دُرُوسٌ لِلْيَوْمِ وَخُلَاصَةُ الدَّرْسِ

The Companions were often young Many Companions were your age, or barely older, when they accomplished great things. • Zayd ibn Thaabit was a young man when Abu Bakr entrusted him with the mission of gathering the Qur'an. Abu Bakr said to him: "You are an intelligent young man, we have nothing against you, and you used to write down the revelation for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ" (Bukhari 4986). • Usaama ibn Zayd was appointed by the Prophet ﷺ to lead an army while he was very young; when some criticised him, the Prophet ﷺ defended him and said that he was worthy of this command (Bukhari 4469) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et âge, souvent dit dix-huit ans]. • You have also seen 'Ali, Muṣ'ab, Ibn Mas'uud and Ibn 'Abbaas (lessons 4, 7 and 8). The Qur'an tells the story of other young people, those of the Cave: "They were young people who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance" (meaning of 18:13, text below).

The young person who grows up in worship Among the seven whom Allah will shade in His shade on the day when there is no shade but His, the Prophet ﷺ mentions: "a young person who grew up in the worship of Allah" (Bukhari 660, Muslim 1031). Your youth is not a "before" real life: it is already the time when one builds something beautiful for Allah.

Choosing your friends Abu Bakr was the friend who brings you closer to Allah (lesson 2). The Prophet ﷺ said: "The good companion and the bad companion are like the seller of musk and the blacksmith: the seller of musk either gives you some, or you buy some from him, or you smell a pleasant scent from him; the blacksmith either burns your clothes, or you smell a foul smell from him" (Bukhari 5534, Muslim 2628). He also said: "A man follows the religion of his close friend; so let each of you look at whom he takes as a friend" (Abu Daawuud 4833, At-Tirmidhi 2378) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros et degré].

Ten lessons from the Companions for your life 1. Believe with certainty and stay faithful (Abu Bakr). 2. Put your strength in the service of justice ('Umar). 3. Be modest and generous, online too ('Uthmaan). 4. Love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and love knowledge ('Ali). 5. Support those you love in difficult moments (Khadiija). 6. Learn and pass on ('Aa'isha). 7. Look for strength in dhikr (Faaṭima). 8. Stay firm under pressure and reject racism (Bilaal, Sumayya). 9. Prefer sincerity to appearance, and speak about Islam gently (Muṣ'ab). 10. Start learning young, ask questions and serve (Ibn Mas'uud, Ibn 'Abbaas).

The course on one page • The Companions: those who met the Prophet ﷺ while believing in him and died as Muslims; "Allah is pleased with them" (9:100); "the best of people are my generation" (Bukhari 2652, Muslim 2533) (lesson 1). • The four rightly guided caliphs: Abu Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddiiq, 'Umar al-Faaruuq, 'Uthmaan Dhu n-Nuurayn, 'Ali Abu Turaab (lessons 2 to 4). • Khadiija, 'Aa'isha and Faaṭima: faith, knowledge, love (lesson 5). • Bilaal and Sumayya: steadfastness under trial and equality before Allah (lesson 6). • Muṣ'ab: leaving everything for Allah and calling gently (lesson 7). • Ibn Mas'uud and Ibn 'Abbaas: young scholars (lesson 8). • Ahl as-Sunna: loving all the Companions and the Prophet's ﷺ family, not insulting them, praying for them (59:10) (lesson 9).

A plan to continue • One Companion a month: read his or her story (with your imam or a book he recommends), remember a hadith he or she reported or that speaks of him or her, and choose a quality to imitate. • Regularly make the supplication of 59:10 for the Companions. • Tell a Companion's story to someone younger than you: explaining is learning twice.

Questions to ask the imam • Which books on the lives of the Companions does the centre recommend for teens? • How does the centre wish the disagreements between Companions to be presented (lesson 9)? • Which other Companions (men and women) would be good to study next?

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The aim of this course was not to make you recite dates, but to help you meet people. The Companions are not far from you: many were young, they had fears, difficulties, friends and families, and they chose Allah. The youths of the Cave (18:13) and the young person who grows up in worship (Bukhari 660, Muslim 1031) show that Allah particularly loves the faith of the young: it is the age when one chooses who one wants to become. Choosing friends is one of the most important choices of this age. The seller of musk and the blacksmith show that a friend transforms us, often without our realising it. Finally, loving the Companions means wanting to resemble them. "You will be with those you love" (lesson 1): true love shows in everyday choices.

Lessons to draw from it • Choose this very week the first Companion of your "one Companion a month" plan. • Look honestly at your friendships: which ones bring you closer to Allah? • Take on a responsibility that suits you: helping at the mosque, helping someone younger to learn. • Reread the "ten lessons from the Companions" once a month and choose one to live by. • Write down your questions and put them to the imam.

Key points to remember • Zayd ibn Thaabit, while young, gathers the Qur'an (Bukhari 4986); Usaama, while young, commands an army. • 18:13: "young people who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance". • "A young person who grew up in the worship of Allah" (Bukhari 660, Muslim 1031). • The seller of musk and the blacksmith (Bukhari 5534, Muslim 2628). • Loving the Companions means wanting to resemble them: one Companion a month.

The main message The Companions showed that Islam can be lived fully at any age: love them, choose good friends and walk in their footsteps, one step after another.

The text: Surah Al-Kahf (18), verse 13 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 18:13]

Meaning: "We relate to you their story in truth: they were young people who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance." The verse speaks of the youths of the Cave, who kept their faith despite the pressure of their people: a model that the young Companions lived out in their turn.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.