2454 – Ahmad ibn ʿUbayd said: Ahmad ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Buḥayr narrated to us; Hilal ibn al-ʿAlaʾ narrated to us; he said: my father narrated to us; he said: ʿIsa ibn Yunus narrated to us, from ʿUmar ibn Saʿid ibn Abi Ḥusayn, from ʿAbd Allah ibn Abi Mulaykah, from Ibn ʿAbbas, who said:

“I was with some people invoking Allah’s mercy for ʿUmar when he had been laid upon his bier. A man approached from behind me, placed his hand on my shoulder, prayed for mercy upon him, and said, ‘There is no one whose deeds I would rather meet Allah with than his. I am sure Allah will place you with your two companions, for I often heard the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—say, “I and Abu Bakr and ʿUmar were…,” and, “I and Abu Bakr and ʿUmar did….” Therefore I believe Allah will join you to them.’ When I turned, I saw that it was ʿAli ibn Abi Talib.”

Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.