The Ahl-e-Sunnat wa Jama’at has reached consensus (Ijma’) that once the Prophets (Alaihim as-Salam) the first-rate of advent 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 series of excellence is that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddique is the most exceptional, then Sayyiduna Umar, thereafter observed through the distinction of Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali (Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een). Here I gift few proclamations of the Classical Scholars and Jurists in this regard.

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 is composed 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-based socks (al-mas-h ‘alal-khuffayn) [i.E. All three contrary to Shi’is].” [Khulasat al-Fatawa, Vol. 2, Page 381]

Narrated by means of Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Intiqa’ bi-Manaqib al-A’immat al-Thalathati al-Fuqaha’ through numerous one of a kind chains. The identical is also related from 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 maximum advanced and the first-class of all guys after prophets – benefits 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 properly thrilled with them all; they were worshippers and steadfast on Truth and sided with Truth. We love they all.” [Fiqh Al-Akbar]

three. Imam al-Nawawi said in his Fatawa:

“Know that every of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar is better than ‘Ali consistent with the Consensus (ijma’) of Ahl al-Sunna. The proofs for this in well-known sound hadiths are too well-known and limitless to be listed.” [Fatawa Imam Nawawi, Page 264]

four. Imam al-Haytami said in his Fatawa Hadithiyya:

“The preferability of Abu Bakr over the alternative three and that of ‘Umar over the  ther two is agreed upon by way of Consensus (mujma’ ‘alayh) of Ahl al-Sunna and there may be no war of words amongst them concerning this.” [Fatawa Hadithiyya, Page 155]

five. Ali al-Qari in MinaH ar-Rawd al-Az’har, SharH Fiqh al-Akbar:

“The nice of people after prophets is Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu”… “The superiority of Abu Bakr and Umar is an unanimous settlement inside the Ahl as-Sunnah.” [Sharh Fiqh al-Akbar]

6. Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari said in Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar:

“It is patent that to decide on ‘Ali to the Two Shaykhs contravenes the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama’a in keeping with what the totality of the Salaf observe.” [Sharh al-Fiqh al-Akbar, Page 140]

7. Imam al-Daraqutni was as soon as asked to arbitrate among two organizations in Baghdad who differed whether or not ‘Uthman became leading to ‘Ali or vice-versa. He relates:

“At first I withheld from taking any role and taken into consideration reserve great. But then I reached the conclusion that Religion dictated aside from silence. So I stated: ‘Uthman is higher than ‘Ali with the agreement of the meeting of the Companions. This is the location of Ahl al-Sunnah, and it is the first knot of the Rafida one cuts unfastened.” [Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’, Dar al-Fikr Edition. Vol. 12, Page 483]

eight. Al-Dhahabi quotes the above in his chapter on al-Daraqutni in Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ then feedback:

“…Both ‘Uthman and ‘Ali possess great deserves and precedence and are some of the most important shuhada’. However, the big majority of the Community agree to give priority to ‘Uthman, and that is our function also; and better than both of them surely are Abu Bakr and ‘Umar. Whoever differs with that is a hardened Shi’i.” [Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’, Dar al-Fikr Edition. Vol. 12, Page 483-492]

nine. Imam Abu Jaafar Al-taHawi in Al-aqidah at-taHawiyyah:

“We verify the succession after RasulAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam first for Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu – due to his superiority upon the entire ummah and being paramount among them. Then, Umar ibn al-Khattab Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. Then, Uthman ibn affan Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. Then, ali ibn Abu talib Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. For they’re the Rightly Guided Successors [khulafa ar-rashidun] and The Guiding Leaders [ayimmah al-muhtadun – in another version ayimmah al-mahdiyyun].” [al-Aqida at-Tahawiyyah]

10. Saad advert-Din Taftazani in his SharH al-MaqaSid, In the Fifth Discussion:

“The Imam (chief of Muslims) after RasulAllah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam is Abu Bakr Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu. The Shiah say: ali. And we are saying: There is a unanimous settlement (ijmaa) of everybody of significance (the ahl al-Hill wa’l aqd – from the council, outstanding ones, nobles etc.) in this remember.” [SharH al-MaqaSid]

11. In the Sixth Discussion, Saad ad-Din Taftazani says:

“Superiority, consistent with us [ahl as-sunnah] is in line with the order of succession (of Khalifahs).” [SharH al-MaqaSid]

12. Ali al-ushi in Bad-yi’l Amali and ali al-Qari in its statement: daw al-Maali

وللصديق رجحان جلي … على الصحاب من غير احتمال

And Siddiq has a prominence and superiority

Upon all companions without any doubt

وللفاروق رجحان وفضل … على عثمان ذي النورين عالي

And Faruq has prominence and superiority

Upon Uthman – he of the 2 lighting, the lofty

وذو النورين حقا كان خيرا …. من الكرار في صف القتال

And Dhu’n Nurayn has the right, that he’s superior to

al-Karrar, the brave and unflinching within the face of warfare

وللكرار فضل بعد هذا …. على الأغيار طرا لا تبال

And superiority is because of ali the brave, after this

Upon anybody else with none hesitation

13. Jawharah at-TawHid, Ibrahim al-Laqqani and its commentary TuHfatu’l Murid, Ibrahim al-Bajuri.

وخيرهم من ولي الخلافة …. وأمرهم في الفضلك الخلافة

And the fine of them are the successors to khilafah

And the order of their superiority is just like the khilafah.

14. Ibn al-Jawzi in Manaqib Ahmad relatedly stated:

“Whoever prefers ‘Ali to Abu Bakr maligns the Prophet; whoever offers ‘Ali choice over ‘Umar maligns the Prophet and Abu Bakr; and whoever gives ‘Ali desire over ‘Uthman maligns the Prophet, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, and the Emigrants. Nor do I trust that the deeds of such someone are time-honored.” [Manaqib Ahmad, Page. 162]

15. In the very beginning of his Kashf Mushkil Hadith al-Sahihayn in 4 volumes, in print, Ibn al-Jawzi mentions the anecdote of a Rafidi asking a Sunni:

“Who is nobler than five beneath a cloak, the sixth of whom is Gibril?” (in connection with the hooked up hadith in which the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, gathered Sayyida Fatima, her  sons and her husband underneath his cloak) whereupon the Sunni replied: “Two within the cave, the 1/3 of whom is Allah” (in connection with the verse of Qur’an and hadith of the Prophet and Abu Bakr inside the cave at the way to Madina).

Sixteen. In Nazm al-Mutanathir min al-Hadith al-Mutawatir, al-Alim al-Rabbani, al-Sayyid Muhammad Jafar al-Idrisi al-Kattani (d. 1927) cited:

“The Ahadith at the Afdhaliyya of Abu Bakr over the Sahaba are mutawatir by means of meaning.” [Nazm al-Mutanathir min al-Hadith al-Mutawatir Page 202]

He costs Qastallani’s Irshad al-Saari Baab Tafadhul Ahl al-Iman fi al-A’guy from the Book of Imaan who charges Ijma’ of Ahl al-Sunnah in this. He additionally prices Ibn Hajar from al-Sawa’i al-Muhriqa and Ibn Taymiyya from al-Wassiyyat al-Kubra who mention that it the reviews are mutawatir.

17. Al-Sayyid Yusuf al-Nabhani prices Fatawa Ibn Hajar, in his al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, who says in its khatima:

“It has been soundly narrated from Ali himself: the first-rate of people after the Prophet is Abu Bakr then Umar after which someone else… It’s far from this that the Ahl al-Sunnah from the Sahabah and Tabiun and those after them agree (ijma) that Abu Bakr is truly outstanding among all Sahabah after which Umar (may Allah be thrilled with them both).” [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 207]

18. Imam Yusuf bin Ismail an-Nabhani mentions that Ibn Hajar changed into puzzled on every other event whether the distinction of one over the opposite a number of the 4 became qat’iyya or Ijtihadiyya to which he spoke back that

“The excellence of Abu Bakr over all is Mujma’ alayh amongst Ahl al-Sunnah and there is no dispute in this, and consensus implies qata’.” [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 208]

19. Imam Sha’rani quotes Abu Bakr al-Ayyash in his Minan who said:

“If Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali ever got here to me for something, I could attend Ali first for his close relation with the Messenger of Allah, and I would prefer falling from the sky to the earth over giving Ali desire (in fadhila) over the two”. [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 209]

20. Shaykh Nabhani fees a hadith from Musnad al-Bazzar from Usayd bin Safwan in which the demise of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr may Allah be thrilled with him and Ali’s phrases in his manaqib are narrated. Sayyiduna Ali at once talking to the previous on his deathbed after his death calls him

“maximum super of the Sahabah in his Manaqib”,

“best of them in his rank”,

“maximum noble of them in his station”, and

“maximum honoured amongst them within the Messenger’s courtroom”!! [al-Sharaf al-Mu’abbad, Page 193]

21. It is written in renowned Islamic Fiqh books, Fatawa Khulasa and Khazanat al-Musannifin, that:

“Anyone, who claims that Hadrat Mawla Ali (Karam Allahu wajh al-Karim) is superior to all companions, is a heretic, and a perpetrator.”

a. Fatawa Khulasa, in ‘Kitab al-Salat’ (chapter of Salah) Section: 15

b. Khazanat al-Musannifeen, inside the bankruptcy of ‘Kitab al-Salat’ (Book of Salah) in the section ‘To observe a Rafidhi in Salat, is it proper or incorrect’?

22. It is stated in Fateh al-Qadeer, Sharah “Hidaya” and Hashiyyah on “Tabi’een al-Salamah” that:

“Anyone, who prefers Mawla Ali above the alternative three rightly guided Caliphs, is a misled.”

a. Fateh al-Qadeer, Sharah (a commentary) at the most famend and dependable Fiqh e-book “Hidaya”, Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page 248

b. Hashiyyah (a statement) on the Fiqh e-book “Tabi’een al-Salamah”, by means of Allama Ahmad as-Salabi, Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page a hundred thirty five

23. It is likewise written inside the following Fiqh books “Bada’eh”, “Bazaziyyah”, “Asabah”, “Fan al-Sa’ani”, “al-Haf al-Abrar wal-Basair”, “Fatawa Qurwiyyah” and “Waqiat al-Muftiyyin”, and a lot of these books have quoted references from every other maximum authentic and renowned Fiqh ebook “Fatawa Khulasa”, that:

“Anyone, who prefers Hadrat Mawla Ali (Karam Allahu wajh al-Karim) over them (Shaykhain) is a misled and heretic.”

a. Bada’eh, Vol three, Page 264

b. Bazaziyyah, Vol 3, Page 319

c. Asabah – Printed in Egypt, Page 187

d. Fatawa Qurwiyyah – Printed in Egypt, Vol 1, Page 25

e. Waqiat al-Muftiyyin – Printed in Egypt, Page thirteen

24. It is noted in another authentic and maximum renowned Fiqh e book “Majma al-Anhar”, Sharah (a observation) at the e-book “Multaqi al-Abhar”, that:

“Tafdhili, people who decide on Hadrat Mawla Ali Radi Allahu Anhu above the opposite three Caliphs are misled. [Majma’ al Anhar – Printed in Istanbul, Vol 1, Page 105]

25. Sayyiduna Meer Abdul Wahid Hussayni Zaidi Wasti Bilgraami has written in his ‘Sabaa Sanabil Sharif’:

After Hadrat Abu Bakr comes the distinction of Hadrat Umar, then Hadrat Uthman after which Hadrat Ali. He who does not take delivery of Hadrat Ali as the Khalifa is from the Kharijees and he who regards him (Hadrat Ali) to be greater incredible than Hadrat Abu Bakr and Umar is from the Raafdhis. [Sab’a Sanabil, Page 10]

Conclusion

There is an Ijma’ of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah on the reality that Sayyiduna Abu Bak Al-Siddiq is the maximum superior among the partners of our loved Prophet (Peace be upon Him and Allah is thrilled with all of them). After him comes the distinction of Hadrat Umar, then Hadrat Uthman and then Hadrat Ali Ridwanullahi Ta’ala Alaihim Ajma’een. They all have been pious worshippers and steadfast on Truth and sided with Truth and we love they all.

He, who believes that Sayyiduna Ali or any other accomplice is greater advanced above Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, is erroneous from the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. The real Love for Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu will most effective and handiest be valid and useful when his teachings, Aqida and Iman is also observed. The Ahl al-Bayt must themselves communicate extra often approximately the tafhdil of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr  as-Siddiq Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu as this is mass-narrated from Sayyiduna Ali Karram Allahu Wajh al-Kareem himslef, and a sunnah of his.

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And Allah Most high by myself offers steerage!!