their utmost in seeking the truth. Their sound judgments and faithful adherence may far outweigh such errors, as occurred with some of the Companions in matters of divorce, inheritance, and the like. Nothing of this kind occurred among them in clear and weighty matters, because the Messenger’s explanation of these matters was evident among them; none would contradict it unless he opposed the Messenger. They held fast to the rope of Allah, referred their disputes to the Messenger for judgment, and did not presume to act ahead of Allah and His Messenger, let alone deliberately oppose Allah and His Messenger.

As time passed, much that had been evident to them became obscure to many people, and much that had been clear to them became difficult for many to discern. Thus, departures from the Quran and Sunnah became far more common among later generations than they had been among the early Muslims, even though those responsible may have been exercising independent reasoning and been excused, with Allah forgiving their errors and rewarding their efforts.

They may also perform good deeds for which one of them receives the reward of fifty men performing those deeds in that earlier time. This is because the earlier Muslims found others to help them, whereas these later Muslims found no one to help them. However, receiving multiplied rewards for certain deeds, when the Companions did not receive the same multiplication, does not necessarily make them superior to the Companions, nor does a distinguished person among them equal a distinguished Companion. For the Companions’ precedence in faith and jihad, in opposing the people of the earth out of loyalty to the Messenger, and in believing him