`Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and after Abu Bakr it is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), and if I wanted to tell you of the third one, I could do so.
Narrated Abu Juhaifah - whom `Ali used to call Wahb al-Khair - said:
‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said: O Abu Juhaifah, shall I not tell you of the best of this ummah after its Prophet ? I said: Yes indeed, He said: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and after Abu Bakr it is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), and after both of them there is a third one - but he did not name him.
My father was part of the police force of Ali (رضي الله عنه). He stood beneath the minbar and told me that he, meaning ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه), ascended the minbar and praised and glorified Allah and sent blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ), and he said: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and the second is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), And he said: Allah puts goodness wherever He wants.
Narrated It was narrated that Wahb as-Suwa`i said:
`Ali (رضي الله عنه) addressed us and said: Who is the best of this ummah after its Prophet ? I said: You, O Ameer al-Mu`mineen. He said: No, the best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, then `Umar (رضي الله عنهما), and it would not be far-fetched to suggest that tranquillity was uttered on the lips of `Umar (رضي الله عنه).
