Imaam Maalik bin Anas 179 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

السنة مثل سفينة نوح من ركبها نجا و من تخلف عنها هلك

“The Sunnah is like the Ark of Nuh. Whoever embarks upon it reaches salvation and whoever refuses is drowned.”

Quoted by Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah in Majmoo’ ul-fataawaa (4/57)