death came to Abū Bakr, he placed Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, in charge of it.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, then spoke about Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, mentioning his virtue and noble standing, his own pledge of allegiance to him, his approval of it, and his hearing and obeying him. We shall relate what he said about them all, Allah willing. Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, spoke the truth.

It is narrated from al-Hasan that he said: Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, put Abū Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, forward, and he led the people in prayer, even though he could see where I was. I was neither absent nor ill. Had he wished to put me forward, he would have done so. We therefore accepted for our worldly affairs the man whom the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had accepted for our religion.”

Abd Khayr narrated: I heard Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah honor his countenance—say, “Allah, Exalted is He, took His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to Himself in the best state in which any prophet had ever been taken.” He then spoke in praise of him and continued, “Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, then succeeded him and followed the conduct and sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Then Allah, Mighty and Majestic, took Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, to Himself in the best state in which He had ever taken anyone. He was the best of this nation after its Prophet. Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, then succeeded him and followed the conduct and sunnah of them both. He, too, was taken in the best state in which anyone had ever been taken. He was the best of this nation after its Prophet and after Abū Bakr.”

Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came first; Abū Bakr came second; and Umar came third.” That is, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was foremost in merit, Abū Bakr came second after him in merit, and Umar came third in merit