Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "I hope that I, Uthman, and others are among those of whom Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, said: {Brothers on thrones, facing each other} [Al-Hijr: 47]." Thus, Ali says this for himself, Talha, and Al-Zubayr, and he prays for mercy upon them all. As for us, we do not mention them except with what Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has commanded us: {Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith} [Al-Hashr: 10]. And the Almighty and Majestic said: {That is a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do} [Al-Baqarah: 134].
Then Abu Abd Allah [Imam Ahmad] said: "This is the clear path and the straight way for whom Allah desires good and whom He grants understanding of religion. May Allah protect us and you from every destruction by His mercy." He said: And I heard Abu Abd Allah say: "Whoever remains sound regarding what the companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him, were upon, I hope he will be safe." Abu Abd Allah said: "And I do not find in Islam a greater favor upon Islam after the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, than Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, due to his fighting the apostates and his upholding of Islam, then Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah have mercy on him and have mercy on the companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and benefit us through our love for them."
Abu Abd Allah said: "I hope for success tomorrow for whoever was safe regarding the companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and whoever loved them, because they were the pillars of the religion, the leaders of Islam, the helpers of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his supporters, and his ministers for the truth. Following the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is the Sunnah, and they are not to be mentioned except with good, and mercy should be sought for the first and the last of them."
