What is Sahih al-Bukhari 3499 about?

This hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (Book of Companions of the Prophet), narrated by Narrated Ibn `Umar:, states: "We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . We used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then `Umar, and then `Uthman ."

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sahih al-Bukhari, which contains 7,277 hadiths across 97 books. It is hadith number 3499 in the Book of Companions of the Prophet.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#3498

#3499

Sahih al-Bukhari

#3500

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Sahih al-Bukhari #3499

Companions of the Prophet

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كُنَّا نُخَيِّرُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنُخَيِّرُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ رضى الله عنهم‏.‏

We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . We used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then `Umar, and then `Uthman .

Narrated by Narrated Ibn `Umar:

Context

Ibn Umar shares how the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) ranked the early caliphs in terms of virtue. This ranking reflects the respect and admiration held for Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, highlighting their significant roles in the early Muslim community and the values they embodied.

Modern Application

This hadith serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and honoring leadership within a community. It encourages individuals to appreciate the contributions of those who have paved the way for future generations and to learn from their examples.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Community because it emphasizes the significance of leadership and the collective memory of the early Muslim community.

Community