Tirmidhi

Explanation:
1:
It has been mentioned earlier in the virtues of Fatimah radi Allahu anha that among women, Fatimah, and among men, her husband Ali, were the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
However, that hadith is weak and rejected,
whereas this hadith is authentic.
And what contradiction is there in both women and both men being the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?
All of them were the most beloved.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
At the end of one narration, it is mentioned that Hazrat Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) says: "After that, I remained silent, fearing that I might be mentioned last."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Maghazi, Hadith: 4358)

➋
The Battle of Dhat al-Salasil took place in 7 AH.
In this battle, the disbelievers had bound themselves with chains so that they could not flee collectively.
The commander of the Muslim army was Hazrat Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu).
Among them were also Hazrat Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) and Hazrat Umar (radi Allahu anhu).
On this basis, a thought arose in the heart of Hazrat Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) that perhaps he was superior to all of them, which is why he was appointed as the commander.
For this reason, he asked the aforementioned questions.

➌
From this hadith, it is understood that Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) was very beloved to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). It is also understood that if there are more virtuous people present in a group, for some expedient reason, a less virtuous person can be appointed as the leader over them.

Hadith Commentary:
In this battle, three hundred Emigrants (Muhajirun) and Helpers (Ansar), along with thirty horses, were sent by you (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
You appointed Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) as their commander.
When Amr (radi Allahu anhu) reached near the enemy’s territory, he requested additional troops.
You (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (radi Allahu anhu) as commander and sent two hundred more men.
Among them were Abu Bakr and Umar (radi Allahu anhuma) as well.
When Abu Ubaydah (radi Allahu anhu) met Amr (radi Allahu anhu), he wished to lead (as imam), but Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) has sent you to assist me; I will remain the commander.”
Abu Ubaydah accepted this reasonable statement, and Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) continued to lead (as imam).
In the narration of Hakim, it is mentioned that Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) forbade the army from lighting fires, and Umar (radi Allahu anhu) objected to this. Then Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu) said: “Be silent. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed Amr as commander because he is well-versed in the art of warfare.”
In the narration of Bayhaqi, when Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) returned, he thought in his heart that he held a higher rank than Abu Bakr and Umar (radi Allahu anhuma).
For this reason, he asked the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) the question mentioned in the narration.
Upon hearing the answer, he came to know the reality of the matter.
From this hadith, it is also derived that the leadership (imamah) of one who is less virtuous (mafdhul) is permissible over those who are more virtuous (afdal), because the two Shaykhs (Abu Bakr and Umar) and Abu Ubaydah (radi Allahu anhum) were superior to Amr (radi Allahu anhu).

Hadith Commentary:
➊
For the expedition of Dhat al-Salasil, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) dispatched a contingent of three hundred Emigrants (Muhajirun) and Helpers (Ansar). Their commander was Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu). Then, to reinforce them, an additional two hundred fighters were sent under the leadership of Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah (radi Allahu anhu). In this battle, Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) forbade the fighters from lighting fires. Umar (radi Allahu anhu) objected to this, but Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) said, “Leave him to his own judgment, for the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed him as our commander because he is skilled in the arts of war.” Then Umar (radi Allahu anhu) remained silent. When the enemy was defeated, the fighters wanted to pursue them, but Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) also prevented them from doing so. When they returned victorious and presented themselves before the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), the people mentioned these matters to him. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) asked Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) the reason for this. He replied, “I forbade them from lighting fires so that the enemy would not become aware of the small size of our army. And I prevented them from pursuing the enemy because there were enemy reinforcements ahead.” The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) praised Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) for this matter.

➋
A thought occurred in the heart of Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had appointed him as the commander of an army in which such eminent Companions as Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) and Umar (radi Allahu anhu) were present. Therefore, his status must be very high in the sight of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Thus, he presented himself before the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked, “Who is the most beloved to you among all the people?”

➌
From this hadith, it is understood that it is permissible to appoint someone of lesser virtue (mafdhul) as a commander over someone of greater virtue (fadhl), provided the one of lesser virtue possesses a distinguishing quality that sets him apart from others. (Fath al-Bari: 8/94)

➍
During this battle, Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) experienced a nocturnal emission (ihtilam). Since it was extremely cold, he performed dry ablution (tayammum) and led the prayer, reciting as evidence this verse: “Do not kill yourselves.” (al-Nisa: 4/29) When this was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), he did not say anything to him. Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) has mentioned this incident in a suspended (mu‘allaq) form. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Tayammum, Chapter: 7)

Hadith Commentary:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
Dhat al-Salasil:
This is an incident from the 7th year Hijri, in which the polytheists had tied themselves to one another,
so that they would not flee the battlefield, or there was a spring named Salasil there, or there were layered sand dunes in that place.

Benefits and Issues:
In this battle, despite the presence of Abu Bakr and Umar (radi Allahu anhuma), Amr ibn al-As (radi Allahu anhu) was appointed as the commander.
Therefore, he thought in his heart that perhaps the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) loves me the most,
which is why he asked this question, and when his name did not come up among a few names, he remained silent.