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Text and translation
English translation
98. It was narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaikah said: "I heard Ibn 'Abbâs say: 'When 'Umar was placed on his bed (i.e., his bier), the people gathered around him, praying and invoking blessings upon him,' or he said, 'praising him and invoking blessings upon him before (the bier) was lifted up, and I was among them. No one alarmed me except a man
who crowded against me and seized me by the shoulder. I turned and saw that it was 'Ali bin Abu Tālib. He prayed for mercy for 'Umar, then he said: "You have not left behind anyone who it is more beloved to me to meet Allāh with the like of his deeds than yourself. By Allāh, I think that Allāh will most certainly unite you with your two companions, and that is because I often heard the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ saying: 'Abu Bakr, 'Umar and I went; Abu Bakr, 'Umar and I came in; Abu Bakr, 'Umar and I went out.' So I think that Allāh will most certainly join you to your two companions." (Sahih)
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Commentary
This shows that 'Ali ﷺ held a very high opinion of 'Umar ﷺ, because the Prophet ﷺ kept the two Companions 'Umar and Abu Bakr ﷺ with him in all important matters.
'Ali ﷺ considered both the venerable Companions superior to himself. That is why he wished that he would also be enabled by Allāh to do acts like them.
It is desirable to try to follow those who are better than us in the doing of good deeds. It would, however, be wrong to envy the lot of those who are ahead of us in worldly riches, or are engaged in the doing of evil deeds.
