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As for ranking the “Ahl al-Suffa (people of the sheltered platform)” above the Ten and others, this is error and misguidance. Rather, the best of this community after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, followed by Umar, as has been reported through mass transmission from the Commander of the Faithful, Alī ibn Abī Tālib, both as his own statement and as reports traced back to the Prophet. This is also established by the Quran and Sunnah and is agreed upon by the community’s early generations and the leading scholars of knowledge and the Sunnah. After them come Uthmān and Alī. The same applies to the other members of the consultative council, such as Talha, al-Zubayr, Saʿd, and Abd al-Rahmān ibn Awf. These men, together with Abū Ubayda ibn al-Jarrāh—the trustworthy one of this community—and Saʿīd ibn Zayd, are the Ten who were promised Paradise.

Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says in His Book:

“Those of you who spent and fought before the victory are not equal to those who did so afterwards. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Yet Allah has promised them all the finest reward.”

Thus, Allah gave precedence to those who were foremost in striving with their wealth and their lives before the victory at al-Hudaybiyya over those who followed them afterwards. Allah Most High also says:

“Allah was certainly pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree.”

And He Most High says:

“The earliest forerunners among the Emigrants and the Helpers, and those who followed them in excellence—Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him.”

Thus Allah, glorified is He, was pleased with the earliest forerunners among the Emigrants and the Helpers.