Merits of the Rightly Guided Caliphs
2 hadiths
I advise you to fear Allah and to hear and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave. You will see after me great discord. So, hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs
Al-‘Irbād ibn Sāriyah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: One day, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) gave us an eloquent admonition that caused hearts to become afraid and eyes to shed tears. Someone then said: O Messenger of Allah, this is the admonition of someone who will soon part; so, advise us. He said: "I advise you to fear Allah and to hear and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave. You will see after me great discord. So, hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided Caliphs. Bite onto it with the molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters (in religion), for every newly invented matter is misguidance."
كنا في زمن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا نعدل بأبي بكر أحدًا، ثم عمر، ثم عثمان
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: كنا في زمن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا نعدل بأبي بكر أحدًا، ثم عمر، ثم عثمان، ثم نترك أصحاب النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، لا نفاضل بينهم.