Tarikh (al-Tabari) 1846
The caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq ᴿᴬ
أَفْضَلُ الصَّحَابَةِ وَخَيْرُهُمْ أَجْمَعَ أَهْلُ السُّنَّةِ عَلَى أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ، ثُمَّ عَلِّيٌّ، ثُمَّ سَائِرُ الْعَشَرَةِ، ثُمَّ بَاقِي أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ، ثُمَّ بَاقِي أَهْلِ أُحُدٍ، ثُمَّ بَاقِي أَهْلُ الْبَيْعَةِ، ثُمَّ بَاقِي الصَّحَابَةِ، هَكَذَا حَكَى الْإِجْمَاعَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو مَنْصُورٍ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ. وَرَوَى الْبُخَارِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: (كُنَّا نُخَيِّرُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِي زَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَنُخَيِّرُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرَ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ ؓ. زَادَ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ فِي «الْكَبِيرِ»: (فَيَعْلَمُ بِذَلِكَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَلَا يُنْكِرُهُ). وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: (كُنَّا وَفِينَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نُفَضِّلُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرَ، وَعُثْمَانَ، وَعَلِيًّا). وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: (كُنَّا مُعَاشِرَ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ مُتَوَافِرُونَ - نَقُولُ: أَفْضَلُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ، ثُمَّ نَسْكُتُ). وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ عُمَرُ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ: يَا خَيْرَ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ - ﷺ، فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ.. فَلَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: «مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ عُمَرَ». وَأَخْرَجَ الْبُخَارِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي: أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ ؟ قَالَ: (أَبُو بَكْرٍ)، قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: ( عُمَرُ ) وَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقُولَ: عُثْمَانَ - قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ أَنْتَ؟ قَالَ: (مَا أَنَا إِلَّا رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ). وَأَخْرَجَ أَحْمَدُ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: (خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، قَالَ الذَّهَبِيُّ: (هَذَا مُتَوَاتِرٌ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، فَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ الرَّافِضَةَ مَا أَجْهَلَهُمْ). وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالْحَاكِمُ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ: (أَبُو بَكْرٍ سَيِّدُنَا وَخَيْرُنَا وَأَحَبُّنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ ). وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى: أَنَّ عُمَرَ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: (أَلَا إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَمَنْ قَالَ غَيْرَ هَذَا فَهُوَ مُفْتَرٍ، عَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَى الْمُفْتَرِي). وَأَخْرَجَ أَيْضًا عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى قَالَ: قَالَ عَلِيٌّ: (لَا يُفَضِّلُنِي أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ.. وَإِلَّا جَلَدْتُهُ حَدَّ الْمُفْتَرِي). وَعَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَلَا غَرَبَتْ عَلَى أَحَدٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ نَبِيٌّ». وَفِي لَفْظٍ: عَلَى أَحَدٍ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ». وَقَدْ وَرَدَ أَيْضًا مِنْ حَدِيثِ جَابِرٍ، وَلَفْظُهُ: « مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ أَفْضَلَ مِنْهُ ». وَعَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْأَكْوَعِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: « أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ نَبِيٌّ ». وَفِي «الْأَوْسَطِ» عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: « إِنَّ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ جِبْرِيلَ أَخْبَرَنِي: أَنَّ خَيْرَ أُمَّتِكَ بَعْدَكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ». وَأَخْرَجَ الشَّيْخَانِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِي قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ: « عَائِشَةُ »، قُلْتُ: مَنِ الرِّجَالُ؟ قَالَ: «أَبُوهَا»، قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: «ثُمَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ». وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَقِيقٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ: أَيُّ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ أَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ؟ قَالَتْ: (أَبُو بَكْرٍ)، قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَتْ: (ثُمَّ عُمَرُ)، قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَتْ: ( أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ ). وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ: « هَذَانِ سَيِّدَا كَهَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ، إِلَّا النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ ». وَعَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ قَالَ: (مَنْ فَضَّلَ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ... فَقَدْ أَزْرَى عَلَى الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ). عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ، أَنَّ] عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ، قَالَ: وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي فِي الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ أَرَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ. الأحاديث الواردة في فضله مقرونًا بعمر فَصْلٌ: فِي الْأَحَادِيثِ الْوَارِدَةِ فِي فَضْلِهِ مَقْرُونًا بِعُمَرَ، سِوَى مَا تَقَدَّمَ أَخْرَجَ الشَّيْخَانِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ قَالَ: (سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: بَيْنَا رَاعٍ فِي غَنَمِهِ... عَدَا عَلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ، فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا شَاةً، فَطَلَبَهُ الرَّاعِي، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَقَالَ: مَنْ لَهَا يَوْمَ السَّبُعِ، يَوْمَ لَا رَاعِيَ لَهَا غَيْرِي؟ ! وَبَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَسُوقُ بَقَرَةً قَدْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهَا، فَالْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ فَكَلَّمَتْهُ، فَقَالَتْ: إِنِّي لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا، وَلَكِنِّي خُلِقْتُ لِلْحَرْثِ». قَالَ النَّاسُ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ!! قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «فَإِنِّي أُؤْمِنُ بِذَلِكَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ»، وَمَا ثَمَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ)، أَيْ: لَمْ يَكُونَا فِي الْمَجْلِسِ، شَهِدَ لَهُمَا بِالْإِيمَانِ بِذَلِكَ، لِعِلْمِهِ بِكَمَالِ إِيمَانِهِمَا. وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا وَلَهُ وَزِيرَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ، وَوَزِيرَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ، أَمَّا وَزِيرَايَ مِنْ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ... فَجِبْرِيلُ وَمِيكَائِيلُ، وَأَمَّا وَزِيرَايَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ... فَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ». وَأَخْرَجَ أَصْحَابُ السُّنَنِ وَغَيْرُهُمْ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ...» وَذَكَرَ تَمَامَ الْعَشَرَةِ. وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: إِنَّ أَهْلَ الدَّرَجَاتِ الْعُلَا لَيَرَاهُمْ مَنْ تَحْتَهُمْ، كَمَا تَرَوْنَ النَّجْمَ الطَّالِعَ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاءِ، وَإِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَنْعَمَا». وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ: (أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يَخْرُجُ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَهُمْ جُلُوسٌ، فِيهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، وَلَا يَرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ بَصَرَهُ إِلَّا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، فَإِنَّهُمَا كَانَا يَنْظُرَانِ إِلَيْهِ وَيَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمَا، وَيَتَبَسَّمَانِ إِلَيْهِ وَيَتَبَسَّمُ إِلَيْهِمَا). وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالْحَاكِمُ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَرَجَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ فَدَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، أَحَدُهُمَا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ، وَالْآخَرُ عَنْ شِمَالِهِ، وَهُوَ آخِذٌ بِأَيْدِيهِمَا، وَقَالَ: «هَكَذَا نُبْعَثُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»،. وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالْحَاكِمُ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْأَرْضُ، ثُمَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ». وَأَخْرَجَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالْحَاكِمُ وَصَحَّحَهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَنْطَبٍ: أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ رَأَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَقَالَ: «هَذَانِ السَّمْعُ وَالْبَصَرُ». وَعَنْ أَبِي أَرْوَى الدَّوْسِيِّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، فَقَالَ: «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَيَّدَنِي بِكُمَا». وَعَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ آنِفًا، فَقُلْتُ: يَا جِبْرِيلُ، حَدِّثْنِي بِفَضَائِلِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، فَقَالَ: لَوْ حَدَّثْتُكَ بِفَضَائِلِ عُمَرَ مُنْذُ مَا لَبِثَ نُوحٌ فِي قَوْمِهِ... مَا نَفِدَتْ فَضَائِلُ عُمَرَ، وَإِنَّ عُمَرَ حَسَنَةٌ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ». وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غُنْمٍ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ: «لَوِ اجْتَمَعْتُمَا فِي مَشُورَةٍ... مَا خَالَفْتُكُمَا». وَأَخْرَجَهُ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ. وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ: مَنْ كَانَ يُفْتِي النَّاسَ فِي زَمَنِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ؟ فَقَالَ: (أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، لَا أَعْلَمُ غَيْرَهُمَا). وَأَخْرَجَ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ: ( كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ وَعَلِيٌّ يُفْتُونَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ). وَأَخْرَجَ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ؓ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ: « إِنَّ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ خَاصَّةً مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ، وَإِنَّ خَاصَّتِي مِنْ أَصْحَابِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ ». وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، زَوَّجَنِي ابْنَتَهُ، وَحَمَلَنِي إِلَى دَارِ الْهِجْرَةِ، وَأَعْتَقَ بِلَالًا، رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عُمَرَ، يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُرًّا، تَرَكَهُ الْحَقُّ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْ صَدِيقٍ، رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عُثْمَانَ، تَسْتَحِيهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ، رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَلِيًّا، اللَّهُمَّ أَدْرِ الْحَقَّ مَعَهُ حَيْثُ دَارَ». وَأَخْرَجَ الطَّبَرَانِيُّ عَنْ سَهْلٍ ؓ قَالَ: لَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مِنْ حِجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ.. صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ لَمْ يَسُؤْنِي قَطُّ، فَاعْرِفُوا لَهُ ذَلِكَ، أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، إِنِّي رَاضٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وَطَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرِ، وَسَعْدٍ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، وَالْمُهَاجِرِينَ الْأَوَّلِينَ، فَاعْرِفُوا ذَلِكَ لَهُمْ». وَأَخْرَجَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ فِي «زَوَائِدِ الزُّهْدِ» عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي حَازِمٍ قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، فَقَالَ: (مَا كَانَ مَنْزِلَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ؟ قَالَ: كَمَنْزِلَتِهِمَا مِنْهُ السَّاعَةَ). وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ بِسْطَامِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ: «لَا يَتَأَمَّرُ عَلَيْكُمَا أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي». وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ مَرْفُوعًا: حُبُّ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ إِيمَانٌ، وَبُغْضُهُمَا كُفْرٌ». وَأَخْرَجَ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: (حُبُّ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَمَعْرِفَتُهُمَا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ). وَأَخْرَجَ عَنْ أَنَسٍ مَرْفُوعًا: إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو لِأُمَّتِي فِي حُبِّهِمْ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ مَا أَرْجُو لَهُمْ فِي قَوْلِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ». خَصَائِصِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ ؓ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ قَالَ: (خَصَّ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ بِأَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ لَمْ يَخُصَّ بِهَا أَحَدًا مِنَ النَّاسِ: سَمَّاهُ الصَّدِيقَ وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ أَحَدًا الصِّدِّيقَ غَيْرَهُ، وَهُوَ صَاحِبُ الْغَارِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، وَرَفِيقُهُ فِي الْهِجْرَةِ، وَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ شُهُودٌ). وَأَخْرَجَ ابْنُ أَبِي دَاوُدَ فِي كِتَابِ «الْمَصَاحِفِ» عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ: (كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَسْمَعُ مُنَاجَاةَ جِبْرِيلَ لِلنَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَلَا يَرَاهُ). وَأَخْرَجَ الْحَاكِمُ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ قَالَ: (كَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَكَانَ الْوَزِيرِ، فَكَانَ يُشَاوِرُهُ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ، وَكَانَ ثَانِيَهُ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، وَثَانِيَهُ فِي الْغَارِ، وَثَانِيَهُ فِي الْعَرِيشِ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، وَثَانِيَهُ فِي الْقَبْرِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُقَدِّمُ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدًا).
Translation
✧ The most excellent of the Companions and the best of them The People of the Sunnah have unanimously agreed that the most excellent of people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān, then ʿAlī, then the rest of the ten (who were promised Paradise), then the rest of the people of Badr, then the rest of the people of Uḥud, then the rest of the people of the pledge, then the rest of the Companions. Thus did Abū Manṣūr al-Baghdādī relate the consensus regarding it. Al-Bukhārī narrated from Ibn ʿUmar who said: (We used to compare the people during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and we would deem Abū Bakr the best, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān ؓ. Al-Ṭabarānī added in "al-Kabīr": (Then the Prophet ﷺ would learn of that and not disapprove of it). Ibn ʿAsākir extracted from Ibn ʿUmar who said: (We, with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ among us, used to deem Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī superior). And from Abū Hurayrah who said: (We, the group of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while we were all present, used to say: The best of this community after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān, then we would remain silent). Al-Tirmidhī extracted from Jābir b. ʿAbd Allāh who said: ʿUmar said to Abū Bakr: O best of people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Abū Bakr said: Indeed, if you say that, I heard him say: "The sun has not risen upon a man better than ʿUmar." Al-Bukhārī extracted from Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib who said: I said to my father: Which of the people is best after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: (Abū Bakr). I said: Then who? He said: (ʿUmar). And I feared that he would say ʿUthmān, so I said: Then you? He said: (I am only a man among the Muslims). Aḥmad and others extracted from ʿAlī who said: (The best of this community after its Prophet is Abū Bakr and ʿUmar). Al-Dhahabī said: (This is mass-transmitted from ʿAlī, so may Allah curse the Rāfiḍah—how ignorant they are). Al-Tirmidhī and al-Ḥākim extracted from ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb who said: (Abū Bakr is our master, the best of us, and the most beloved of us to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ). Ibn ʿAsākir extracted from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abī Laylā: that ʿUmar ascended the pulpit and said: (Verily, the best of this community after its Prophet is Abū Bakr. Whoever says otherwise is a slanderer, and upon him is what is upon a slanderer). He also extracted from Ibn Abī Laylā who said: ʿAlī said: (No one shall prefer me over Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, otherwise I will flog him with the punishment of a slanderer). And from Abū al-Dardāʾ: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The sun has not risen nor set upon anyone more excellent than Abū Bakr, except that he be a prophet." In another wording: "Upon anyone after the prophets and messengers more excellent than Abū Bakr." It has also come in the ḥadīth of Jābir, with the wording: "The sun has not risen upon anyone among you more excellent than him." And from Salamah b. al-Akwaʿ who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq is the best of people, except that he be a prophet." And in "al-Awsaṭ" from Saʿd b. Zurārah who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed the Holy Spirit, Jibrīl, informed me that the best of your community after you is Abū Bakr." The two Shaykhs extracted from ʿAmr b. al-ʿĀṣ who said: I said: O Messenger of Allah, which of the people is most beloved to you? He said: "ʿĀʾishah." I said: Among the men? He said: "Her father." I said: Then who? He said: "Then ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb." And from ʿAbd Allāh b. Shaqīq who said: I said to ʿĀʾishah: Which of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was most beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? She said: (Abū Bakr). I said: Then who? She said: (Then ʿUmar). I said: Then who? She said: (Abū ʿUbaydah b. al-Jarrāḥ). Al-Tirmidhī and others extracted from Anas who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar: "These two are the masters of the elders of the people of Paradise, from the first and the last, except the prophets and messengers." And from ʿAmmār b. Yāsir who said: (Whoever prefers anyone over Abū Bakr and ʿUmar among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has belittled the Muhājirūn and the Anṣār). From al-Ḥasan b. Abī al-Ḥasan, that] ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb ؓ said: I would love to be in Paradise where I can see Abū Bakr ؓ. The ḥadīths concerning his virtue paired with ʿUmar A section: On the ḥadīths concerning his virtue paired with ʿUmar, other than what has preceded The two Shaykhs extracted from Abū Hurayrah ؓ who said: (I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: While a shepherd was tending his sheep, a wolf attacked them and took a ewe from them. The shepherd pursued it, and the wolf turned to him and said: Who will be for them on the day of the beast, a day when there will be no shepherd for them other than me?! And while a man was driving a cow that he had loaded, it turned to him and spoke to him, saying: I was not created for this; rather I was created for plowing." The people said: Glory be to Allah!! The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed I believe in that, and Abū Bakr and ʿUmar (do too)," and neither Abū Bakr nor ʿUmar was present, meaning: they were not in the gathering. He testified for them that they believed in that, because of his knowledge of the completeness of their faith. Al-Tirmidhī extracted from Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "There is no prophet but that he has two ministers from the people of heaven and two ministers from the people of earth. As for my two ministers from the people of heaven, they are Jibrīl and Mīkāʾīl. As for my two ministers from the people of earth, they are Abū Bakr and ʿUmar." The compilers of the Sunan and others extracted from Saʿīd b. Zayd who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: "Abū Bakr is in Paradise, ʿUmar is in Paradise, ʿUthmān is in Paradise, ʿAlī is in Paradise..." and he mentioned the rest of the ten. Al-Tirmidhī extracted from Abū Saʿīd who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed the people of the highest degrees are seen by those below them as you see the rising star in the horizon of the sky. Indeed Abū Bakr and ʿUmar are among them, and excellent they are." And from Anas: (That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would come out to his Companions among the Muhājirūn and the Anṣār while they were sitting, among them Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, and none of them would raise his gaze to him except Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, for they would look at him and he would look at them, and they would smile at him and he would smile at them). Al-Tirmidhī and al-Ḥākim extracted from Ibn ʿUmar: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out one day and entered the mosque, with Abū Bakr and ʿUmar—one of them on his right and the other on his left—while he was holding their hands, and he said: "Thus shall we be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection." Al-Tirmidhī and al-Ḥākim extracted from Ibn ʿUmar who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "I am the first from whom the earth will split open, then Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar." Al-Tirmidhī and al-Ḥākim extracted and authenticated from ʿAbd Allāh b. Ḥanṭab: that the Prophet ﷺ saw Abū Bakr and ʿUmar and said: "These two are the hearing and the sight." And from Abū Arwā al-Dawsī who said: I was with the Prophet ﷺ when Abū Bakr and ʿUmar approached, and he said: "Praise be to Allah who has strengthened me with you two." And from ʿAmmār b. Yāsir who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Jibrīl came to me just now, and I said: O Jibrīl, tell me about the virtues of ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb. He said: If I were to tell you of the virtues of ʿUmar from the time Nūḥ remained among his people, the virtues of ʿUmar would not be exhausted. Indeed ʿUmar is one of the good deeds of Abū Bakr." And from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Ghunm: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar: "If you two were to agree upon a matter of consultation, I would not differ from you two." And al-Ṭabarānī extracted it from the ḥadīth of al-Barāʾ b. ʿĀzib. Ibn Saʿd extracted from Ibn ʿUmar that he was asked: Who used to give legal verdicts to the people during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: (Abū Bakr and ʿUmar; I know of no others besides them). And he extracted from al-Qāsim b. Muḥammad who said: (Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī used to give legal verdicts during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ). Al-Ṭabarānī extracted from Ibn Masʿūd ؓ: that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed every prophet has a special close one from his community, and my special close ones among my Companions are Abū Bakr and ʿUmar." Ibn ʿAsākir extracted from ʿAlī who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "May Allah have mercy on Abū Bakr: he married his daughter to me, carried me to the abode of emigration, and freed Bilāl. May Allah have mercy on ʿUmar: he speaks the truth even if it is bitter; the truth has left him with no friend. May Allah have mercy on ʿUthmān: the angels are shy of him. May Allah have mercy on ʿAlī: O Allah, make the truth revolve with him wherever he turns." Al-Ṭabarānī extracted from Sahl ؓ who said: When the Prophet ﷺ returned from the Farewell Pilgrimage, he ascended the pulpit, praised Allah and extolled Him, then said: "O people, indeed Abū Bakr has never displeased me, so acknowledge that for him. O people, I am pleased with Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, ʿAlī, Ṭalḥah, al-Zubayr, Saʿd, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. ʿAwf, and the first Muhājirūn. Acknowledge that for them." ʿAbd Allāh b. Aḥmad extracted in "Zawāʾid al-Zuhd" from Ibn Abī Ḥāzim who said: A man came to ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn and said: (What was the status of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: Like their status with him now). Ibn Saʿd extracted from Bisṭām b. Muslim who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar: "No one shall assume command over you two after me." Ibn ʿAsākir extracted from Anas, as a marfūʿ ḥadīth: "Love of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar is faith, and hatred of them is disbelief." And he extracted from Ibn Masʿūd who said: (Love of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar and knowledge of them are part of the Sunnah). And he extracted from Anas, as a marfūʿ ḥadīth: "Indeed I hope for my community, in their love for Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, what I hope for them in the saying 'There is no deity but Allah.'" The distinguishing characteristics of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq ؓ From al-Shaʿbī who said: (Allah, Blessed and Exalted, distinguished Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq with four characteristics with which He did not distinguish anyone else among the people: He named him al-Ṣiddīq, and He did not name anyone else al-Ṣiddīq besides him; he was the companion of the cave with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and his companion in the emigration; and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered him to lead the prayer while the Muslims were witnesses). Ibn Abī Dāwūd extracted in the book "al-Maṣāḥif" from Abū Jaʿfar who said: (Abū Bakr would hear the private conversation of Jibrīl with the Prophet ﷺ but would not see him). Al-Ḥākim extracted from Ibn al-Musayyab who said: (Abū Bakr was to the Prophet ﷺ in the position of a minister, for he would consult him in all his affairs. He was his second in Islam, his second in the cave, his second in the arbor on the day of Badr, and his second in the grave. And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never gave precedence over him to anyone).
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