My father was part of the police force of Ali ؓ . He stood beneath the minbar and told me that he, meaning ‘Ali ؓ , ascended the minbar and praised and glorified Allah and sent blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, and he said: The best of this ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, and the second is ‘Umar ؓ , And he said: Allah puts goodness wherever He wants.
كَانَ أَبِي مِنْ شُرَطِ عَلِيٍّ وَكَانَ تَحْتَ الْمِنْبَرِ فَحَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّهُ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ يَعْنِي عَلِيًّا فَحَمِدَ اللهَ تَعَالَى وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَقَالَ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَالثَّانِي عُمَرُ وَقَالَ يَجْعَلُ اللهُ تَعَالَى الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ أَحَبَّ