Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ قَيْسٍ الْخَارِفِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ سَبَقَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَصَلَّى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَثَلَّثَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ خَبَطَتْنَا أَوْ أَصَابَتْنَا فِتْنَةٌ فَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ أَبِي قَوْلُهُ ثُمَّ خَبَطَتْنَا فِتْنَةٌ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَوَاضَعَ بِذَلِكَ.
English Translation
It was narrated that Qais al-Kharifi said: I heard Hadrat 'Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) say: The Beloved Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came first, followed by Hadrat Abu Bakr, and the third one was ‘Umar (رضي الله عنهما). Then turmoil (fitnah) struck us, and that is what Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, willed. Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman said; My father said regarding the words, then turmoil (fitnah) struck us. He was showing modesty thereby.