The Status of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in Creed and Jurisprudence

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you. What is your opinion of this statement: that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are like us in the Book and the Sunnah, and that we do not take your length in creed and practice, but rather we are only addressed by what is in the Book and the Sunnah? What is your opinion of this generalization, and is it in accordance with the methodology of the people of the Sunnah and the community or not?

Answer:
This is misguidance; this is a misguidance that exists. The Companions were the students of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and they carried the Shari'ah from him. They are the longest of the generations, and they are the role model after the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). They are the link between us and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: Follow them. Following them is guidance, and this is the religion. As for the one who opposes the Companions and belittles them, saying, "They were men, and we are men," this is due to his ignorance and misguidance. Either he is ignorant and does not know what he is saying without knowledge, and speaking about Allah without knowledge is greater than shirk (associating partners with Allah), or he is malicious; he has knowledge but is malicious and wants to belittle the Companions. This is the school of the Rafidah (the Twelver Shi'ah), may Allah curse them. Perhaps he has trampled some people on this path. The Companions have their status and their rank, and they are the best of the generations, and they are the role model because they took from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and conveyed this religion to us from them, so they are the role model. And following them is obligatory. As for the one who says, "I am independent and I do not return to the Companions," this is misguidance, and I seek refuge in Allah from that. Yes.