1797 — Al-Hasan ibn Uthman informed us. Ahmad informed us. He said: Bishr ibn Musa narrated to us. He said: Mu'awiyah narrated to us. He said: Abu Ishaq narrated to us. He said:

“I asked al-Awza'i, saying, ‘Do you hold that a man should testify concerning himself that he is a believer?’ He replied, ‘And who says that?’ I said, ‘Then what should he say?’ He replied, ‘He should say: “I hope so.” Yet they are Muslims: marriage to them is lawful, their slaughtered animals are lawful, and the prescribed legal punishments are carried out upon them. In our terminology, they are Muslims, but we do not know what Allah will do with them. And I do not testify to the salvation of anyone after the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.’”

It was said, “What then of the martyrs?” He replied, “The martyrs are in Paradise. But as for naming a particular individual and testifying that he is in Paradise after the prophets, then no.” He said: “It has reached us that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘Abu Bakr is in Paradise, and Umar ⦗1055⦘ is in Paradise.’” He said: “This and similar hadiths are true according to us.”