Narrator:Abdullah ibn Mas‘ūd
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 Mas'ud said, ‘If anyone follows someone’s custom let him follow the custom of one who is dead, for one cannot be sure of the living not being led astray. Those to follow are Muhammad’s Companions who were the most excellent among the people, purest in heart, most profound in knowledge, most unassuming, whom God chose for companionship with His Prophet and to establish His religion. So recognise their excellence, follow their traces, and hold as fast as you can to their character and way of life, for they followed right guidance.” Razin transmitted it.
Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 193).