I have heard that it is acceptable to quote weak hadiths regarding the virtues of good deeds. However, is it acceptable to use them as evidence for virtues of the Companions such as rewards for them in Paradise? I read this somewhere and wanted to know whether it is true.

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We have previously mentioned the conditions for acting upon the weak ahaadeeth regarding the virtues of good deeds in fatwas 41058 and 86128, and the details they include are sufficient to cover this point.

The Companions are in no need of weak hadeeth to prove their virtues or the rewards that Allah, the Exalted, has prepared for them in Paradise. This has been established in the Quran; Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhaajireen [emigrants] and the Ansaar [Muslim inhabitants of Madeenah] and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.} [Quran 9:100]

There are other verses as well as many authentic ahaadeeth which underline the virtues of individual Companions and their rewards in Paradise. Following are examples of those ahaadeeth, in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

- "How plentiful are the heavy date clusters that Abu Ad-Dahdaah has in Paradise!" [Muslim and Ahmad]

- "I saw myself (in a dream) entering Paradise and saw therein Ar-Rumaysaa', Abu Talhah's wife. I heard footsteps, so I asked, 'Who is it?' Someone said, 'It is Bilaal.' Then I saw a palace and a lady sitting in its courtyard. I inquired, 'Whose (palace) is this?' Someone said, 'It is for ʻUmar (ibn Al-Khattaab).' The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to ʻUmar, 'I wanted to enter it and see it (on the inside), but then I remembered your jealousy (over your womenfolk).' Thereupon, ʻUmar said, 'May my mother and father be ransomed for you, O Messenger of Allah, how could I possibly feel any jealousy towards you?'" [Al-Bukhaari]

There are many other authentic ahaadeeth in the same vein.

Allah knows best.