Esteemed in the Eyes of the Holy Prophet (sa)
Hazrat Huzayfa (ra) relates that the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “After me, follow both Abu Bakr and Umar.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab Iqtadu bi alladhina min ba‘di, Hadith 3662)
Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (ra) narrates that the Holy Prophet (sa) stated, “Every prophet has two viziers in Heaven and two viziers on the earth. My two viziers in Heaven are Gabriel and Michael, and my two viziers on the earth are Abu Bakr and Umar.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab fa amma Wazirai fi al-Ard, Hadith 3680)
Hazrat Huzayfa (ra) relates, “We were sat with the Holy Prophet (sa) when he said, ‘I do not know for how long I shall remain among you, therefore you must follow these two after me.’ He then indicated towards Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)and Hazrat Umar (ra).”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Manaqib, Bab fi Manaqib Abi Bakr wa Umar kilaihima, Hadith 3663)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)relates that one day the Holy Prophet (sa) asked, “Who among you has seen a dream?” One person replied, “I saw that a scale had descended from the sky. It weighed both yourself and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)and you were heavier on the scales than him. Then Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)and Hazrat Umar (ra) were weighed, and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)was heavier in the scales. Then Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Uthman (ra) were weighed, and Hazrat Umar (ra) was heavier in the scales. The scale was then taken away.’” The narrator then says, “We then saw signs of displeasure on the Holy Prophet’s (sa) countenance.”
In another narration, it is mentioned that after hearing the dream, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “This is the Khilafat after prophethood, and thereafter Allah shall grant monarchical rule to whoever He pleases.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Sunnah, Bab fi al-Khulafa, Hadith 2634-2635) (Aun al-Ma‘bud Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 12, pp. 387, 388, Kitab al-Sunnah, Bab fi al-Khulafa, al-Maktabah al-Salafiyyah, 1969)
Abd Khair relates that Hazrat Ali (ra) was standing at the pulpit and said, “O people, shall I not tell you of the best person in this Ummah after the Holy Prophet (sa)?” the people replied in the affirmative. Hazrat Ali (ra) then said, “Abu Bakr (ra).” He then remained silent for a short while before saying, “O people, shall I not tell you of the best person in this ummah after Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)? It is Umar (ra)?”
(Hulyat al-Auliya, Imam Isfahani, Vol. 7, p. 205, Hadith 10323, Maktabah Iman Mansurah, 2007)
Abu Juhaifah says that he heard Hazrat Ali (ra) say, “The best among this ummah after the Holy Prophet (sa) is Abu Bakr (ra)then Umar (ra).”
(Hulyat al-Auliya, Imam Isfahani, Vol. 7, p. 205, Hadith 10325, Maktabah Iman Mansurah, 2007)