(Another aspect)

is his claim concerning a Seal of Allah’s close servants who will appear at the end of time, whom he considers superior to and ranks above all the close servants who preceded him, and whose standing among them will be like that of the Seal of the Prophets among the prophets. This is manifest misguidance. The best of Allah’s close servants in this nation are Abū Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, ‘Alī, and others like them among the earliest pioneers of the Emigrants and Helpers, as established by well-known scriptural texts.

The best generation is that of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as stated in the authentic hadith:

“The best of generations is my generation, among whom I was sent, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”

Al-Tirmidhī and others relate that he said concerning Abū Bakr and ‘Umar:

“These two are the leaders of the middle-aged men among the people of Paradise, from the earliest and the latest generations, except the prophets and messengers.”

Al-Tirmidhī said, “It is a good hadith.”

In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, it is related that ‘Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, was asked by his son, “Father, who is the best of people after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?” He replied, “My son, Abū Bakr.” His son asked, “Then who?” He replied, “Then ‘Umar.”

More than eighty people related from him that he said, “The best of this nation after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, then ‘Umar.”

This is an extensive subject. Allah Most High says:

“They will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favour: the prophets, the utterly truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.”

These four are the ranks of Allah’s servants: the highest are the prophets, then the utterly truthful, then the martyrs, then the righteous. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade any of us to regard himself as superior to Jonah son of Mattā—even though Allah says, “And do not be like the companion of the fish,” and, “While he was blameworthy”—thereby indicating that it is all the more fitting that no one regard himself as superior to the other prophets. For in Sahīh al-Bukhārī, it is related from Ibn