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Sunni doctrine accords high respect to the Sahaba, since it is believed they did their utmost to support the Islamic prophet Muhammad and to continue his work. Sunnis believe that Muhammad confirmed the high status of the Sahaba. Sunnis also value the Sahaba for their part in maintaining the narrations where Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah, or way of life, is described.
Sahaba who turned aside from Muhammad's teachings are excluded from this overall view. For example, some Muslims who reverted to paganism, Christianity or Judaism are not considered to be sahaba. Muslims who pretended to be believers but in practice opposed Prophet Muhammed are considered to be 'hypocrites' and are also not regarded as sahaba.
In short, Sunnis have a generally positive view of the Sahaba, even though they do not believe them to be infallible. Sunnis assume that the Sahaba had the best of intentions, even when they went to war with each other.
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The Sahaba are ranked second only to the immediate family of Muhammad, though there are various sub-rankings within the Sahaba themselves.
The concept of ranking is drawn from Qu'ranic verses:
The Ahl al-Bayt are usually ranked first in importance, followed by the ten Sahaba who were promised Paradise, and then the others.
The Ahl al Bayt are the family members of Muhammad, and are considered an entirely separate category. The category includes the wives of Muhammad, his progeny and their subsequent offspring, and his close relatives.
The Sahaba in this category are also ranked as follows:
Sunnis have a number of beliefs regarding the Sahaba.
Sunnis believe that the Sahaba were generally upright and truthful, although not infallible. Most Sunnis accept them in chains of narrations (isnad) unless they were proven to be liars or opposed to Prophet Muhammed.
Although Sunnis believe that there are differences in rank between the Sahaba, they assume that all are going to heaven unless they were opposed to Prophet Muhammed or were insincere in their faith.
Sunnis believe that ten Sahaba were granted paradise even as they lived.
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