‘Ali ؓ said, when he finished with the people of Basrah: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and after Abu Bakr it is ‘Umar ؓ , then we got involved in matters which Allah will judge as He wills.
عَلِيٌّ لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ إِنَّ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا ﷺ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَبَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عُمَرُ وَأَحْدَثْنَا أَحْدَاثًا يَصْنَعُ اللهُ فِيهَا مَا شَاءَ