527 - Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Warraq wrote to me from Mosul, saying: Bakr ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from his father, from Abu 'Abd Allah, who was asked about one who says: "Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Ali, and 'Uthman?" He replied: "This statement does not please me." I asked: "Should it be said that he is an innovator (mubtadi')?" He replied: "I dislike declaring him an innovator with the severe innovation." I asked: "Then what of one who says: 'Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Ali,' and remains silent, not preferring anyone [further]?" He replied: "This statement also does not please me." I asked: "Should it be said that he is an innovator?" He replied: "That statement does not please me." Abu 'Abd Allah said: "It is narrated from a number of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that they preferred 'Uthman. Ibn Mas'ud said: 'The best of those who remain.' 'A'isha said: 'Uthman became better than 'Ali.' Al-Duri said: I heard Yahya say: Sharik said: 'Anyone who puts 'Ali before Abu Bakr and 'Umar has no good in him.'"
٥٢٧ - كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْوَرَّاقِ مِنَ الْمَوْصِلِ، قَالَ: ثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَسَأَلَهُ عَمَّنْ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعَلِيٌّ وَعُثْمَانُ؟ فَقَالَ: " مَا يُعْجِبُنِي هَذَا الْقَوْلُ، قُلْتُ: فَيُقَالَ: إِنَّهُ مُبْتَدِعٌ؟ قَالَ: أَكْرَهُ أَنَّ أُبَدِّعَهُ، الْبِدْعَةَ الشَّدِيدَةَ، قُلْتُ: فَمَنْ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعَلِيٌّ وَسَكَتَ فَلَمْ يُفَضِّلُ أَحَدًا؟ قَالَ: لَا يُعْجِبُنِي أَيْضًا هَذَا الْقَوْلُ، قُلْتُ: فَيُقَالَ: مُبْتَدِعٌ؟ قَالَ: لَا يُعْجِبُنِي هَذَا الْقَوْلُ، قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: يُرْوَى عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُمْ فَضَلُّوا عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ:، «خَيْرُ مَنْ بَقِيَ» ، وَقَالَتْ ⦗٣٧٩⦘ عَائِشَةُ: «أَصْبَحَ عُثْمَانُ خَيْرًا مِنْ عَلِيٍّ» ، وَقَالَ الدُّورِي: سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى يَقُولُ: قَالَ شَرِيكٌ: لَيْسَ يُقَدِّمُ أَحَدٌ عَلِيًّا عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فِيهِ خَيْرٌ "
