The Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jama’at has reached the consensus (Ijma’) that after the Prophets (Alaihim as-Salam), the best of creation are the four rightly guided Khalifas (Khulafa-e-Arba’a i.e., Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman, and Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhum Ajma’een).
Their sequence of excellence is that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddique is the most excellent, then Sayyiduna Umar, thereafter followed by the excellence of Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een). Here, I present a few proclamations of the Classical Scholars and Jurists in this regard.
Proclamations of the Classical Scholars and Jurists
1. Imam al-Aazam Abu Hanifa gave one of the pithiest definitions of Sunnism in Islam:
“The doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama’a consists in preferring the Two Shaykhs (tafdil al-shaykhayn) [i.e., Abu Bakr and ‘Umar over the rest], loving the Two Sons-in-law (hubb al-khatanayn) [i.e., ‘Ali and ‘Uthman], and wiping on leather socks (al-mas-h ‘alal-khuffayn) [i.e., all three contrary to Shi’is].” [Khulasat al-Fatawa, Vol. 2, Page 381]
Narrated by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Intiqa’ bi-Manaqib al-A’immat al-Thalathati al-Fuqaha’ through several different chains. The same is also related by Sufyan al-Thawri by al-La’laka’i in his I’tiqad Ahl al-Sunna, Vol. 1, Page
152.
2. Imam al-Aazam Abu Hanifah in Fiqh Al-Akbar:
“The most superior and the best of all men after prophets – blessings and peace upon them – is Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. And then, Umar ibn al-Khattab al-Faruq. And then Uthman ibn Affan Dhu’n Nurayn. And then Ali ibn Abu Talib al-Murtada. May Allah be well pleased with them all; they were worshippers and steadfast on Truth and sided with Truth. We love all of them.” [Fiqh Al-Akbar]
3. Imam al-Nawawi said in his Fatawa:
“Know that each of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is better than ‘Ali according to the Consensus (ijma’) of Ahl al-Sunna. The proofs for this in well-known sound hadiths are too famous and countless to be listed.” [Fatawa Imam Nawawi, Page 264]
