Hakim al-Umma Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

‘This is known from experience that the companionship of pious is the root cause of all religiosity.

The company of the pious is most superior from all the sources of achieving the reality, the sweet savoring and the majesty of religion.’

Hayyatul Muslimeen, via Uswa-e-Rasool-e-akram (صلى الله عليه و اله وسلم), page 207-8