Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 39355 — The acceptance of Islam by Ali bin

It is narrated from Salim: I asked Ibn al-Hanafiyyah: Was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) the first of the people to accept Islam? He said: No. I said: Then on what basis did Sayyiduna Abu Bakr attain high rank and surpass others, so that no one is mentioned except Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq? He replied: When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq accepted Islam, he was the best of the people in his Islam, until he met his Lord.