Statements of the People of the Sunnah on the Issue of the Best of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
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The Shaykh : And he is in the third position in excellence. Who is in the first position?
The student: Abu Bakr.
The Shaykh : And the second?
The student: 'Umar.
The Shaykh : And the third? 'Uthman. The fourth is 'Ali. The scholars of the People of the Sunnah agreed that the best of the caliphs is Abu Bakr, then 'Umar. They differed regarding 'Uthman and 'Ali: some said that 'Ali is better, some said that 'Uthman is better, some remained silent when mentioning 'Uthman, and some remained silent regarding the preference between them altogether. These are four positions of the People of the Sunnah on the issue of excellence. As for the issue of the caliphate, the scholars of the People of the Sunnah agreed that their order in the caliphate is as follows: Abu Bakr, then
The student: 'Umar.
The Shaykh : Then.
The student: 'Uthman.
The Shaykh : Then 'Ali.
And Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him), the Imam of the People of the Sunnah, said: "Whoever criticizes the caliphate of any of these men is more astray than his own donkey". Listen to Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), a modest and believing man. Modesty is part of faith, but in this matter, he had no choice but to say this. "Whoever criticizes the caliphate of any of these men is more astray than his own donkey", because the donkey is the standard example for dullness. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:5]. So, if someone says, for example, that the most deserving person for the caliphate after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is 'Ali, he is more astray than a donkey. And if someone says that the most deserving person for the caliphate after Abu Bakr and 'Umar is 'Ali, he is more astray than a donkey, because he would have criticized all the Companions. For the Companions agreed on the pledge of allegiance to 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) while 'Ali was present. And when 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, the most deserving person on the face of the earth for the caliphate was whom? 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him). Good.
The student: Abu Bakr.
The Shaykh : And the second?
The student: 'Umar.
The Shaykh : And the third? 'Uthman. The fourth is 'Ali. The scholars of the People of the Sunnah agreed that the best of the caliphs is Abu Bakr, then 'Umar. They differed regarding 'Uthman and 'Ali: some said that 'Ali is better, some said that 'Uthman is better, some remained silent when mentioning 'Uthman, and some remained silent regarding the preference between them altogether. These are four positions of the People of the Sunnah on the issue of excellence. As for the issue of the caliphate, the scholars of the People of the Sunnah agreed that their order in the caliphate is as follows: Abu Bakr, then
The student: 'Umar.
The Shaykh : Then.
The student: 'Uthman.
The Shaykh : Then 'Ali.
And Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him), the Imam of the People of the Sunnah, said: "Whoever criticizes the caliphate of any of these men is more astray than his own donkey". Listen to Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), a modest and believing man. Modesty is part of faith, but in this matter, he had no choice but to say this. "Whoever criticizes the caliphate of any of these men is more astray than his own donkey", because the donkey is the standard example for dullness. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: