It is also related from him that he would say:

“No one who gives me precedence over Abū Bakr and Umar shall be brought before me without my having him flogged with the punishment prescribed for a slanderer.” (1)

It is also reported in the Sunan that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Follow the two who come after me: Abū Bakr and Umar.” (2)

For this reason, one of the two scholarly opinions—and one of the two reports from Ahmad—is that when they agree, their opinion constitutes binding proof from which it is impermissible to depart. This is the more evident of the two opinions. Likewise, the more evident view is that the agreement of the four caliphs also constitutes binding proof that may not be contradicted, for the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—commanded that their Sunnah be followed.

Our Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was sent with the most just and perfect way. He was both ever-smiling and formidable in battle; he was the Prophet of mercy and the Prophet of battle. Indeed, his nation is described in these same terms, as in the saying of Allah, Exalted is He:

“Firm against the disbelievers and compassionate among themselves”

[Surah al-Fath: 29]

[and His saying, Exalted is He] (3):

“Humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers”

[Surah al-Mā’idah: 54].

Thus, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—combined the sternness of one with the gentleness of the other, commanding what was just (4). Both obeyed him, and so their actions were perfectly upright. Then, when Allah took His Prophet unto Himself and each of them in turn became caliph over the Muslims in a Prophetic caliphate, a mark of Abū Bakr’s consummate excellence—may Allah be pleased with him—was that (5) he would appoint