Question

Please provide the translation and reference of this narration:

قبض رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على خير ما قبض عليه نبي من الأنبياء، وأثنى عليه صلى الله عليه وسلم. قال: ثم استخلف أبو بكر فعمل بعمل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وبسنته، ثم قبض أبو بكر على خير ما قبض عليه أحد، وكان خير هذه الأمة بعد نبيها، ثم استخلف عمر فعمل بعملهما وسننهما ثم قبض على خير ما قبض عليه أحد، وكان خير هذه الأمة بعد نبيها وبعد أبي بكر

Answer

Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) has recorded this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiyallahu ‘anhu). Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) has also recorded this narration with slight variation in this wording in his Fadailus Sahabah.

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 38208, Fadailus Sahabah: 427. Also see: Musnad Ahmad, vol. 1, pg. 128)

See another version here.

The translation is as follows:

Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away as the best any Messenger could pass away and then he praised Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Then, Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was appointed and he acted/executed his tasks in accordance to how Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did so and he followed Nabi’s (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) then passed away as the best way that anyone could pass away. Then ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) was appointed and he acted/executed his tasks in accordance to how they both did. He then passed away as the best way that anyone could pass away and he was the best of this Ummah after it’s Nabi and Abu Bakr.”

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar