Abdur-Rahman bin Amr as-Sulami narrated that he heard Irbadh bin Sariyah (may Allah be pleased with him) say:
“On one occasion, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) delivered such a deeply moving sermon that eyes shed tears and hearts trembled. We said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, this appears to be the counsel of one bidding farewell; therefore, grant us such guidance by which we may remain steadfast upon the straight path.’
“He replied:
قَالَ قَدْ تَرَكْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْبَيْضَاءِ لَيْلُهَا كَنَهَارِهَا لَا يَزِيغُ عَنْهَا بَعْدِي إِلَّا هَالِكٌ، وَمَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ، فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا، فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا عَرَفْتُمْ مِنْ سُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، وَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ، وَإِنْ عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، فَإِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُ كَالْجَمَلِ الْأَنِفِ حَيْثُمَا انْقِيدَ انْقَادَ .
‘I leave you upon a clear and radiant path—its night is like its day; none deviates from it except one who is ruined. And whoever from among you lives on will witness great disagreements. In such circumstances, you must hold fast to my well-established Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Khulafa. Make obedience your distinguishing mark, even if an Abyssinian slave is appointed over you as your leader. Hold firmly to this faith. The example of a believer is like that of a camel with a nose-rope: wherever it is led, it follows, and it becomes accustomed to obedience.’”
[Musnad Ahmad, Musnad ash-Shamiyyin, Hadith Irbadh bin Sariyah]
