True Followers of Allaah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) are The People of Insight & True Callers to Allaah

Imam Ibn Abil-'Izz Al-Hanafee (D. 792 H, rahimahullaah) said, in his book Ahameeya Ta'leem Usool Ad-Deen (The Importance of Learning The Fundamentals Of The Religion):

 

Allaah does not accept anything from the ancient or later generations to follow them that they may deem as religion unto Him unless it is in accordance with that which He has prescribed upon the tongues of His Messengers. 

Indeed, Allaah has declared Himself free from all that His slaves attribute to Him except for that which the Messengers attribute to Him. This is found in the saying of His, The Exalted:

 

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

 

Glorified is your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He is free) from what they attribute unto Him! (As-Saffat, ayah 180) 

وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ

And peace be on the Messengers! (As-Saffat, ayah 181) 

وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ 

 

And all the praise and thanks be to Allaah, Lord of the 'Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (As-Saffat, ayah 182) 

Thus, He has declared Himself free from all that the disbelievers have attributed to Him and then sent peace and blessings upon the Messengers because of the correctness and validity of that which they have attributed to Him - [and He] is totally free from all imperfections and faults - and then lauded Himself upon the qualities and attributes for which He deserves perfect praise which none possess except Him. 

Then the best of generations - who are the companions and their successors in goodness - who proceeded upon that which the Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was upon. The earlier from among them advised the later, and those who came afterwards took the example of those who preceded them. In all of this, they emulated their Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and trod upon his methodology. Just as He, The Exalted, has stated in His Mighty Book:

قُلْ هَذِه ِِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي 

 

Say (O Muhammad): "This is my way; I invite unto Allaah (i.e. Tawheed) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me...(Yusuf, ayah 108) 

If His saying:

 

أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي 

 

I and whosoever follows me 

Relates back to the pronoun in:

أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ 

I invite unto Allaah 

Then it is a clear proof citing that his [true] followers are the true callers to Allaah. As for if it relates to the separated pronoun [i.e. whosoever], then it clearly states that his [true] followers are the true people of knowledge and insight with regards to that which he has brought, besides all others, and both interpretations are correct. 

The Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has conveyed the clear message and clarified the proof for those who seek guidance. Conversely, the best of generations (the Salaf) also trod his path. 

Then, after them, came a later generation who followed their vain desires and split up, so Allaah established for this nation those who will safeguard for it [this nation] the foundations of its Religion, just as the Prophet (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) - the ever truthful one - has informed us of when he stated: 

There will not cease to be a group from my nation triumphant upon the truth. Those who forsake them will not harm them in the least. (Muslim (no. 1920), from the narration of Thawbaan, radiallaahu 'anhu).