On the authority of Hudhayfah, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

3993 - Sa'id ibn Yahya ibn Sa'id al-Umawi narrated to us, saying: Waki' narrated to us, from Salim Abu al-'Ala' al-Muradi, from 'Amr ibn Harim, from Rib'i ibn Hirash, from Hudhayfah, who said: We were sitting with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said: "Indeed, I do not know how long I will remain among you, so follow the example of the two after me." And he pointed to Abu Bakr and 'Umar. (1)

Chapter 36

3994 - Al-Hasan ibn al-Sabbah al-Bazzar narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Kathir narrated to us, from al-Awza'i, from Qatadah, from Anas, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abu Bakr and 'Umar: "These two are the masters of the elders of the people of Paradise among the first and the last, except for the Prophets and the Messengers. Do not inform them of this, O 'Ali." (2)

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(1) A good (hasan) hadith through its chains of transmission, as is its predecessor. It is found in al-Musnad (23386) and Sahih Ibn Hibban (6902). It will come again from the author at number 4133. See also what precedes it.

(2) A sound (sahih) hadith through its supporting witnesses. Muhammad ibn Kathir: he is Ibn Abi 'Ata' al-Misisi. There is disagreement concerning him; some declared him weak, while others authenticated him. Thus he is weak but considered for supporting witnesses.
It was also recorded by Ibn Abi 'Asim in al-Sunnah (1420), and al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (6869). It is found in Sharh Mushkil al-Athar by al-Tahawi (1963).
It is supported by the hadith of 'Ali that follows, and the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri recorded by al-Bazzar (2492), which is found in Sharh al-Mushkil (1966), though its chain is weak.