1821 — Abū Bakr ibn Abī Dāwūd informed us. He said: Muhammad ibn Awf narrated to us. He said: Abū Nuaym narrated to us. He said: Sharīk narrated to us, from al-Aswad ibn Qays, from Amr ibn Qays, who said: Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—came first, Abū Bakr came second, and Umar came third.” That is, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—came first in virtue; Abū Bakr ranked second after him in virtue; and Umar ranked third after Abū Bakr in virtue. May Allah be pleased with them all.