in “the various subjects of fundamental religious doctrine,” and a group followed him in this. For the leading scholars of the Muslims—such as Mālik, Hammād ibn Zayd, al-Thawrī and others like them—spoke only of what the revealed message brought, wherein lie guidance and healing. Those who have no knowledge of the Muslims’ path substitute the teachings of these people for it. This is what causes religious innovations to emerge in every community: the ways of the messengers become obscured among them, and destruction ensues.

For this reason, they used to say: Holding firmly to the Sunnah is salvation. Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“The Sunnah is like Noah’s Ark: whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind perishes.”

This is true. Only those who believed the messengers and followed them boarded Noah’s Ark, while those who did not board it had rejected the messengers. Following the Sunnah means following the message that came from Allah. Thus, one who follows it is, inwardly and outwardly, like one who boarded the Ark with Noah. Whoever fails to follow the message is like one who failed to follow Noah, peace be upon him, and board the Ark with him.

Likewise, when a knowledgeable believer reflects on the various doctrines containing error and disbelief held by philosophers and other peoples, he finds that the Quran and Sunnah reveal their true condition, clarify whatever truth they contain, and distinguish their truth from their falsehood.

The Companions were the most knowledgeable of all people concerning this, just as they were the most steadfast in waging jihad against the disbelievers and hypocrites. As Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd said of them:

“Whoever among you wishes to follow an example should follow those who have died, for no living person can be considered safe from trials. Those were the Companions of Muhammad: their hearts were the most righteous in this community, their knowledge the deepest, and they were the least given to affectation—a people whom Allah chose