He said: 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Aban al-Qurashi narrated to us, saying: I heard Sufyan al-Thawri say: "Whoever puts anyone before Abu Bakr and 'Umar has disparaged twelve thousand of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed away while he was pleased with them."