Which one is correct to say ‘Haq Chaar Yaar’ or ‘Haq Sab Yaar’ in response to the slogan ‘Nara e Tahqeeq’? Or are they both correct? What is the history of this slogan?
A brief answer to the posed question would be that the correct and most preferred answer to the slogan ‘Nara e Tahqeeq’ is ‘Haq Chaar Yaar’. The reason being is that in this answer the truthfulness of the four greatest Companions of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) are mentioned. These four are Abu Bakr As Siddeeq, Umar Al Farooq, Uthman Dhunnurayn and Ali al Murtadha (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين).
The purpose of this slogan is to eliminate two major diseases and beliefs which are found in the Rawafidh and the Khawarij. The first belief is of the Rawafidh which is the rejection of the rank and status of the first three greatest Companions; Abu Bakr As Siddeeq, Umar Al Farooq and Uthman Dhunnurayn (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين). And the second belief of the Khawarij which try to demote the status of Ali Al Murtadha and the Ahlul Bayt (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين). By giving the answer ‘Haq Chaar Yaar’, there is no doubt the proclaimant of this slogan is free from the two diseases mentioned above (Rawafidhism & Khawarijism), as they openly believe in the rank of all four Companions; holding them all to be true and rightly guided.
It has been the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah (people of the Sunnah) for centuries that the greatest personalities to step foot on this earth after the Anbiya (Prophets) are these four great Companions; who are being indirectly mentioned in this slogan (chaar yaar – four friends). This is mentioned in Fiqh ul Akbar of Imam ul Azam Abu Hanifa, Al Aqeeda of Imam Abu J’afar Al Tahawi, Sharh Aqaaid of Imam Saad al-Din al-Taftazani, Kashf ul Mahjoob of Hazoor Data Sahib Ali Hujweri and in Al Ghunyatu Talibeen of Hazoor Ghaus ul Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Al Jilaani (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين).
It is clear for everyone to see, that the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah has always been that the all of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) are truthful but the rank that these four are different to all others and no one amongst the Companions can reach the rank that these four have attained. No one should be under the assumption that by specifying these four the other Companions are being rejected. This is just a false accusation made to try and give a bad taste to some people who may be on the fence.
The well known verse of the Holy Qur’an, chapter 48 verse 29, in which Allah the Almighty says:
“Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) is the Noble Messenger of Allah; and thus those who are with him are stern with the disbelievers and merciful among themselves – you will see them bowing and falling in prostration, seeking Allah’s magnificence and His pleasure”
In the Tafseer of this verse the Imam of the Mufassireen Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) states in his explanation:
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُودِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مَثَلُهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ ۚ وَمَثَلُهُمْ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ كَزَرْعٍ أَخْرَجَ شَطْأَهُ فَآزَرَهُ فَاسْتَغْلَظَ فَاسْتَوَىٰ عَلَىٰ سُوقِهِ يُعْجِبُ الزُّرَّاعَ لِيَغِيظَ بِهِمُ الْكُفَّارَ ۗ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْهُمْ مَغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) is the Noble Messenger of Allah; and those who are with him i.e. Abu Bakr (stern with the disbelievers), Umar ibn al Khattab (merciful amongst themselves), Uthman Ibn Affan (you will see them bowing and falling in prostration), Ali ibn Abi Talib (seeking Allah’s magnificence and His pleasure)”
[Tafseer Ibn Abbas, chapter 48 verse 29]
We can learn from the above verse that this refers to all Companions of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) because in the verse above the term وَالَّذِينَ is plural which refers to all those who accompany the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم). Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) selects the four Companions to make clear that although all the Companions have these qualities; the leaders and greatest amongst all the Companions are the chaar yaar (four friends).
There are certain narrations in which the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) mentioned these four Companions specifically and had not mentioned the other Companions, singling out these shows that the rank of these four are different to the rest.
On the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) said:
“O Allah have mercy upon Abu Bakr, for he freed Bilal, accompanied me in migration and married his daughter Aisha to me, O Allah have mercy upon Umar for he speaks the truth no matter how sour it may be, O Allah have mercy upon Uthman for even the Angels show humility infront of him, O Allah have mercy upon Ali for where ever he is truth is with him”
[Jam’i Tirmidhi]
In the above narration we clearly see that these four illustrious Companions have been singled out. By no means does that imply that Allah does not have mercy upon the rest of the Companions but this shows that the mercy and blessings Allah has on these is greater.
On the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) said:
“Allah has chosen my Companions amongst all men and amongst them, Allah has chosen four for me; Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين).”
[al-Shifa’ fi Ma`rifa Huquq al-Mustafa, Qadi Iyad]
In this narration the issue becomes even clearer and highlights the belief of the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’at. We regard all Companions to be of great status and rank but the greatest amongst them are the ones whom Allah has chosen to accompany His Beloved (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) and they are them four which are mentioned in the slogan Haq Chaar Yaar.
On the authority of Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه), the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) said:
“The love of these four Companions of mine will never unite in the heart of a munaafiq (hypocrite) but the love of these four will only unite in the heart of a Believer, and these four are Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (رضي الله عنهم أجمعين).”
[Kanz al-‘Ummāl, Vol 11]
The above narration is an indication that those who chant the slogan of Haq Chaar Yaar indeed have love for these four Companions and hold Imaan (faith) in their heart and as for those who like detest this slogan; we can clearly see under what category they may fall.
To conclude, it has been made clear that the correct reply to Nara e Tahqeeq is Haq Chaar yaar, however if someone wants to reply with Haq Sab Yaar he is most welcome to do so. However he should not attempt to negate or reject the greatness of the great four by saying ‘Haq Chaar Yaar is an incorrect reply’ because he then falls in to a dangerous trap.
By no means does the mentioning of four negate the rest of the Companions. The famous narration of Sahih al Bukhari Shareef of the Ashra e Mubashira in which ten companions were given the guarantee of Paradise in this world. By mentioning 10 does that mean that good news for Paradise does not apply to the rest? Indeed not but these ten are the greatest amongst the rest that’s why they were singled out specifically. And just like this amongst all the Rasul there are the U’lul Azam Rusul which are four. Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) Prophet Ibraheem (عليه السلام), Prophet Isa (عليه السلام) and the Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم). They are the greatest amongst all Rusul [Messengers]. But that does not mean the rest are negated.
Out of all the uncountable Angels only four which are most frequently mentioned: Jibra’eel, Izra’eel, Isra’feel and Mika’eel (عليهم السلام), does that mean the rest are denied? Out of all the 313 divine revelations of Allah only four are mentioned frequently does that mean the rest are negated? Indeed not, so why therefore should this apply to when these four great companions are mentioned? This is just a technique of those who have a colour of the Rawafidh in them and because of their dislike the greatness of the first three companions they tell others to say ‘Haq Sab Yaar – All friends are truthful’. According to the Shia, amongst all the Companions approximately a handful only remained Muslim (ref: Majalis ul Mu’mineen) so for them to say ‘Sab Yaar’ would only refer to the ones they regard as Muslim. Therefore the most appropriate answer is HAQ CHAAR YAAR which is the slogan of our Awliyah.
As Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi (رحمة الله عليه) states :
“MOONASE AHMED BA MAJLIS CHAAR YAAR” – If you want find Ahmed (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) you will find him in the company of the four friends.
Khawaja Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakr’s (رحمة الله عليه) famous slogan:
“ALLAH, MUHAMMAD, CHAAR YAAR (FOUR FRIENDS), HAJI, KHAWAJA, QUTB, FARID ” –
And to finish with the words of the Imam of the Ahlus Sunnah al Imam Ahmed Rida Khan (رحمة الله عليه):
“JINNA BANEYGI MUHIBBAANE CHAAR YAAR KI QABAR” – The grave will become like heaven for the lover of the four friends.
SubhanAllah indeed our slogan is the same as our Awliyah from centuries ago, may Allah give us all the love of all the companions and a special place in our heart for the chosen four.
wa ma ‘alayna illal balaghul mubeen
Answered by Mawlana Mohammad Nabeel Afzal
