Al-Hasan reported: Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “After the passing of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, we looked for what we were commanded and we found the Prophet had given preference to Abu Bakr for leading the prayer. So, we were pleased for our religion and we preferred Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him.”
Source: al-Sunnah li-Abī Bakr al-Khallāl 333
عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ لَمَّا قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَظَرْنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا فَوَجَدْنَا النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَدَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَرَضِينَا لِدُنْيَانَا مَا رَضِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِدِينِنَا فَقَدَّمْنَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ
1/273 السنة لأبي بكر بن الخلال جامع أمر الخلافة بعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم
