ignorance, for Dhū al-Qarnayn lived in ancient times, long before this man, and was a Muslim who worshipped Allah alone and adhered to pure monotheism. Alexander lived about three hundred years before Christ, or thereabouts.

These remarks and others like them were made only to counter the contempt these people express for the followers of the prophets. As for the leading Arabs and others who followed the prophets—peace and blessings be upon them—including the eminent Companions, such as Abū Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthmān, 'Alī, Mu'ādh ibn Jabal, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, 'Abd Allāh ibn Mas'ūd, 'Abd Allāh ibn Salām, Salmān al-Fārisī, Abū al-Dardā', 'Abd Allāh ibn 'Abbās, and countless others whose number Allah Most High alone knows: has anyone ever heard, in earlier or later times, of any people after the prophets—peace and blessings be upon them—whose reason was sounder, whose minds were more accomplished, whose understanding was more accurate, or whose knowledge was better than theirs?

They were indeed as 'Abd Allāh ibn Mas'ūd described them:

“Whoever among you wishes to follow an example should follow those who have died, for the living are not safe from trials. Those were the Companions of Muhammad: the most righteous in heart of this nation, the deepest in knowledge, and the least pretentious. They were people whom Allah chose to accompany His Prophet and establish His religion. So recognize their due and hold fast to their guidance, for they followed the straight path.”

Heretics only hoped to discredit these men because of the ignorance of the people of religious innovation, such as the Rāfidah and the speculative theologians among the Mu'tazilah and their like.