prophets and the righteous who have passed away at their graves or away from their graves. Not one of them called out saying, "O Jibreel, O Meekaa`eel intercede for me with Allaah," just as they did not say, "O Ibraaheem, O Musaa, O `Eesaa, intercede for me with Allaah," as was done by the Christians. Instead they knew that nothing is to be sought from the absent and the one who has died. They knew that the Angels do nothing except that which Allaah commanded them to do and they do not intercede except for the one with whom the Lord is Pleased. The same being true for the Prophets and the righteous. However it is possible to seek supplication or intercession from them during their lifetimes as the Companions used to so with the Prophet (SAW) and as the creation will seek intercession from him on the Day of Judgement. Abundant peace and blessings be upon him.

Taken From: Tawheed - A Great Principle