‘Uthmān bin Ḥakīm on befriending the one who’s more religious

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ الْأَوْدِيُّ رَحِمَهُ ‌اللهُ: اصْحَبْ مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكَ فِي الدِّينِ وَدُونَكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا

‘Uthmān bin Ḥakīm al-Awdī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) said:

“Befriend the one who is above you in religion and below you in worldly life.”