Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (R)

• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) never indulged in idol worship nor consumed wine before and after embracing Islaam. 'Ibn Asaakir'
• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) was the bosom friend of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) since childhood. 'Kanzul Ummaal'
• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) was the first adult male to embrace Islaam. 'Fathul Baarie'
• The following persons from the forerunners of the Muhaajireen embraced Islaam through his efforts; ('Siyarus Sahabah')

Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Affaan (R) Hadhrat Sa'ad bin Abi Waqqaas (R) Hadhrat Abu Ubaidah (R)
Hadhrat Zubair bin Awwaam (R) Hadhrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (R) Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf (R)
Hadhrat Abu Salamah (R) Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Math'oon (R) Hadhrat Khaalid bin Sa'eed (R)

• He would purchase and set free Muslim slaves, who were being persecuted, amongst whom were Hadhrat Bilaal (R) and Hadhrat Aamir bin Fuhairah (R). 'Ibn Asaakir'
• In the period before Hijrat Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) spent 35000 Dinaars (gold coins) on the welfare of the Muslims. 'Khulafa-ur Raashideen'
• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) defended Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) from the assaults of the Mushrikeen. 'Bukhaari'
• His recitation of the Quraan would soften the hearts of others and inspire them to embrace Islaam. Ibid
• Rasulullaah (R) asked Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) to accompany him on Hijrat and Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) arranged the necessary transport and provisions. Ibid
• During Hijrat, they took refuge in the cave of Thowr where the following verses were revealed which indicate his lofty status.

"He was the second of the two (the other being his best friend Abu Bakr (R)) when they were (hiding from the Kuffaar) in the cave (outside Makkah) and he (Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)) told his COMPANION (Abu Bakr (R)) (when the Kuffaar were on the verge of capturing them) “Do not grieve (do not fear for my safety). Verily Allaah is with US (and He will protect us from the Kuffaar).” So Allaah caused His tranquillity (serenity, mercy and peace) to descend on him and assisted him (on various occasions) with an army (of angels and other creation) that you had not seen."
(Surah Taubah: 40) Ibid

• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) purchased the land for Masjidun-Nabawi from his own wealth on the instruction of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). 'Usdul-Ghaabah'
• Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) was the personal bodyguard of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) during the Battle of Badr and protected him from the attacks of the Mushrikeen. 'Ibn Hishaam'
• Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would consult with Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) and often his opinion would be in accord with the opinion of Rasulullaah (R). 'Musnad Ahmad'
• When the Sahabah were scattered after the surprise attack of the Mushrikeen in Uhud, Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) was amongst those who remained firm by the side of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). 'Muslim'
• Rasulullaah (R) appointed Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) as commander of the army on the first day of fighting during the Battle of Khaibar. 'Bidaayah wan Nihaayah'
• During the Battle of Tabuk, he donated all his wealth to Rasulullaah (R) and said, "I have left Allaah and His Rasul for my family." 'Tirmidhi'
• Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would seek his counsel and often confide in Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R). 'Tabqaatul Kubraa'
  
  • Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) often defended Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) from the criticism of others. 'Bukhaari'
• Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) praised the Imaan and sacrifices of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) and enumerated his virtues. 'Ibid'
• Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) appointed Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) as the leader of Hajj in the ninth year after Hijrat. 'Fathul Baarie'
• During the final pilgrimage, Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) and Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) rode on the same camel. 'ibid'
• In the last days of Rasulullaah's (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) life, he ordered Sayyidina Abu Bakr (R) to lead the Salaah in his absence and when others objected, Rasulullaah (R) said,

يَأْبَى اللهُ وَ الْمُسْلِمُوْنَ اِلَّا اَبَا بَكْرٍ

"Allaah and the Muslims will deny everyone except Abu Bakr (R)." 'Bukhaari'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t was appointed the first Khalifah of the Muslim Ummah on the consensus of the Muhaajireen and Ansaar. 'Bukhaari'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t put an end to the scourge of apostasy and eradicated the false claimants of Nabuwwat after Rasulullaah r. 'Bidaayah wan Nihaayah'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t fulfilled the final instructions of Rasulullaah r to send out the army of Sayyidina Usaamah t against the Romans. 'Ibid'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t shook the foundations of the Roman and Persian empires, which ultimately led to the future victories of Islaam. 'Siyarus Sahabah'

- It was under the instruction of Sayyidina Abu Bakr t that the Quraan was collected and compiled. 'Bukhaari'

- Despite his responsibilities as Khalifah, he still found time to tend to the widows and graze the sheep of the feeble and weak. 'Kanzul Ummaal'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t was allotted an allowance from the Baitul-Maal (public treasury) scarcely sufficient for his basic needs. 'Siyarus Sahabah'

- When Sayyidina Abu Bakr t passed away, all he had in his possession was a cloak, cup and a single slave, which he ordered to be deposited in the public treasury. 'Bidaayah wan Nihaayah'

- Sayyidina Abu Bakr t passed away at the age of sixty-three and was buried alongside his dearest and closest friend, Rasulullaah r. 'Tabqaat Ibn Sa'ad'

- Sayyidina Ali t stood outside the house of Sayyidina Abu Bakr t, after he passed away and said out loud,

"O Abu Bakr t, may Allaah have Mercy upon you. You were the closest companion and friend of Rasulullaah r, you were a comfort to him; you were the one he trusted most. If he had a secret, he would tell it to you; and if he needed to consult someone regarding a matter, he would consult you. You were the first of people to embrace Islaam, and you were the most sincere of them in your Imaan. Your Imaan was stronger than any other person's, as was the degree to which you feared Allaah. And you were wealthier than anyone else in terms of what you acquired from the religion of Allaah. You cared most for both Rasulullaah r and Islaam. Of all people, you were the best companion to Rasulullaah r; you possessed the best qualities; you had the best past; you ranked highest; and you were closest to him. And of all people you resembled Rasulullaah r the most in terms of his guidance and demeanour. Your ranking was higher than anyone else's, and Rasulullaah r honoured you and held you in higher esteem than anyone else. When the people disbelieved in the Messenger of Allaah r, you believed in him. Throughout his life, you were both his eyes with which he saw, and his ears with which he heard. On behalf of the Messenger of Allaah r and Islaam, may Allaah reward you with the best of rewards." 'Majma'uz Zawaaid'

- Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "No person has shown a favour to me except that I have repaid him with the exception of Abu Bakr (R); he has shown such favours to me which only Allaah Ta'ala can repay on the Day of Qiyaamah. No person's wealth has benefitted me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr (R)." 'Tirmidhi'

- Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "As for you, O Abu Bakr (R)! You will be the first of my Ummat to enter Jannat." 'Abu Dawood'

- Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "O Abu Bakr (R)! You will be my companion at the pond of Kauthar just as you were my companion in the cave (of Thowr)." 'Tirmidhi'

- Sayyidina Ammaar bin Yaasir (R) said, "Whoever gives superiority to any companion of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) over Abu Bakr (R) and Umar (R) has vilified the Muhaajireen and Ansaar." 'Tabraani'

- Sayyidina Anas bin Maalik (R) said, "We studied the lives of the companions of the previous Ambiyaa and have not found any other Nabi having a companion as excellent as Abu Bakr (R)." 'Ibn Asaakir'

- Sayyidina Ali (R) said, "I take an oath by Allaah! A moment of the life of Abu Bakr (R) is better than the entire life of the Mu'min from the progeny of Fir'oun, that was a person who concealed his Imaan whereas Abu Bakr (R) announced his Imaan." 'Musnad Bazzaar'

- Sayyidina Ali (R) said, "Whoever says that I am better than Abu Bakr (R), I will punish him with eighty lashes as is given for false testimony." 'Haakim'

- The son of Sayyidina Ali (R), Sayyidina Muhammad bin Hanafiyah (A.R) said, "Abu Bakr (R) was the best of the Sahabah in Islaam, from the time he embraced it until he met his Rabb." 'Ibn Abi Shaibah'

- The son of Sayyidina Hussein (R), Sayyidina Zainul Aabideen (A.R) said, "The status of Abu Bakr (R) in the opinion of Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was exactly what his status is now with Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) (i.e. alongside Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam))."

- The grandson of Sayyidina Hussein (R), Sayyidina Baaqir (A.R) narrated from his forefathers, "Abu Bakr (R) became our ruler and he was the best Khalifah of Allaah; he was the most merciful and the kindest to us." 'Haakim'

- When Sayyidina Ali (R) was asked to appoint his successor after being severely wounded, he replied,

"Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) did not appoint a successor after him so how can I? However if Allaah Ta'ala desires good for the people he will unite them around the best of them after me just as Allaah Ta'ala united us around the best amongst us after Rasulullaah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)." 'Haakim'