I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) saying on the minbar: The best of this ummah after its Prophet are Abu Bakr and ʻUmar, and if l wanted to name the third one, I would name him. A man said to Abu lshaq: They are saying that you say they were the best in evil. He said: Are you a Haroori (i.e.Khariji)?`
I heard ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) say: Allah took His Prophet in the best way any Prophet was ever taken, then Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was appointed as his successor and he did what the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had done and followed the Sunnah of his Prophet, and `Umar (رضي الله عنه) was appointed and did likewise.
Narrated It was narrated that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) instructed us to check the eyes and ears, and not to sacrifice any animal whose ears are slit in two lengthwise, any animal that has a round hole in its ear as a distinguishing mark, any animal that has the edge of its ears cut, or any animal whose ears were slit from the back.