And ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd—may Allah be pleased with him—used to say: “Whoever among you wishes to follow a path, let him follow the path of those who have passed away, for the living are never safe from temptation. They are the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ: the purest hearts in this community, the deepest in knowledge, and the least pretentious. They were a people whom Allah chose to accompany His Prophet ﷺ and to uphold His religion. So recognize their worth and hold fast to their guidance, for indeed they