597 - Al-Hasan ibn Salih informed me, saying: Muhammad ibn Habib narrated to us, saying: I said to Abu 'Abd Allah: 'What about one who says: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali?' He replied: 'Go to him [to ask him]. It pleases me to say: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman, and then remain silent. If a man says: "And 'Ali," I do not rebuke him, but this statement does not please me.' Ibn 'Umar used to say: "Abu Bakr, 'Umar, and 'Uthman," and we leave the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, without preferring some of them over others.'
٥٩٧ - وَأَخْبَرَنِي الْحَسَنُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ: ثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: مَنْ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ وَعَلِيٌّ؟ قَالَ: " اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ، وَيُعْجِبُنِي أَنْ أَقُولَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ وَأَسْكُتُ، وَإِنْ قَالَ رَجُلٌ: وَعَلِيٌّ، لَمْ أُعَنِّفْهُ، وَلَا يُعْجِبُنِي هَذَا الْقَوْلُ. قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ: «أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ» ، وَنَتْرُكُ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا نُفَضِّلُ بَيْنَهُمْ "
