Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
From this statement of Ali (radi Allahu anhu), those people have derived evidence who say that Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) is the most virtuous after the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and then after him, Umar (radi Allahu anhu), as is the position of the majority of Ahl al-Sunnah.
The hadith scholar ‘Abd al-Razzaq states that Ali (radi Allahu anhu) himself gave precedence to the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and Umar, radi Allahu anhuma) over himself, therefore I also give them precedence; otherwise, I would never have done so. In another narration, it is transmitted from Ali (radi Allahu anhu) that whoever gives me precedence over the two Shaykhs, I will impose upon him the punishment for a fabricator.
From this, those Sunni individuals who hold the view of Ali’s (radi Allahu anhu) precedence should take heed, since Ali (radi Allahu anhu) himself is declaring such a person to be a fabricator.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 3671
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
➊
Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah is attributed to his mother’s side, and he is the son of Ali (radi Allahu anhu).
His mother was brought as a captive in the Battle of Yamamah.
It is possible that, in his view, Ali (radi Allahu anhu) is superior to Uthman (radi Allahu anhu), which is why he mentioned his name instead of Uthman’s. However, the Ahl al-Sunnah are unanimous that the order of superiority and excellence among these personalities is according to the order of their caliphate.
In any case, the Ummah is agreed upon the superiority of the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and Umar, radi Allahu anhuma).
There is a difference of opinion regarding the superiority of the two sons-in-law (Hantayn).
Nevertheless, the aforementioned statement of Ali (radi Allahu anhu) has been used by the majority of scholars as evidence that Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) is the most virtuous of the Ummah after the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and after him comes Umar (radi Allahu anhu).
➋
The statement of Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah:
“I feared that now you would mention the name of Uthman (radi Allahu anhu),” also indicates that the order in his mind was indeed that after Umar al-Faruq (radi Allahu anhu), the next name would be Uthman Dhu al-Nurayn (radi Allahu anhu). That is why he changed his manner of inquiry.
➌
Ali’s (radi Allahu anhu) statement that “I am just a man among the Muslims” is to be understood as humility and modesty.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 3671
Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
The Status of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu According to Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu
Written by: Muhaddith al-Asr Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai rahimahullah
According to Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib radi Allahu anhu, the first Caliph, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu, holds a very high status.
As has come in authentic narrations, Sayyiduna wa Mawlana Ali radi Allahu anhu said:
After the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the best of this Ummah is Abu Bakr, then Umar. Radi Allahu anhuma.
This narration, with this meaning and slight variations in wording, has been narrated from Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu by the following narrators:
1— Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, i.e., Ibn al-Hanafiyyah rahimahullah [ثقہ عالم]
2— Abu Juhaifah Wahb ibn Abdullah al-Khayr al-Suwa’i radi Allahu anhu [صحابی]
3— Abd Khayr ibn Yazid al-Hamdani al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقۃ، مخضرم من کبار التابعین]
4— Abdullah ibn Salamah al-Muradi al-Kufi rahimahullah [صدوق، تغیر حفظہ / حدث بہ قبل اختلاطہ]
5— Amr ibn Harith ibn Amr ibn Uthman al-Makhzumi radi Allahu anhu [صحابی]
6— Ali ibn Rabi’ah ibn Nadlah al-Walibi al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقۃ]
7— Nazzal ibn Sabrah al-Hilali al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقۃ]
8— Abu al-Ja’d Rafi’ al-Ghatafani al-Ashja’i rahimahullah [صدوق و ثقہ ابن حبان والامام مسلم وقیل: ھو صحابی]
9— Abu Musa al-Ash’ari radi Allahu anhu [صحابی]
Now, the details of these narrations are as follows:
1— From Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib rahimahullah, the following narrators have reported this narration:
1: Abu Ya’la Mundhir ibn Ya’la al-Thawri al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقہ]
Sahih al-Bukhari (3671, and its chain is authentic), Sunan Abi Dawud (4629, and its chain is authentic), Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (12/12, Hadith 31936), Zawa’id al-Qati’i ‘ala Fada’il al-Sahabah li Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Hadith 136, and its chain is authentic)
The text of this narration in Sahih al-Bukhari is as follows:
Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah said: I asked my father (Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib radi Allahu anhu): Who is the best of the people after the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? He replied: Abu Bakr. I said: Then who? He replied: Then Umar. (With Fath al-Bari 20/7)
Imam al-Daraqutni said: “And it is authentic from him.” (Kitab al-‘Ilal 4/124, Question 464)
2: Abu Makin Nuh ibn Rabi’ah al-Ansari al-Basri rahimahullah [صدوق]
Kitab al-Sunnah by Ibn Abi ‘Asim (1204, verified edition: 1238, and its chain is hasan)
2— From Abu Juhaifah Wahb ibn Abdullah al-Khayr al-Suwa’i rahimahullah, the following narrators have reported this hadith:
1: ‘Amir ibn Shurahbil al-Sha’bi rahimahullah [ثقۃ مشھور فقیۃ فاضل]
Zawa’id Musnad al-Imam Ahmad (1/110, Hadith 878, and its chain is authentic; 1/106, Hadith 834 with another chain, and its chain is hasan), Musnad Ahmad (1/106, Hadith 135, and its chain is authentic according to the conditions of Muslim)
2: Zur ibn Hubaysh al-Asadi al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقۃ جلیل مخضرم]
Zawa’id Musnad Ahmad (1/106, Hadith 833 from the narration of ‘Asim ibn Abi al-Nujud from him, and its chain is hasan; 1/110, Hadith 871, and its chain is hasan)
3: ‘Awn ibn Abi Juhaifah rahimahullah [ثقۃ]
Zawa’id Musnad Ahmad (1/106, Hadith 837, and its chain is hasan), al-Ghaylaniyyat (Hadith 72 with another chain, and its chain is hasan; another edition: 68), al-Mukhlisiyyat (2/98, Hadith 1119, and its chain is hasan)
4: Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah al-Kindi al-Kufi rahimahullah [ثقۃ ثبت فقیہ إلا أنہ ربما دلّس]
Fada’il al-Sahabah by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (44, and its chain is authentic; al-Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah explicitly stated hearing), Tarikh Dimashq (44/202, and its chain is authentic)
5: Abdullah ibn Abi al-Safar rahimahullah [ثقۃ]
Tarikh Dimashq by Ibn ‘Asakir (44/202, and its chain is hasan)
3— From Abd Khayr ibn Yazid al-Hamdani rahimahullah, the following narrators have reported this narration:
1: Al-Musayyab ibn Abd Khayr rahimahullah [ثقۃ]
Zawa’id Musnad Ahmad (1/115, Hadith 926, and its chain is authentic; 1/125, Hadith 1030)
2: Khalid ibn Alqamah Abu Hayyah al-Wadi’i rahimahullah [صدوق]
Zawa’id Musnad Ahmad (1/125, Hadith 1031, and its chain is authentic)
3: Abd al-Malik ibn Sal’ al-Hamdani rahimahullah [صدوق]
Kitab al-Shari’ah by al-Ajurri (5/2319, Hadith 1804, and its chain is hasan), Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (14/571, Hadith 37042, and its chain is authentic)
4: Talhah ibn Musarrif ibn Amr ibn Ka’b al-Yami al-Kufi (trustworthy, a virtuous reciter)
Al-Mukhlisiyyat (3/339, Hadith 2663)
5: Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf [ثقۃ، رضی اللہ عنہ]
(Fada’il al-Sahabah, Ziyadat al-Qati’i: 533, and its chain is hasan)
4— Abdullah ibn Salamah al-Muradi rahimahullah [صدوق حسن الحدیث وثقہ الجمہور]
“The best of people after the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is Abu Bakr, and the best of people after Abu Bakr is Umar.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah: 106, and its chain is hasan)
Abdullah ibn Salamah narrated this hadith before his confusion (ikhtilat). (See Musnad al-Humaydi, my verification: 57)
5— Sayyiduna Amr ibn Harith radi Allahu anhu
“The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr and Umar...”
(Zawa’id Fada’il al-Sahabah: 397, and its chain is hasan; al-Bahr al-Zakhar 2/130, Hadith 488; al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani 1/107, Hadith 178)
6— Ali ibn Rabi’ah al-Walibi rahimahullah
“Indeed, I know the best of this Ummah after its Prophet: Abu Bakr and Umar...”
(Fada’il al-Sahabah by Ahmad ibn Hanbal: 428, and its chain is hasan; Waqa’ ibn Iyas al-Asadi is considered trustworthy by the majority, so his hadith is hasan)
7— Nazzal ibn Sabrah rahimahullah
“Shall I not inform you of the best of this Ummah after its Prophet—three (times)? Then he mentioned Abu Bakr and Umar...”
(Zawa’id Fada’il al-Sahabah: 429, and its chain is hasan)
8— Abu al-Ja’d Rafi’ al-Ghatafani al-Ashja’i rahimahullah
“Shall I not inform you of the best of people after your Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: Abu Bakr, then Umar.”
(Al-Tarikh al-Kabir by al-Bukhari 3/306, T 1039, and its chain is hasan)
9— Sayyiduna Abu Musa al-Ash’ari radi Allahu anhu
“Shall I not inform you of the best of this Ummah after its Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?... Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu... then he said... Umar.”
(Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani 1/107, Hadith 177, and its chain is hasan)
In the aforementioned narration, Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib radi Allahu anhu said that after the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the most virtuous is Abu Bakr, then Umar radi Allahu anhuma.
Not a single one of these narrations is weak, and all these narrations together reach the level of tawatur (mass transmission).
This is why Hafiz Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah declared it to be mutawatir from Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu. (See al-Wasiyyah al-Kubra p. 40, section 62; Nazm al-Mutanathir min al-Hadith al-Mutawatir by al-Kattani p. 203, Hadith 227)
That is, according to Ahl al-Sunnah, this narration is mutawatir from Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu.
………… Original Article …………
For the original article, see Tahqiqi wa ‘Ilmi Maqalat (Volume 6, pages 51 to 54) by Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai rahimahullah
Source: Research and Scholarly Articles by Shaykh Zubair Ali Zai, Page: 3671