Muhammad b. `Umar al-Hafith narrated to me in the City of Peace (Baghdad). He said: Muhammad b. `Amr b. Rafi` al-Bahili narrated to us. He said: Abu Ghassan al-Mas`ami narrated to us. He said: `Abd al-Malik b. al-Sabah narrated to us. He said: `Imran b. Jarir narrated to us from al-Hasan. He said: `Umar said:

Surely, I have never seen anyone more fitting to lead the people to the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Prophet than him – meaning, `Ali b. Abi Talib .