This is widely transmitted from the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib. In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah relates that he said to his father, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib:

“Father, who is the best of people after the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace?”
He replied, “My son, do you not know?”
I said, “No.”
He replied, “Abū Bakr.”
I asked, “Then who?”
He replied, “‘Umar.”

This is narrated from ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib through some eighty chains of transmission, and it is reported that he used to say it from the pulpit in Kufa. Indeed, he said: “If anyone is brought before me who ranks me above Abū Bakr and ‘Umar, I will flog him with the prescribed punishment for a slanderer.” Thus, according to his statement—may Allah be pleased with him—anyone who ranks him above Abū Bakr and ‘Umar is to receive eighty lashes. Sufyān used to say: “Whoever ranks ‘Alī above Abū Bakr has disparaged the Emigrants. I do not think any deed of his ascends to Allah while he persists in that view.”

In al-Tirmidhī and elsewhere, this ranking in virtue is reported from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—who said:

“‘Alī, these two are the leaders of the mature men among the people of Paradise, from the first generations and the last, except for the prophets and messengers.”

It is widely reported in the two Sahīh collections and elsewhere, through several chains—from Abū Sa‘īd, Ibn ‘Abbās, Jundub ibn ‘Abd Allāh, Ibn al-Zubayr, and others—that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“If I were to take anyone on earth as an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend. But your companion is the intimate friend of Allah.”

By “your companion,” he meant himself. It is also reported in the Sahīh that he said from the pulpit:

“No one has been more generous to me in his companionship and wealth than Abū Bakr. If I were to take anyone on earth as an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend. But your companion is the intimate friend of Allah. Let every small doorway into the mosque be sealed, except the small doorway of