It is narrated from Abdu Khair Hamdani (may Allah have mercy on him) that I once heard Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saying (during a sermon): "Shall I not tell you who is the best person in this Ummah after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)? He is Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). And shall I tell you who is the best person in this Ummah after Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)? He is Sayyiduna Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him)." Then he said: "If I wish, I can also tell you the name of the third person." However, he remained silent. We understood that he himself was Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). I asked the narrator, "Did you really hear Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) saying this?" He said, "By the Lord of the Ka'bah! Yes, (if I am lying) may these ears become deaf."