HAZRAT ABU BAKR رضي الله عنه
Naam Aur Nasab :
(Al Istiyab Fi Marifat E Sahaba, Vol : 03, Pg : 315)
(Imam Abu Al Abbas Mohideen, Riyaz An Nazara, Vol : 01, Pg :77) 03) Atiq : “Imam Ibn Ishaq Rahmatullah Alaih Farmate ye naam Aapke Walid ne rakha tha, Hazrat Moosa Ibn Talha Radiallahu Anhu Farmate hai ye Naam Aapki Walida Ne Rakha”
(Imam Abu Al Abbas Mohideen, Riyaz An Nazara, Vol : 01, Pg :77)
(Imam Ibn Hibban Sahih, Vol : 05, Pg : 279, #6864)
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadraq, Vol :02, Pg : 450, #3557)
“Hazrat Ayesha Radiallahu Anha Se Marwi Hai Jab Nabi ﷺ Ki Meraj Huwi Makkah Kay Kaafir Hazrat Abu Baqr Kay paas pahuche aur kahne lage kya aap is baat ki tasdeeq karte hai jo Aapke Dost Yaani Nabi ﷺ Ne ki hai kay Masjid E Haram Se Masjid E Aqsa ki sair ki,
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique Radiallahu Anhu Ne Farmaya Kya Aap ﷺ Ne Sach Me Aisa kaha hai Unhone Kaha Haan, Farmaya Phir Haan Mai Tasdeeq Karta hoon,
Makkah kay Kuffaro Ne kaha Kya Aap Sach me yakin rakhte hai kay Masjid E Haram se Masjid E Aqsa Ka Safar raato raat tay karke aagye ? Hazrat Abu Baqr Radiallahu Anhu ne Kaha Mai to Aapki Aasmano ki khabro ki bhi Subah Sham Tasdeeq Karta hoon Jo is se bhi zyada hairan kun baat hai,” Bas is waqaye kay baad Se Aap Siddique Mashoor hogaye References :
(Imam Abdur Razzaq Al Musannaf Vol : 05, Pg : 438)
(Imam Abu Yaala Al Musnad Vol : 10, Pg : 45)
“Hazrat Abu Yahya Radiallahu Anhu Se Rivayat Hai Ki Hazrat Syedna Aliyul Murtaza Radiallahu Anhu Ne Kasam Kha Kar Irshad Farmaya Allah Taala Ne Syedna Abu Baqr Kaa Naam Siddique Aasman Se Nazil Farmaya Hai” (Imam Hakim Al Mustadraq, Kitab Marifatus Sahaba, Vol : 04, Pg : 04, #4461)
“Umm-ul-Mumineen Syeda Ayesha Siddiqa Radiallahu Anha Hazrat Umar ibn Khattab Radiallahu Anhu Se rivayat karti hai ki unhone farmaya Hazrat Abu Baqr Siddique Hamare Sardaar Hum Sabse Bahtar Aur Rasoolullah ﷺ Ko Hum Sab Se Zyada Mehboob They”
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadraq, Vol : 03, Pg : 69, #4221)
Hazrat Ismail Ibn Abi Khalid Se Marwi Hai Umool Momineen Ayesha Siddiqa Ne Nabi ﷺ ko dekh kar Kaha “Aye Sardare Arab, Aap Nabi ﷺ Ne Irshad Farmaya Mai Tamam Aulaad E Aadam Ka Sardar Hoon Aur Tumhare Wa'alid Abu Baqr Arab kay Danishwaro Kay Sardaar Hai”
(Imam Ibn Abi Shayba, Al Musannaf, Kitabul Fazail, Vol : 07, Pg : 474, # 27)
“Hazrat Sahl Se Rivayat Hai Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Irshad Farmaya Logo me jisne Apni dosti aur maal kay jariye mujhpe sabse zyada ehsaan kiya woh Abu Baqr Siddique Hai, Pas inse Muhabbat rakhna inka shukriya Ada karna aur inki hifazat karna meri ummat par wajib hai”
(Imam Abu Al Abbas Mohideen, Riyaz An Nazara, Vol : 01, Pg :169)
References :
(Imam Nasai, Sunan ul Kubra, Vol : 05, Pg : 35, #8102)
(Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Al Musnad Vol : 01, Pg : 770, #2432)
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Fazail E Sahaba, #3654)
“Hazrat Abu Huraira Radiallahu Anhu Se Riwayat Hai Ki Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Farmaya Kisi Ka Bhi Hamare upar Koi Aisa Ihsaan Nahin Jis Ka Hum Ne Badla Chuka Na Diya Ho, Siwaye Abu Bakr Siddique RadiAllahu Anhu Ke Beshak Un Ke Hamare upar Ihsaan Hain Jin Ka Badla Allah Ta’ala Qiyamat Ke Din Chukaayega.”
(Imam Tirmizi, Jamai Tirmizi, Vol : 05, Pg : 609, #3661)
Hazrat Zayd Bin Aslam Radiallahu Anhu Apne Waalid Se Riwayat Karte Hain Ki Unhone Farmaya Mein Ne Hazrat Umar Bin Khattab Radiallahu Anhu Ko Farmate Huwe Suna Ki Hamein Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Sadaqa Dene Ka Hukm Farmaya Is Hukm Kee Ta’meel Ke Liye Mere Paas Maal Tha Mein Ne (Apne Aap Se) Kaha, Agar Mein Abu Bakr Siddique Radiallahu Anhu Se Kabhi Sabaqat Le Jaa Sakta Hoo’n To Aap Sabaqat Le Jaunga Hazrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu Farmate Hain Ki Mein Apna Nisf Maal Le Kar Haazir-E-Khidmat Huwa.
Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Farmaya :
Apne Ghar Waalo’n Ke Liye Kya Chhod Aaye Ho ?
Mein Ne Arz Kiya :
Itna Hee Maal Un Ke Liye Chhod Aaya Hoo’n.
(Itne Me) Hazrat Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu Jo Kuchh Un Ke Paas Tha Woh Sab Kuchh Le Kar Haazir-E-Khidmat Huwe.
Aap ﷺ Ne Farmaya : Aye Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu !
Apne Ghar Waalo’n Ke Liye Kya Chhod Aaye Ho ? Unhone Arz Kiya
Mein Un Ke Liye Allah Aur Us Ka Rasool ﷺ Chhod Aaya Hoo’n. Hazrat Umar Radiallahu Ta’ala ‘Anhu Farmate Hain Ki Mein Ne (Dil Me) Kaha, Mein In Se Kisi Shay Me Aage Na Badh Sakunga.”
References :
(Imam Tirmizi, Sunan Tirmizi, Vol :06, Pg : 614, #3675)
(Imam Abu Dawood, Sunan Vol : 06, Pg : 129, #1678)
(Imam Darmi Sunan Vol : 01, Pg : 480, #1660)
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadraq, Vol : 01, Pg : 574, #1510)
Hadees :
“Hazrat Abu Hurraira Se Marwi Hai Nabi ﷺ Ne Irshad Farmaya Mujhe Kisi kay maal ne itna nafa nahi pahuchaya jitna Abu Baqr Siddique kay maal ne pahuchaya hai, Abu Baqr Siddique Rone Lage aur Kaha Yaa Rasoolullah ﷺ Meri Jaan Aur Maal kay maalik Aap hi to hai”
Hadees :
References :
(Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Al Musnad, Vol : 01, Pg : 110, #879)
(Imam Tabarani Al Mujam Ul Awsat, Vol : 01, Pg : 298, #992)
Hadees :
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadraq, Vol : 03, Pg : 96, #4508)
“Hazrat Ali Aur Hazrat Zubayr Radiallahu Anhuma Azmayeen Farmate Hain Ki Bila Shubah Hazrat Abu Bakr Khilafat Ke Sab Se Ziyadah Haquedaar Hain Aap Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ke Ghaar Ke Saathi Hain.
Aap Thaani Ithnayn (Yar-E-Ghar) Hain Aur Hum Aap Ke Sharaf Ko Aur Aap Ke Khayr Hone Ko Jaante Hain.
Beshak Aap Ko Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Apni Zaahiri Hayaat-E-Tayyibah Me Namaz Kee Imamat Ka Hukm Diya Tha.”
References :
(Imam Hakim Al-Mustadrak, Vol : 03, Pg : 70,# 4422)
(Imam Bayhaqi Sunan-Ul-Kubra, Vol : 08, Pg : 152)
(Imam Tirmizi, Sunan Tirmizi, Kitabul Manakib Vol : 05, Pg : 614, #3673)
(Sahih Bukhari Vol : 01, Pg : 386, Kitabul Azaan, Hadees : 680 & 681)
(Sahih Bukhari Hadees No : 704, 1205, 4448)
(Sahi Muslim, Vol : 01, Pg : 534, Kitabus Salat, Hadees : 944, ‘Online No : 419’)
(Sunan Nasai Kitabuz Janaiz, Baab : Peer Kay Din Wisal Hone Ka Bayan, Hadees : 1831)
(Sunan Ibn Majah Kitabuz Janaiz, Hadees : 1624)
“Hazrat Anas Bin Malik Radiallahu Anhu Se Riwayat Hai Ki Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ka Wisaal Huwa To Aap Ki Umr Mubarak 63 Saal Thi Aur Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique Radiallahu Anhu Ka Wisaal Huwa To Un Kee Umr Bhi(Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Kee Mutaaba’at Mein) 63 Saal Thi”
(Jamai Tirmizi, Kitabul Manakib, #3653)
(Imam Tirmizi, Shamail E Muhammadiya, Nabi Ki Mubarak Umr Sharif Ka Bayan #363)
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RadiAllahu Anhu Se Riwayat Hai Ki Rasool ul Allah ﷺ Ne Farmaya Sab Se Pahle Jis Se Zameen Phategi Woh Mein Hoo’n Phir Abu Bakr RadiAllahu Anhu Se, Phir Umar RadiAllahu Anhu Se, Phir Mein Ahl-E-Baqi’ Ke Paas Aaunga To Un Se Zameen Shaqq Hogi Phir Mein Un Sab De Darmiyan Uthaya Jaaunga.”
(Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Fazail E Sahaba, Vol : 01, Pg : 351, #507)
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadrak, Vol : 03, Pg : 72, #4429)
“Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar Radiallahu Anhu Se Riwayat Hai Ki Rasool E Akram ﷺ Ne Hazrat Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu Se Farmaya : Aap Hawz(-E-Kawthar) Par Mere Saathi Hain Aur Ghaar(-E-Thwar) Me Bhi Mere Saathi Hain.”
(Imam Tirmizi, Sunan Vol : 05, Pg : 613, #3670)
Hadees :
(Sahih Bukhari, Kitabul Fazail E Sahaba, #3666)
(Imam Nasai Sunan ul Kubra, Vol : 02, Pg : 06, #2219)
(Imam Ibn Hibban Sahih, Vol : 08, Pg : 206, #3418)
Hazrat Abu Huraira Radiallahu Anhu Se Riwayat Hai Ki Huzoor Nabi E Akram ﷺ Ne Farmaya Hazrat Jibra’il ‘Alayh-is-Salam Ne Mera Haath Pakda, Phir Mujhe Jannat Ka Woh Darwazah Dikhaya Jis Se Meri Ummat (Jannat Me) Daakhil Hogi.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu Ne Arz Kiya Ya Rasool Allah ﷺ !
Mujhe Pasand Hai Ki Mein Aap Ke Saath Hota Taa Ki Mein Bhi Jannat Ka Woh Darwazah Dekhta To Huzoor Nabi E karim ﷺ Ne Farmaya :
Yaqinan Tum To Meri Ummat Ke Pahle Shakhs Ho Jo Jannat Me Us Darwazah Se Daakhil Hoga.”
References :
(Imam Abu Dawud Sunan, Vol : 04, Pg : 213, Kitab Al Sunnah, #4652)
(Imam Tabarani Al Mujam ul Awsat Vol : 03, Pg : 93, #2594)
(Imam Hakim Al Mustadrak, Vol : 03, Pg : 77, # 4444) _____________________________
The Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jama’at has reached consensus (Ijma’) that after the Prophets (Alaihim as-Salam) the best of creation are the four rightly guided Khalifas (Khulafa-e-Arba’a i.e. Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman and Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhum Ajma’een).
Their sequence of excellence is that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddique is the most excellent, then Sayyiduna Umar, thereafter followed by the excellence of Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een). Here I present few proclamations of the Classical Scholars and Jurists in this regard.
1. Imam al-Aazam Abu Hanifa gave one of the pithiest definitions of Sunnism in Islam:
“The doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama’a consists in preferring the Two Shaykhs (tafdil al-shaykhayn) [i.e. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar over the rest], loving the Two Sons-in-law (hubb al-khatanayn) [i.e. ‘Ali and ‘Uthman], and wiping on leather socks (al-mas-h ‘alal-khuffayn) [i.e. all three contrary to Shi’is].” [Khulasat al-Fatawa, Vol. 2, Page 381]
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Intiqa’ bi-Manaqib al-A’immat al-Thalathati al-Fuqaha’ through several different chains. The same is also related from Sufyan al-Thawri by al-La’laka’i in his I’tiqad Ahl al-Sunna, Vol. 1, Page 152.
2. Imam al-Aazam Abu Hanifah in Fiqh Al-Akbar:
“The most superior and the best of all men after prophets – blessings and peace upon them – is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. And then, Umar ibn al-Khattab al-Faruq. And then Uthman ibn Affan Dhu’n Nurayn. And then ali ibn Abu talib al-Murtada. May Allah be well pleased with them all; they were worshippers and steadfast on Truth and sided with Truth. We love all of them.” [Fiqh Al-Akbar]
3. Imam al-Nawawi said in his Fatawa:
“Know that each of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is better than ‘Ali according to the Consensus (ijma’) of Ahl al-Sunna. The proofs for this in well-known sound hadiths are too famous and countless to be listed.” [Fatawa Imam Nawawi, Page 264]
4. Imam al-Haytami said in his Fatawa Hadithiyya:
“The preferability of Abu Bakr over the other three and that of ‘Umar over the ther two is agreed upon by Consensus (mujma’ ‘alayh) of Ahl al-Sunna and there is no disagreement among them concerning this.” [Fatawa Hadithiyya, Page 155]
5. Ali al-Qari in MinaH ar-Rawd al-Az’har, SharH Fiqh al-Akbar:
“The best of humans after prophets is Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu”… “The superiority of Abu Bakr and Umar is an unanimous agreement in the Ahl as-Sunnah.” [Sharh Fiqh al-Akbar]
“It is patent that to prefer ‘Ali to the Two Shaykhs contravenes the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama’a according to what the totality of the Salaf follow.” [Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar, Page 140]
7. Imam al-Daraqutni was once asked to arbitrate between two groups in Baghdad who differed whether ‘Uthman was preferable to ‘Ali or vice-versa. He relates:
“At first I withheld from taking any position and considered reserve best. But then I reached the conclusion that Religion dictated other than silence. So I said: ‘Uthman is better than ‘Ali with the agreement of the assembly of the Companions. This is the position of Ahl al-Sunnah, and it is the first knot of the Rafida one cuts loose.” [Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’, Dar al-Fikr Edition. Vol. 12, Page 483]
“…Both ‘Uthman and ‘Ali possess great merits and precedence and are among the foremost shuhada’. However, the vast majority of the Community agree to give precedence to ‘Uthman, and this is our position also; and better than both of them without doubt are Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. Whoever differs with this is a hardened Shi’i.” [Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’, Dar al-Fikr Edition. Vol. 12, Page 483-492]
“We affirm the succession after RasulAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam first for Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu – on account of his superiority upon the entire ummah and being paramount among them. Then, Umar ibn al-Khattab Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. Then, Uthman ibn affan Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. Then, ali ibn Abu talib Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. For they are the Rightly Guided Successors [khulafa ar-rashidun] and The Guiding Leaders [ayimmah al-muhtadun – in another version ayimmah al-mahdiyyun].” [al-Aqida at-Tahawiyyah]
“The Imam (leader of Muslims) after RasulAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam is Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. The Shiah say: ali. And we say: There is a unanimous agreement (ijmaa) of every person of importance (the ahl al-Hill wa’l aqd – from the council, prominent ones, nobles etc.) on this matter.” [SharH al-MaqaSid]
“Superiority, according to us [ahl as-sunnah] is according to the order of succession (of Khalifahs).” [SharH al-MaqaSid]
12. Ali al-ushi in Bad-yi’l Amali and ali al-Qari in its commentary: daw al-Maali
وللصديق رجحان جلي … على الصحاب من غير احتمال
And Siddiq has a prominence and superiority
Upon all companions without any doubtوللفاروق رجحان وفضل … على عثمان ذي النورين عالي
And Faruq has prominence and superiority
Upon Uthman – he of the two lights, the loftyوذو النورين حقا كان خيرا …. من الكرار في صف القتال
And Dhu’n Nurayn has the right, that he is superior to
al-Karrar, the brave and unflinching in the face of battleوللكرار فضل بعد هذا …. على الأغيار طرا لا تبال
And superiority is due to ali the brave, after this
Upon everybody else without any hesitation
13. Jawharah at-TawHid, Ibrahim al-Laqqani and its commentary TuHfatu’l Murid, Ibrahim al-Bajuri.
وخيرهم من ولي الخلافة …. وأمرهم في الفضلك الخلافة
And the best of them are the successors to khilafah
And the order of their superiority is like the khilafah.
14. Ibn al-Jawzi in Manaqib Ahmad relatedly said:
“Whoever prefers ‘Ali to Abu Bakr maligns the Prophet; whoever gives ‘Ali preference over ‘Umar maligns the Prophet and Abu Bakr; and whoever gives ‘Ali preference over ‘Uthman maligns the Prophet, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and the Emigrants. Nor do I believe that the deeds of such a person are accepted.” [Manaqib Ahmad, Page. 162]
15. In the very beginning of his Kashf Mushkil Hadith al-Sahihayn in four volumes, in print, Ibn al-Jawzi mentions the anecdote of a Rafidi asking a Sunni:
“Who is nobler than five under a cloak, the sixth of whom is Gibril?” (in reference to the established hadith wherein the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, gathered Sayyida Fatima, her two sons and her husband under his cloak) whereupon the Sunni replied: “Two in the cave, the third of whom is Allah” (in reference to the verse of Qur’an and hadith of the Prophet and Abu Bakr in the cave on the way to Madina).
“The Ahadith on the Afdhaliyya of Abu Bakr over the Sahaba are mutawatir by meaning.” [Nazm al-Mutanathir min al-Hadith al-Mutawatir Page 202]
He quotes Qastallani’s Irshad al-Saari Baab Tafadhul Ahl al-Iman fi al-A’man from the Book of Imaan who quotes Ijma’ of Ahl al-Sunnah on this. He also quotes Ibn Hajar from al-Sawa’i al-Muhriqa and Ibn Taymiyya from al-Wassiyyat al-Kubra who mention that it the reports are mutawatir.
17. al-Sayyid Yusuf al-Nabhani quotes Fatawa Ibn Hajar, in his al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, who says in its khatima:
“It has been soundly narrated from Ali himself: the best of people after the Prophet is Abu Bakr then Umar and then someone else… it is from this that the Ahl al-Sunnah from the Sahabah and Tabiun and those after them agree (ijma) that Abu Bakr is absolutely excellent among all Sahabah and then Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both).” [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 207]
18. Imam Yusuf bin Ismail an-Nabhani mentions that Ibn Hajar was questioned on another occasion whether the excellence of one over the other among the four was qat’iyya or Ijtihadiyya to which he replied that
“The excellence of Abu Bakr over all is Mujma’ alayh among Ahl al-Sunnah and there is no dispute in this, and consensus implies qata’.” [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 208]
19. Imam Sha’rani quotes Abu Bakr al-Ayyash in his Minan who said:
“If Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali ever came to me for something, I would attend Ali first for his close relation with the Messenger of Allah, and I would prefer falling from the sky to the earth over giving Ali preference (in fadhila) over the two”. [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 209]
20. Shaykh Nabhani quotes a hadith from Musnad al-Bazzar from Usayd bin Safwan in which the demise of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him and Ali’s words in his manaqib are narrated. Sayyiduna Ali directly speaking to the former on his deathbed after his demise calls him
“most excellent of the Sahabah in his Manaqib”,
“greatest of them in his rank”,
“most noble of them in his station”, and
“most honoured among them in the Messenger’s court”!! [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 193]
“Anyone, who claims that Hadrat Mawla Ali (Karam Allahu wajh al-Karim) is superior to all companions, is a heretic, and a wrongdoer.”
a. Fatawa Khulasa, in ‘Kitab al-Salat’ (chapter of Salah) Section: 15
b. Khazanat al-Musannifeen, in the chapter of ‘Kitab al-Salat’ (Book of Salah) in the section ‘To follow a Rafidhi in Salat, is it right or wrong’?
22. It is stated in Fateh al-Qadeer, Sharah “Hidaya” and Hashiyyah on “Tabi’een al-Salamah” that:
“Anyone, who prefers Mawla Ali above the other three rightly guided Caliphs, is a misled.”
a. Fateh al-Qadeer, Sharah (a commentary) on the most renowned and reliable Fiqh book “Hidaya”, Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page 248
b. Hashiyyah (a commentary) on the Fiqh book “Tabi’een al-Salamah”, by Allama Ahmad as-Salabi, Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page 135
23. It is also written in the following Fiqh books “Bada’eh”, “Bazaziyyah”, “Asabah”, “Fan al-Sa’ani”, “al-Haf al-Abrar wal-Basair”, “Fatawa Qurwiyyah” and “Waqiat al-Muftiyyin”, and all these books have quoted references from another most authentic and renowned Fiqh book “Fatawa Khulasa”, that:
“Anyone, who prefers Hadrat Mawla Ali (Karam Allahu wajh al-Karim) over them (Shaykhain) is a misled and heretic.”
b. Bazaziyyah, Vol 3, Page 319
c. Asabah – Printed in Egypt, Page 187
d. Fatawa Qurwiyyah – Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page 25
e. Waqiat al-Muftiyyin – Printed in Egypt, Page 13
24. It is mentioned in another authentic and most renowned Fiqh book “Majma al-Anhar”, Sharah (a commentary) on the book “Multaqi al-Abhar”, that:
“Tafdhili, those who prefer Hadrat Mawla Ali Radi Allahu Anhu above the other three Caliphs are misled. [Majma’ al Anhar – Printed in Istanbul, Vol 1, Page 105]
25. Sayyiduna Meer Abdul Wahid Hussayni Zaidi Wasti Bilgraami has written in his ‘Sabaa Sanabil Sharif’:
After Hadrat Abu Bakr comes the excellence of Hadrat Umar, then Hadrat Uthman and then Hadrat Ali. He who does not accept Hadrat Ali as the Khalifa is from the Kharijees and he who regards him (Hadrat Ali) to be more excellent than Hadrat Abu Bakr and Umar is from the Raafdhis. [Sab’a Sanabil, Page 10]
There is an Ijma’ of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah on the fact that Sayyiduna Abu Bak Al-Siddiq is the most superior amongst the companions of our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon Him and Allah is pleased with them all). After him comes the excellence of Hadrat Umar, then Hadrat Uthman and then Hadrat Ali Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een. They all were pious worshippers and steadfast on Truth and sided with Truth and we love all of them.
He, who believes that Sayyiduna Ali or any other companion is more superior above Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, is misguided from the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. The true Love for Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu will only and only be valid and beneficial when his teachings, Aqida and Iman is also followed. The Ahl al-Bayt should themselves talk more often about the tafhdil of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu as this is mass-narrated from Sayyiduna Ali Karram Allahu Wajh al-Kareem himslef, and a sunnah of his.
