عن أنس بن مالك أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أرحم أمتي بأمتي أبو بكر وأشدهم في دين الله عمر وأصدقهم حياء عثمان وأقضاهم علي بن أبي طالب (سنن ابن ماجة, الرقم: 154)

Hazrat Anas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The most merciful of my ummah towards my ummah is Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and the most firm in (upholding) the command of Allah Ta‘ala is Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and the one possessing the most hayaa is Hazrat Uthmaan bin Affaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and the one possessing the most knowledge (and insight) in passing judgement is Hazrat Ali bin Abi Taalib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).”