Should modern Muslims take the "Salaf" as models, Rida argued, they would be rational, flexible, strong, and united. The first issues of al-Manar contained short articles devoted to the pious ancestors’ accomplishments, ranging from the successful politics of the rightly guided caliphs to the military exploits of 'Amr ibn al-'As (d. 671), the Muslim commander who led the conquest of Egypt. In that way, Rida followed in the footsteps of al-Afghani and Abduh, who had already invited Muslims to learn about the conduct of the pious ancestors and argued that whoever was familiar with the life of the salaf could not fail to see the virtues of reason and the possibility of adapting to changing conditions. All of these reformers believed that the pious ancestors defined and exemplified the full potential of Islam.