The ten to whom Paradise was promised

Several different lists of names exist, but most of them contain the four Rashidun caliphs Abu Bakr (c. 573–634), Umar (c. 583–644), Uthman (c. 573/576–656), and Ali (c. 600–661), as well as the members of the committee (shūra) that elected Uthman as caliph, i.e., Talha (c. 593–656), Zubayr (born c. 592–602, died 656), Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf (c. 577–c. 652), and Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (born c. 600, died c. 670–678).

The version that became canonical from the 9th century on also lists Sa'id ibn Zayd (c. 600–670/671) and Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (c. 581–639). Sometimes Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud (died c. 652–654) was also reckoned among the ten. The earliest known version of the list, which may date to c. 724–743, contains the name of the first Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya (c. 600–680). Mu'awiya's place was occupied in later versions by Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, or in some other versions also by the prophet Muhammad himself.

According to the German Islamologist Josef van Ess, the tradition may be pro-Qurayshi or pro-Umayyad in origin, but was adopted by 9th-century Sunni hadith collectors as part of the then developing Sunni tradition, in which reverence for the companions of the prophet (Arabic: ṣaḥāba) held a special place. The collecting of yet other hadiths that heaped praise on these ten early Muslims, known by now as al-ʿashara al-mubashsharūn, developed into an independent Sunni genre by the 12th–13th century.

Despite the fact that Ali, the first and most important Shi'i Imam, also appeared on the list, the authenticity of the tradition was rejected by early Shi'i scholars. This is in line with the broader Shi'i rejection of the first three Rashidun caliphs as usurpers of Ali's rightful position, as well as of those companions who supported Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman against Ali.

Names

Although the term al-ʿashara al-mubashsharūn (sometimes also al-mubashshara, both meaning 'the ten to whom glad tidings were given') itself dates from a period after the 9th century, the list of ten as such already appears on an inscription made upon a plaster table which is thought to have belonged to the palace of Khalid al-Qasri, an Umayyad official who served as the governor of Iraq under Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik (r. 724–743). In this early version, the tenth person appearing on the list was Mu'awiya (c. 600–680), the first Umayyad caliph (r. 661–680). This is likely to be understood as an attempt to portray Mu'awiya, who in reality had been a relatively late follower of Muhammad, as one of the prophet's closest companions. However, this was not accepted by later tradition, where instead of Mu'awiya one finds either Muhammad himself, or the prominent early convert Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (c. 581–639).

Apart from this early Umayyad inscription, the list is mainly preserved in a number of 9th-century Sunni hadith collections, which contain a prophetic hadith that generally consisted of the phrase spoken by Muhammad "Ten will be in Paradise", followed by a list of companions. In versions of this hadith recorded by Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780–855) and Abu Dawud (817/818–889), the first name in the list is that of Muhammad himself, while in other versions as recorded by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Sa'd (c. 784–845), and al-Tirmidhi (825–892), Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah appears in Muhammad's stead.

There are eight names which are common to all versions of the list: the four Rashidun caliphs, and the members of the committee (shūra) appointed by Umar ibn al-Khattab at his deathbed which would go on to elect Uthman ibn Affan as the third caliph:

Rashidun caliphs:

• Abu Bakr (c. 573–634): first caliph, r. 632–634; one of the earliest converts; Muhammad's closest friend and most trusted advisor
• Umar ibn al-Khattab (born c. 583–593, died 644): second caliph, r. 634–644; relatively late convert, but fought at Badr and Uhud; played an important role in organizing an Islamic state in Medina
• Uthman ibn Affan (died 656): third caliph, r. 644–656
• Ali ibn Abi Talib (c. 600–661): fourth caliph, r. 656–661; one of the earliest converts; cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad

Members of the shūra that elected Uthman:

• Talha ibn Ubayd Allah (c. 593–656)
• Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (born c. 592–602, died 656)
• Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf (c. 577–c. 652): early convert; rich merchant; friend of Abu Bakr
• Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (born c. 600, died c. 670–678)

There is also one companion on the list who did not play any role of special significance in the early Muslim community, but who was held in high regard as one of the first persons to convert to Islam. Though he was not part of the shūra election committee (which consisted only of the most prominent members of the Quraysh), he also supported the election of Uthman:

• Sa'id ibn Zayd (c. 600–670/671)

The tenth named figure in the list was either Mu'awiya, or the prophet Muhammad, or Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah, an early convert who played an important role in the election of Abu Bakr as caliph, and who was considered by Umar as a possible successor:

• Mu'awiya (c. 600–680) / Muhammad (c. 570–632) / Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah (c. 581–639)

Sometimes, Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud (died c. 652–654), an early convert who had served as Muhammad's personal assistant in Medina, and who was well known for his knowledge of the Quran, was also reckoned among the ten.