Silah bin Zufar (rahimahullah) reports:

When any person would make mention of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in the presence of Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), then Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would say, “He is the one who surpassed everyone. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) all regarded him as the one who went ahead of everyone.”

Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then explained, “I take an oath by that Being in whose hand lies my life! Whenever we (the Sahaabah) competed in any good work, we found that Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) preceded us and surpassed us in doing it.”

(Majma‘uz Zawaa’id #14332)