[What the Righteous Predecessors Were Upon]

Come now to the religious practice of those who follow, the way of life of those who hold fast, and the path of those who came before—those who adhere to the Book of Allah and His sunnah, and proclaim His laws and His wisdom; those who said:

“‘Our Lord, we believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger, so write us among those who bear witness.’” [Āl ʿImrān: 53]

They shunned the path of those who deny Allah’s attributes and the oneness of the Lord of the worlds. They took the Book of Allah as their guide and its verses as the criterion; they set the truth plainly before their eyes, and made the sunnahs of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, their shield and weapon. They adopted its ways as a clear method and took it as proof. Thus they attained wisdom and were protected from the evil of whims and innovation, because they complied with Allah’s command to follow the Messenger and abandoned false disputation intended to undermine the truth.

[Encouragement to Follow and Take the Messenger as One’s Example]

Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says, urging the following of His religion, holding fast to His rope, and taking His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as an example:

“Hold firmly, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided. Remember Allah’s favor upon you: when you were enemies, He brought your hearts together, and by His favor you became brothers. You were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His verses clear to you, so that you may be rightly guided.” [Āl ʿImrān: 103]

And He says:

“Follow the best of what has been sent down to you from your Lord.” [al-Zumar: 55]

And the Exalted says:

“This is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other ways, lest they lead you away from His way. This is what He has enjoined upon you, so that you may be mindful of Him.” [al-Anʿām: 153]