44 — ‘Abdullāh narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us: Shu‘bah narrated to us, from al-Hakam, who said: I heard Abū Juhayfah say: I heard ‘Alī say:

“Shall I tell you who is the best of this community after its Prophet?”

They replied: “Yes.”

He said: “Abū Bakr.” Then he said: “Shall I tell you who is the best of this community after Abū Bakr?”

They replied: “Yes.”

He said: “‘Umar.” Then he said: “Shall I tell you who is the best of this community after ‘Umar?”

They replied: “Yes.” But he remained silent.