Are those Bedouin who became Muslim and some of them behaved badly towards the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) regarded as being among the Sahaabah?

Question

Praise be to Allah.

The Sahaabi is the one who saw the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) and was a believer in him, and died in that state of belief.

Imam al-Bukhaari (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his Saheeh
(3/1333): Whoever among the Muslims accompanied the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) or saw him is one of his companions. End quote.

So
everyone who meets this description is one of the Sahaabah, and it is not
permissible to impugn him or criticise him, because of the general meaning
of the words of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) according to the report narrated by al-Bukhaari (3673) and Muslim
(2451) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): “Do not revile my
companions, do not revile my companions. By the One in Whose hand is my
soul, if one of you were to spend the equivalent of Uhud in gold, it would
not amount to a mudd of one of them, or half of that.”

Secondly:

The Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them) vary in virtue and status.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Not equal
among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah)
(with those among you who did so later). Such are higher in degree than
those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all, Allah has promised the
best (reward)”

[al-Hadeed 57:10]

“And the
first to embrace Islam of the Muhajiroon (those who migrated from Makkah to
Al-Madinah) and the Ansaar (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave
aid to the Muhajiroon) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith).
Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has
prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell
therein forever. That is the supreme success”

[at-Tawbah 9:100].

And He said concerning those who became Muslim later on and did not attain
the same status as the earlier Muslims:

“And He has sent him (Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him)) also to others among them (Muslims) who have not yet
joined them (but they will come). And He (Allah) is the All-Mighty, the
All-Wise.

That is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He
wills”

[al-Jumu‘ah 65:3-4].

Thirdly:

Undoubtedly none of the senior Sahaabah and the earlier ones among the
Muhaajireen and Ansaar – foremost among whom were the ten who were given the
glad tidings of Paradise and those who were present at Bay‘at ar-Radwaan –
ever behaved badly towards the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him). Rather all the cases of behaviour that was not appropriate to the
status of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) – which
were few in number – only happened in the case of some people who were new
in Islam and in whose hearts faith had not yet taken firm root. Many of them
were people of the desert (Bedouins) and it is well-known that the desert
people were characteristically rough and harsh in their dealings with
others. Imam Ahmad (18619) narrated with an isnaad in which there is some
weakness that al-Bara’ said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever lives in the desert will become rough.”

But this conduct on their part does not mean that we should criticise or
impugn them, because they became good Muslims after that and accompanied the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) in the best manner, and
they strove in jihad with him. Hence Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allah and
the Last Day, and look upon what they spend in Allah’s Cause as approaches
to Allah, and a cause of receiving the Messengers invocations. Indeed these
(spendings in Allahs Cause) are an approach for them. Allah will admit them
to His Mercy. Certainly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[at-Tawbah 9:99].

Shaykh Ibn Sa‘di said: This verse indicates that the Bedouin were like the
townspeople: some of them were good and some of them were otherwise. Hence
Allah did not criticise them simply for being Bedouin and people of the
desert; rather He criticised them for neglecting the commands of Allah,
because they were likely to do that.

End quote from Tayseer al-Kareem ar-Rahmaan (394).

Many blameworthy actions were committed by either the hypocrites or by those
who were new in the faith, in whose hearts faith had not yet become fully
established.

Whatever the case, what you mention about hating them or reviling them and
the like is wrong, because some of the Bedouin believed in Allah and His
Messenger. Moreover there is no need for such attitudes at all, and it
creates mischief or exposes one to mischief, without serving any shar‘i
interest worth mentioning. It does not follow any command or instruction,
and it does not help one to attain any virtue.

For more information, please see the answers to questions no.
106419, 180550 and
131936

And Allah knows best.