Islami] it is stated: ‘It is the Ijmā’ [consensus] of the Aĥl-us-Sunnaĥ that, leaving the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr is the most highly-ranked and supreme personality of the entire universe, followed by Sayyidunā ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ, Sayyidunā ‘Alī کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم and then the rest of the ‘Asharaĥ Mubasharaĥ [the ten companions who were heralded for entry into Paradise].

After this come the rest of Aĥl-e-Badr [the companions who fought at Badr], then Aĥl-e-Uḥud [the companions who fought at Uḥud], then the rest of the Aĥl-e-Bayt-e-Riḍwān [those who made the pledge of allegiance to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم] and then the remainder of the Ṣaḥābaĥ رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم. This Ijmā’ [consensus] has been quoted by Sayyidunā Abū Manṣūr Baghdādī عَلَيْهِ رَحمَةُ اللهِ الۡـهَادِی. Ibn-e-‘Asākir رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has reported that Sayyidunā Ibn-e-‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ said, ‘We would attribute Sayyidunā Abū Bakr, Sayyidunā ‘Umar, Sayyidunā ‘Ušmān, Sayyidunā ‘Alī رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم with excellence and high rank in the state that the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was among us.’ (Ibn-e-Asākir, Vol. 30, p. 346)

Imām Aḥmad رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and other scholars have narrated from Sayyidunā ‘Alī کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم that he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ said, ‘After the Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, Abū Bakr and ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم are the best of this Ummat.’ (Ibn-e-‘Asākir, Vol. 30, p. 351)

Żaĥabī رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated that this narration of Sayyidunā ‘Alī کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم is Batawātur [having multiple transmissions]. (Tārīkh-ul-Khulafā, p. 34)