Commentary:
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would deal with each and every person in a special way, showing him love and attention. However, it was the general habit of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to give preference to those Sahaabah who held a higher position in deen without making others feel inferior. Nevertheless, at times, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) showed deeper love and attention those who were lower in status in order to please their hearts and draw them closer to deen. He even showed special attention to the non-believers and the munaafiqeen (hypocrites) with the aim of showing them the beauty of Islam and drawing them towards Islam.
In the beginning, due to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) showing special attention to this Sahaabi, he began to feel that he was the best among the Sahaabah. However, to confirm his impression, he once came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and enquired regarding his position in comparison to Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was honest to him and explained to him that his position was lower than the position of these Sahaabah.
From this, we learn that just as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was a personification of love and kindness, he was also an embodiment of honesty and truthfulness, and hence he did not falsely flatter this Sahaabi, but was honest to him and explained his true position to him.
After Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) explained to the Sahaabi that he was lower than these great Sahaabah in position, he regretted asking the question, as he realized that it was not correct for him to compare himself to these great Sahaabah.
The reason for the Sahaabi posing the question in this sequence was that in the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) regarded Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as the best amongst them, followed by Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and then Hazrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
In essence, from this Hadith, we understand that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made every person feel comfortable and happy in his mubaarak presence. It was on account of this sublime conduct and extraordinary love which he displayed to one and all that every person loved him the most and felt that he was special in his sight.