“Those who came after them” refers to the third group that follows the first two—the Emigrants (muhājirūn) and the Helpers (anṣār) who had already settled in the Abode and embraced faith before them. Thus the community of Muhammad is divided into three categories: Emigrants, Helpers, and those who came after them. Allah combines all three in two Qur’anic passages. One is His statement: “The foremost, the first of the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them with excellence—Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.” The other occurs in Sūrat al-Ḥashr: “It is for the poor Emigrants who were driven from their homes and wealth, seeking bounty from Allah and His pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger; they are the truthful. And those who had already settled in the Abode and embraced faith before them love those who emigrated to them and harbor no desire in their breasts for what the others have been given; they prefer them over themselves even though they are in need. Whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul—it is they who will prosper. And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.’”

Therefore, if you see a person invoking mercy upon the Companions, seeking forgiveness for them, and loving them, know that he belongs to their company and will be raised with them. But if you see someone reviling the Companions, withholding mercy and forgiveness from them, they are free of him and he is free of them; he has no share in this ummah. The Companions are the conduit between us and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ—they conveyed Allah’s law from the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him—