The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles (before me) is that of a person who constructed a building and he built it fine and well and the people went round it saying: Never have we seen a building more imposing than this. but for one brick, and I am that brick (with which you give the finishing touch to the building). (Using translation from Muslim 2286a)

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ ابْتَنَى بُنْيَانًا فَأَحْسَنَهُ وَأَكْمَلَهُ إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ لَبِنَةٍ مِنْ زَاوِيَةٍ مِنْ زَوَايَاهُ فَجَعَلَ النَّاسُ يُطِيفُونَ بِهِ وَيَعْجَبُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُونَ مَا رَأَيْنَا بُنْيَانًا أَحْسَنَ مِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا مَوْضِعَ هَذِهِ اللَّبِنَةِ فَكُنْتُ أَنَا تِلْكَ اللَّبِنَةَ