What is the ruling on using the Companions as examples to advise people, such as a manager telling employees: "Deal with customers as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, dealt with the noble Companion Sawad during the Battle of Badr"?

It is an obligation to urge people to emulate the Prophet (peace be upon him) in his morals and acts of worship, for it is the path to the well-being of people in this world and the hereafter, as Allah Almighty says: "Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'" (Aal Imran: 31), and He Almighty says: "There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern" (Al-Ahzab: 21). This includes a manager urging his employees to enable people to claim their rights, emulating the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Likewise, urging people to emulate the noble Companions is permissible and is considered an indication towards good and enjoining what is right, as mentioned in His Almighty’s saying: "And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with excellence - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him" (At-Tawbah: 100).