559 - Muhammad ibn Abi Harun informed us, saying: Ishaq narrated to us that Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] was asked about a man who does not prefer 'Uthman over 'Ali? He said: "It is incumbent upon us to prefer 'Uthman over 'Ali. There was no disagreement among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah that 'Uthman is superior to 'Ali, may Allah have mercy upon them both." Then he said: "We say: Abu Bakr, then 'Umar, then 'Uthman, and I hold this position regarding superiority. As for the Caliphate, it is: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali; this is the order of the Caliphs in this path, and this is what the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were upon."
٥٥٩ - وَأَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي هَارُونَ، قَالَ: ثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ لَا يُفَضِّلُ عُثْمَانَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ؟ قَالَ: " يَنْبَغِي أَنْ نُفَضِّلَ عُثْمَانَ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ، لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اخْتِلَافٌ أَنَّ عُثْمَانَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ رَحِمَهُمَا اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: نَقُولُ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، وَعُثْمَانُ، ثُمَّ نَسَكْتُ هَذَا فِي التَّفْضِيلِ، وَفِي الْخِلَافَةِ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، وَعُثْمَانُ، وَعَلِيٌّ، وَهَذَا فِي الْخُلَفَاءِ عَلَى هَذَا الطَّرِيقِ، وَعَلَى ذَا كَانَ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ "
