The Illustrious Sahaabah The Illustrious Sahaabah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)
From the very beginning of the life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Allah Ta‘ala protected and safeguarded him from all sins. Hence, throughout his life, prior to nubuwwah and after nubuwwah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) never committed any act of kufr or shirk, or any sin, be it a minor or major sin.
This was the condition of all the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) – that Allah Ta‘ala blessed them with His divine protection and security throughout their lives and saved them from kufr, shirk, or getting involved in any sin, be it minor or major.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) grew up in Makkah Mukarramah, in the midst of people who were idol worshippers. However, despite being raised in this environment, Allah Ta‘ala had safeguarded him and protected him from getting involved in idol worship. In fact, Allah Ta‘ala had instilled a strong aversion for idol worship and all forms of shirk in the blessed heart of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Being Saved from Shirk
It is reported from Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was once asked, “Did you ever worship an idol?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied in the negative. He was then asked, “Did you ever consume wine?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) again replied in the negative and remarked, “I regarded such deeds which the people were involved in to be kufr, even though I possessed no knowledge of the book of Allah and the details of Imaan at that stage.” (Sharhuz Zurqaani 9/57)
In another narration, Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports:
During the era of ignorance (the period prior to Islam), when the disbelievers would perform tawaaf of the Holy Ka’bah, they would pass their hands over the idols, Isaaf and Naa’ilah (the names of two idols kept near the Ka’bah).
Once, I accompanied Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in performing tawaaf of the Baytullah. As we passed these idols, I passed my hand over them, and Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) immediately forbade me from doing this.
I then thought to myself, “I will touch them again to see what Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) will say.” Hence, I passed my hand over them again. Seeing this, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) addressed me with sternness and said, “Did I not stop you from this?”
Hazrat Zaid bin Haarithah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said, “By Allah! From that day on, I never touched a single idol until the time when Allah Ta‘ala honoured Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with prophethood and revealed His divine speech upon him (i.e. I never touched an idol until the end of my life).” (Mustadrak Haakim #4956)
Allaamah Ibnu Hishaam (rahimahullah) mentioned, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) grew up in the condition that Allah Ta‘ala continued to protect him and safeguard him from all the filth of Jaahiliyyah (e.g. the shirk and kufr practices of Jaahiliyyah), as Allah Ta‘ala intended to bestow him with the greatest honour – the position of being the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala. As a result, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed by Allah Ta‘ala to be the most perfect human being (among the entire creation). He was the most virtuous of his people in dignity and honour, the best of them in character and conduct, the most noble in family lineage and the most sublime in showing kindness, and the greatest in tolerance, the most truthful in speech, the most trustworthy, and the most distant from evil and immoral actions which debase a person and cause him to lose his reputation and respect in society, so much so that he became known by the title “Al-Ameen” among his people, on account of the excellent qualities which Allah Ta‘ala had combined within him.” (Rowdh-ul-Unf 1/317)