I asked Imam al-Ridha (as) about what the Prophet (s) meant when he said, 'My companions are like the stars. Whichever one you follow will guide you.’ And I asked about what the Prophet (s) meant when he said, ‘Leave my companions to me.’ He replied, ‘This is authentic [but] 'companion' refers to those who didn't change themselves later nor what was said about the religion.’ I asked, ‘How do we know that some changed [their religion] or changed [the religion]?’ He said: That is because the Prophet (s) himself said, ‘Some of my companions will be forbidden from approaching my pool on the day of judgement, just as people push others' camels away from drinking water. I will say: O Lord! They are from my companions! My companions! I will be told, ‘Don’t you know what they did after you?’ They will be grabbed and directed to the left. They will be told, ‘This is due to the lies which you ascribed.’ [He added]: Are these not the ones who changed themselves or changed [the religion]?'.