Mishkat al-Masabih
Mishkat al-Masabih 193
وَعَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: مَنْ كَانَ مُسْتَنًّا فليستنًّ بِمَنْ قَدْ مَاتَ فَإِنَّ الْحَيَّ لَا تُؤْمَنُ عَلَيْهِ الْفِتْنَةُ. أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانُوا أَفْضَلَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ أَبَرَّهَا قُلُوبًا وَأَعْمَقَهَا عِلْمًا وَأَقَلَّهَا تَكَلُّفًا اخْتَارَهُمُ اللَّهُ لِصُحْبَةِ نَبِيِّهِ وَلِإِقَامَةِ دِينِهِ فَاعْرِفُوا لَهُمْ فَضْلَهُمْ وَاتَّبِعُوهُمْ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ وَتَمَسَّكُوا بِمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِهِمْ وَسِيَرِهِمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْهَدْيِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ. رَوَاهُ رزين
Ibn Masʿūd said: ‘Whoever would follow an example should follow those who have passed away, for the living are not safe from trial. Those were the Companions of Muḥammad: the best of this community, with the purest hearts, the deepest knowledge, and the least affectation. God chose them to accompany His Prophet and establish His religion. So recognize their merit, follow their way, and hold fast as much as you can to their character and conduct, for they followed the straight guidance.’ Razīn transmitted it.