Narrated It was narrated from al-Musayyab bin `Abd Khair, that his father said:
`Ali (رضي الله عنه) stood up and said: The best of this ummah; after its Prophet (ﷺ) is Abu Bakr, and ‘Umar, then we got involved in matters which Allah will judge as He wills.
‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said, when he finished with the people of Basrah: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and after Abu Bakr it is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), then we got involved in matters which Allah will judge as He wills.
Narrated It was narrated that ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه) said:
Shall I not tell you of the best of this ummah after its Prophet (ﷺ)? Abu Bakr, then the best of it after Abu Bakr is ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما), then Allah puts goodness wherever He wills.