وَهُمُ الْخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُونَ وَالْأَئِمَّةُ الْمَهْدِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ قَضَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَكَانُوا بِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ
They are the Rightly Guided Caliphs and guided leaders, who judged with truth and acted justly by it.
Rāshidūn signifies sound guidance, while mahdiyyūn signifies leaders who have been guided. Their defining qualities are not merely holding office but judging rightly and administering justice.