Qadi Iyad relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Recognition of the family of Muhammad is freedom from the Fire. Love of the family of Muhammad is crossing over Sirat. Friendship for the family of Muhammad is safety from the Fire."
One of the ulama said, "Recognition, in this case means recognizing their place in relation to the Prophet. Recognition of that brings with it recognition of the rights and respect that are due to them because of it."
Qadi Iyad also wrote, "Cursing the people of the Prophet's house, his wives and his Companions, and disparaging them is haram, and the one who does it is cursed.'
Abdullah ibn Mughaffal said that the Messenger of Allah said, "Allah, Allah, my Companions! Do not make them a target after me. Whoever loves them, it is by my love that he loves them. Whoever hates them, incurs my hate by doing so. Whoever harms them has harmed me. Whoever harms me has harmed Allah. Whoever harms Allah is about to b e seized." (At- Tirmidhi)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Do not curse my Companions. Whoever curses them, the curse of Allah and the angels and all people is on him. Allah will not accept any recompense or counterweight from him."
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Do not curse my Companions. A people will come at the end of time who will curse my Companions. Do not join them and do not join with them and do not marry with them and do not sit in their assemblies and if they are ill, do not visit them."
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Whoever curses my Companions, beat him."
Th Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reported that cursing and harming them harmed him. It is haram to harm the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He said, "Do not harm me in respect of A'isha." HE said about Fatima, "She is part of me. What harms her, harms me." The best known position with respect to speaking ill of the Companions is that adopted by the school of Malik.
Malik said, "Whoever reviles the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is killed. Whoever reviles his Companions should be disciplined."
Qadi Iyad also wrote: It is related from Malik that anyone who curses Abu Bakr is flogged whereas anyone who curses A'isha is killed. He was asked, "Why is that?" He said, "Whoever attacks her has opposed the Quran."
Ibn Shaban related this from Malik because Allah has said, "Allah wishes that you should never repeat the like of it again if you are believers." (24:18) ; so whoever does repeat the like of it has disbelieved.
Qadi Iyad also wrote: There are two positions regarding someone who curses one of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) other than A'isha. One position is that he is killed because he has cursed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) by cursing his wife. The other is that she is considered to be like the other Companions. He is flogged with the hadd for slander. Ibn Shaban takes the first position.
Abu Musab related from Malik that someone who curses someone who is connected to the House of the Prophet is given a painful beating and imprisoned for a long time until his repentance is clear because he has made light of what is due to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
And may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon the Prophet Muhammad, and on his family and on his Companions, and on all who follows him and them in what they are able with sincerity, until the Last Day. AMEEN!