A--- Narrated Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them): "During the lifetime of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) we considered Abu Bakr as peerless and then`Umar and then' Uthman (coming next to him in superiority) and then we used not to differentiate between the companions of the Prophet.”(Sahih Al-Bukhari) him): "I said to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) while I was in the Cave. "If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us. "He said: "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?" (Bukhari and Muslim) him): The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam)." (Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), 'You are telling a lie,’ while Abu Bakr said: 'He has said the truth, and consoled me with himself and his money.” He then said twice, "Won't you then give up harming my companion?" After that nobody harmed Abu Bakr. (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said regarding the speaking of the wolf and the cow, "But I believe in it and so do Abu Bakr and 'Umar. " (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "O Ibn Al-Khattab! By Him in Whose Hands my life is! Never does Satan find you going on a way, but he takes another way other than yours.”(Bukhari and Muslim) Narrated Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger says: "Among the nations before you there used to be people who were inspired (though they were not Prophets). And if there is any of such a persons amongst my followers, it is 'Umar.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

When `Uthman Ibn 'Affan went to Mecca prior the Pledge of Ar-Ridwan, "Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) held out his right hand saying, 'This is 'Uthman's hand.’ He stroke his (other) hand with it saying, 'This (pledge of allegiance) is on the behalf of `Uthman.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

He (Peace be upon him) says: "Whosoever digs the well of Rumah, he will enter Paradise" then 'Uthman dug it. Then, he (Peace be upon him)

said: "Whosoever makes provisions for the Army of Al'Usrah (the Battle of Tabuk), he will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Shouldn't I become shy of the one of whom the Angels became shy.” (Sahih Muslim)

Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) said to 'Ali Ibn Abu Talib, "You are (a part) from me, and I am (a part) from you.” (An Authentic Hadith)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) informed us that `Ali Ibn Abu Talib loves Allah and His Messenger, and that he is loved by Allah and His Messenger Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Whom so ever I am his master, 'Ali is his master.” (Ahmed and At-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Aren't you satisfied with being unto me what Aaron was unto Moses but with this exception that there would be no Prophet after me.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Allah's Prophet (Peace be upon him) says: "Ten (persons) will enter Paradise: the Prophet will enter Paradise, Abu Bakr will enter Paradise, 'Umar will enter Paradise, 'Uthman will enter Paradise, 'Ali will enter Paradise, Talha will enter Paradise, AzZubair Ibn Al-'Awwam will enter Paradise, Sa'd Ibn Malik will enter Paradise, and `Abdur-Rahman Ibn 'Auf will enter Paradise.” (Ahmed, At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud) Sa'id Ibn Zaid said: 'If you wish, I would name the tenth, i.e. himself.' May Allah be pleased with them all! Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) says: "The most merciful among my Ummah towards my Ummah is Abu Bakr, the severest (in rights)

pertaining to Allah's Religion is 'Umar, the most modest is 'Uthman, the most knowledgeable about what is lawful and unlawful is Mu'adh Ibn Jabal, the best reciter of Allah's Book is Ubaiy, the most knowledgeable about the laws of inheritance is Zaid Ibn Thabit, and for each Ummah there is a trustee, and the trustee of this Ummah is Abu`Ubaidah Ibn AlJarrah.”(At- Tirmidhi, Ahmed and Ibn Hibban)

Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said pertaining to Al-Hasan and Al-Husain that both are masters of the young men from the residents of Paradise and that they are his two basils. (Quoted from Sahih Bukhari)

He (Peace be upon him) says: "O Allah! I love them, so (please) love them." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Once the Prophet brought out Al-Hasan and took him up the pulpit along with him and said: "This son of mine is a Sayid (i.e. chief) and I hope that Allah will help him bring about reconciliation between two Muslim groups.” (Sahih Bukhari)

He (Peace be upon him) said regarding their mother, Fatimah that she is "The mistress of all the ladies of Paradise." (Bukhari and Muslim)

However, countless are the merits and virtues of the companions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). Affirming a virtue to any of them does not necessitate that he is far and above them all in every aspect save the four Rightly-guided Caliphs. The first three are due to the Hadith mentioned earlier and narrated by Ibn 'Umar. As for `Ali Ibn Abu Talib, the earlier Sunni scholars unanimously agreed upon that he was the fourth after them as the best creatures on earth.