Shaykh al-Islām said:

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As for Abū Bakr and al-Khidr, their relative merit depends on whether al-Khidr was a prophet. Most scholars hold that he was not a prophet. This is the view adopted by Abū ‘Alī ibn Abī Mūsā and other scholars. On this view, Abū Bakr and ‘Umar are superior to him.

The second view is that he was a prophet. Abū al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzī and others adopted this view. On this view, he is superior to Abū Bakr. However, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and Jesus, son of Mary, are both superior to him by unanimous agreement. Muhammad is at the beginning of this nation, and Jesus at its end.