that he said: You are our master, the best of us, and the one among us dearest to Allah’s Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him.” (1).

Thus, these hadiths, which] * (2) (3) scholars have unanimously judged authentic and accepted, (3 and which no scholar has impugned (4), establish that Abū Bakr was dearer to him and held a higher standing with him than all other people 3) (5).

Accordingly, if the bond of brotherhood were below this rank, it would not conflict with these hadiths. If it were higher, however, these authentic hadiths would demonstrate the falsity of the hadiths concerning that bond of brotherhood—although we know that they are false even without this conflict.

The point, however, is that these authentic hadiths establish that Abū Bakr was dearer to Allah’s Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—than Alī and held a higher rank with him than Alī and every (6) other person. There is much corroborating evidence for this (7).

Eighty-odd people have narrated from Alī that he said:

“The best of this nation after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, and then Umar.”

Al-Bukhārī recorded this in the Sahih on the authority of Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—(8). This is precisely what befits Alī—may Allah be pleased with him—for he was among the Companions who best knew what was due to Abū Bakr and Umar, and among those who best understood their standing (9) in Islam and the beneficial impact they had upon the religion. Indeed, he wished to meet Allah with deeds like those of Umar—may Allah be pleased with them all.