Narrated It was narrated that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was neither short not tall; he had a large head and beard, large hands and feet, large joints, a reddish face, and a long line of hair from his chest to his navel. When he walked he walked energetically, as if lifting his feet from a rock. I have never seen anyone like him before or since, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him.
I thought that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) was the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)... and he quoted the hadeeth. I said: No by Allah, O Ameer al-Mu`mineen, I did not think that any of the Muslims after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was better than you. He said: Shall I not tell you of the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah? I said: Yes. He said: Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه). Then he said: Shall I not tell you of the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah and Abu Bakr? I said: Yes. He said: `Umar (رضي الله عنه).
Narrated It was narrated that Ibrahim an-Nakha`i said:
`Alqamah bin Qais struck this minbar and said: ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) addressed us from this minbar, he praised and glorified Allah, and said what Allah willed that he should say, and he said:The best of this ummah after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both. Then we got involved in events and Allah will decide concerning that.
