those who came before you, matching them feather for feather; even if they were to creep into a lizard’s burrow, you would follow them in.’

They asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and the Christians?’

He replied, ‘Who else?’

Both Ṣaḥīḥ collections also relate—on the authority of Abū Saʿīd (may Allah be pleased with him)—that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

‘My ummah will surely take the very path of the nations before it, handspan by handspan and arm’s-length by arm’s-length.’

They said, ‘Messenger of Allah, the Persians and the Romans?’

He answered, ‘Who are people if not they?’