and we affirm that the leader after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, and that Allah strengthened the religion through him and granted him victory over the apostates. The Muslims appointed him as their leader, just as the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had appointed him to lead the prayer. Then came Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, followed by Uthmān ibn Affān—may Allah brighten