ibnMuslim writes "The Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, clearly stated that ten of his Companions would be in Paradise. Ahmad reports from Sa`id ibn Zayd, and Tirmidhi reports from `Abdul-Rahman ibn `Awf, that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said:

"Abu Bakr will be in Paradise, `Umar will be in Paradise, `Uthman will be in Paradise, `Ali will be in Paradise, Talhah will be in Paradise, Al-Zubayr will be in Paradise, `Abdul-Rahman ibn `Awf will be in Paradise, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas will be in Paradise, Sa`id ibn Zayd will be in Paradise and Abu `Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah will be in Paradise." Its isnad is sahih. [Sahih al-Jami` as-Saghir, 1/70, no. 50]

Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Al-Diya' reported a slightly different version from Sa`id ibn Zayd:

"Ten will be in Paradise: the Prophet will be in Paradise, Abu Bakr will be in Paradise, `Umar will be in Paradise, `Uthman will be in Paradise, `Ali will be in Paradise, Talhah will be in Paradise, al-Zubayr ibn al-`Awwam will be in Paradise, Sa`d ibn Malik will be in Paradise, `Abdul-Rahman ibn `Awf will be in Paradise and Sa`id ibn Zayd will be in Paradise. Its isnad is sahih. [Sahih al-Jami` as-Saghir, 4/34, no. 3905]

The books of the Sunnah tell us that one day the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, was sitting at the well of `Ariis, with Abu Musa al-Ash`ari acting as his gatekeeper. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq came and asked permission to see him, and the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, "Let him in, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise." Then `Umar came, and he said, "Let him in and give him the glad tidings of Paradise." Then `Uthman came and he said, "Let him in, and give him the glad tidings of Paradise because of an affliction that will befall him." [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi. See Jami al-Usul, 8/562, no. 6372. The hadith is lengthy, so we have shortened it here and quoted only that which is relevant to the current discussion.]

Ibn `Asakir reported with a sahih isnad from Ibn Mas`ud that the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: "My successor will be in Paradise, his successor will be in Paradise, and the third and fourth will be in Paradise." [Sahih al-Jami` as-Saghir, 4/149, no. 4311.] The "successor" refers to the one who would take over the reins of leadership after his death. These four are Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman and `Ali, may Allah be pleased with them all.

Tirmidhi and al-Hakim reported with a sahih isnad from `A'ishah, radhiallahu `anha, that the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said to Abu Bakr: "You are free from the Fire." [Sahih al-Jami` as-Saghir, 2/24, no. 1494]

Dr. `Umar Al-Ashqar
http://www.islaam.com"