I heard ‘Ali ؓ saying on the minbar: The best of this ummah after its Prophet are Abu Bakr and ʻUmar, and if l wanted to name the third one, I would name him. A man said to Abu lshaq: They are saying that you say they were the best in evil. He said: Are you a Haroori (i.e.Khariji)?ʿ
قَالَسَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَلَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَ الثَّالِثَ لَسَمَّيْتُهُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي إِسْحَاقَ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّكَ تَقُولُ أَفْضَلُ فِي الشَّرِّ فَقَالَ أَحَرُورِيٌّ؟