“The path of those You have blessed”: “They are the family of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and Abū Bakr and Umar.” This is true, for his family, Abū Bakr, and Umar followed one and the same path, with no disagreement between them. Their mutual allegiance, his family’s praise of the two, and their fighting those whom the two fought and maintaining peace with those with whom they maintained peace are known throughout the Muslim community, among learned and ordinary people alike.

Zayd ibn Aslam «1» said: “Those whom Allah has blessed are the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—and Abū Bakr and Umar.” Undoubtedly, those blessed are his followers, while those who incur wrath are those who do not follow him. Those in the community who follow them most closely and are most obedient are his Companions and his household.

Among the Companions, those who followed him most closely were Abū Bakr and Umar, who were as his hearing and sight. Those in the community most opposed to these two are the Rāfidah. Their opposition to them is known to all the groups within the Muslim community. Hence they hate the Sunnah and its adherents and show hostility to both. They are enemies of his Sunnah—peace and blessings be upon him—and of his household.

And do his followers among their descendants have a fuller inheritance? Rather, they are his true heirs.

It has thus become clear that the straight path is the path of his Companions and followers, while the path of those who incur wrath and go astray is the path of the Rāfidah. This very same argument also refutes the Khawārij, whose hostility towards the Companions is well known.

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The underlying purpose of creation, divine command, revealed books, religious laws, reward, and punishment ultimately comes down to these two statements. Upon them revolve servitude to Allah and His oneness. It has even been said that Allah revealed one hundred books