for Sufyān al-Thawrī and a group of scholars from Kufa considered ‘Alī superior to ‘Uthmān, though Sufyān and others later retracted that view. Some scholars of Medina withheld judgment concerning ‘Uthmān and ‘Alī; this is one of the two positions reported from Mālik. The other position reported from him, however, gives precedence to ‘Uthmān over ‘Alī, as do the other leading scholars, including al-Shāfi‘ī, Abū Hanīfa and his followers, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and his followers, and other leading scholars of Islam. Indeed, these scholars disagreed over whether someone who gave precedence to ‘Alī over ‘Uthmān should be regarded as an adherent of religious innovation. They held two views, both of which are reported from Ahmad.

Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and al-Dāraqutnī said: “Whoever gives precedence to ‘Alī over ‘Uthmān has disparaged the Emigrants and the Helpers.” This Ayyūb was the imam of Ahl al-Sunnah and of the people of Basra. Mālik narrated from him in al-Muwatta’, although Mālik did not narrate from the people of Iraq. It is reported that, when asked about narrating from him, Mālik said: “Everyone from whom I have narrated to you was inferior to Ayyūb.”

Abū Hanīfa mentioned him, saying: “I saw him sitting in the mosque of Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and whenever I recall him, my body shudders.”

The evidence for this is the report recorded by the two authors in their Sahīh collections and elsewhere:

{Ibn ‘Umar said: “During the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—we used to rank people according to merit. We would say: ‘Abū Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmān.’” Some versions add: “This would reach the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and he would not disapprove of it.”}

Furthermore, it is established through an authentic report in Sahīh al-Bukhārī and elsewhere that when the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, entrusted the choice of the caliph to consultation among six men: ‘Uthmān, ‘Alī