Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) that the very first person to accept Islam along with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Hazrat Salim that I asked Ibn al-Hanafiyyah: "Was Hazrat Abu Bakr the first among the people to accept Islam?" He replied: "No!" I asked: "Then on what basis did Hazrat Abu Bakr attain such a high status and surpass all others, to the extent that no one except Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq is even mentioned?" He replied: "When Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq accepted Islam, he was the most virtuous among those who accepted Islam, until he met his Lord."