Selected authentic narrations from the book

Fadaa'il as-Sahaabah (Virtues of the Companions)
by al-Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allaah have mercy upon him)

using the critical edition prepared by our teacher ash-Shaykh Wasiullaah ibn Muhammad 'Abbaas, professor at Umm al-Qura University and lecturer at al-Masjid al-Haraam (may Allaah grant him continued wellbeing)

🔊 Audio: 1-39 | 40-64 | 67-87 | 88-127 | 128-148 |

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ [الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ] قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا مَا أَدْرَكَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ.

[5] Aboo Sa'eed [al-Khudree (may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, "Do not insult my Companions. I swear by the One in whose hand my soul lies that if any one of you was to give an amount of gold in charity as large as the Uhud mountain, it would not yield the reward of a single mudd{1} - or even half a mudd - given by one of them."

Notes:

{1} A "mudd" refers to a standard volume measurement that was used in al-Madeenah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). Some contemporary researchers, using varied methods of measurement, have determined that the volume of one mudd is in the range from approximately 625ml to 750ml, and Allaah knows best. (See Hallaaq, al-Eedaahaat al-'Asriyyah p. 116; as-Sarheed, as-Saa' an-Nabawee p. 84).

\End of notes.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَوْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا مَا أَدْرَكَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَهُ.

[6] Aboo Sa'eed [al-Khudree (may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, "Do not insult my Companions. Indeed, if any one of you was to give an amount of gold in charity as large as the Uhud mountain, it would not yield the reward of single mudd - or even half a mudd - given by one of them."

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ:...قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ سَبَّ أَصْحَابِي فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ، وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

[8](A) Anas ibn Maalik [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, "If anyone insults my Companions. Allaah will expel that person from His mercy, and he will deserve to have all of the angels and all of mankind supplicate that he be expelled from Allaah's mercy."

شَكَى عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ، فَقَالَ: يَا خَالِدُ، لِمَ تُؤْذِي رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ؟ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا لَمْ تُدْرِكْ عَمَلَهُ. فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، يَقَعُونَ فِيَّ فَأَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا تُؤْذُوا خَالِدًا، فَإِنَّهُ سَيْفٌ مِنْ سُيُوفِ اللَّهِ صَبَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ.

[13](A) 'Abdur-Rahmaan ibn 'Awf [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] had complained to Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) about Khaalid ibn al-Waleed [(may Allaah be pleased with him)]. As a result, Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, "Khaalid, why are you extending harm to a man who participated in the Battle of Badr? Even if you gave an amount of gold in charity as large as the Uhud mountain, you would still not attain the magnitude of reward that he attained for the deeds that he performed." Khaalid replied, "Messenger of Allaah, they disparage me so I respond to them as a result." Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) then said to the Companions, "Do not extend harm to Khaalid since he is indeed one of Allaah's swords which Allaah unleashed against those who continue to reject the truth."

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ: أُمِرُوا بِالِاسْتِغْفَارِ لِأَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَسَبُّوهُمْ.

[14] 'Aa'ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] stated, "People were instructed to ask Allaah's forgiveness for the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad [(may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)], but they insulted them instead."

[عَنِ] ابْنِ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَلَمَقَامُ أَحَدِهِمْ سَاعَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ أَحَدِكُمْ عُمْرَهُ.

[15] ['Abdullaah] ibn 'Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, "Do not insult the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad [(may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)], since a short time spent by one of them in Allaah's obedience is certainly better than the deeds that one of you performs throughout the course of his entire life."

عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ: ثَلَاثٌ ارْفُضُوهُنَّ: سَبُّ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَالنَّظَرُ فِي النُّجُومِ، وَالنَّظَرُ فِي الْقَدَرِ.

[19] Maymoon ibn Mihraan [- a taabi'ee (may Allaah have mercy upon him) -] stated, "Three things you must reject are: insulting the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), predicting events of the future based on the conditions of celestial objects, and wrongfully delving into issues about Allaah's preordainment."

[عَنِ] ابْنِ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ: لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابَ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَلَمَقَامُ أَحَدِهِمْ سَاعَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً.

[20] ['Abdullaah] ibn 'Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, "Do not insult the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad [(may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)], since a short time spent by one of them in Allaah's obedience is certainly better than the worship that one of you performs throughout the span of forty years."

عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ فِي الْغَارِ - وَقَالَ مَرَّةً: وَنَحْنُ فِي الْغَارِ -: لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ إِلَى قَدَمَيْهِ لَأَبْصَرَنَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ، قَالَ: فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا؟

[23] Anas [ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated that Aboo Bakr [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated to him the following: I had said to the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) while we were in the cave, (i.e. in the Thawr mountain), “If any one of them (i.e. the mushrikoon) looked down to his own two feet, he would surely see us right beneath his two feet.” The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) replied, “Aboo Bakr, what do you think would happen to two people when Allaah is the third who is with the two of them (i.e. to support, guide, and protect them)?”

سُئِلَ عَنْ فَضَائِلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَرِضْوَانُهُ

[Section] [al-Imaam Ahmad] was asked about virtues of Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq (may Allaah have mercy upon him and be pleased with him)

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالٌ قَطُّ مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ. فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ: وَهَلْ أَنَا وَمَالِي إِلَّا لَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟

[25] Aboo Hurayrah [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “No wealth has ever benefitted me the way that Aboo Bakr’s wealth benefitted me.” Aboo Bakr then wept and said, “Is there any person who could be completely entitled to my own self and to my wealth besides you, Messenger of Allaah?”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَا نَفَعَنَا مَالُ أَحَدٍ مَا نَفَعَنَا مَالُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ.

[29](A) ‘Aa’ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “No person’s wealth has benefitted us the way that Aboo Bakr’s wealth benefitted us.”

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجًا، أَوْ قَالَ: زَوْجَيْنِ، مِنْ مَالِهِ - أُرَاهُ قَالَ: فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ - دَعَتْهُ خَزَنَةُ الْجَنَّةِ: يَا مُسْلِمُ، هَذَا خَيْرٌ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: هَذَا رَجُلٌ لَا تَوَى عَلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَا نَفَعَنِي مَالٌ قَطُّ إِلَّا مَالُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ. قَالَ: فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ: وَهَلْ نَفَعَنِي اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِكَ، وَهَلْ رَفَعَنِي اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِكَ؟

[32] Aboo Hurayrah [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “Anyone who gives one type” – or he said, “two types” – “from any type of his wealth” – and I think he said, “in Allaah’s path” – “would be called by the keepers of Jannah who will say, ‘You, the individual who submits to Allaah in Islaam, this gate to Jannah is one of immense goodness, so come to it’.” Aboo Bakr remarked, “If a man is told that, there is no loss that he could suffer!” Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) then said, “No wealth has ever benefitted me except Aboo Bakr’s wealth.” Aboo Bakr wept and he said, “Did Allaah benefit me except due to you, and did Allaah elevate me except due to you?”

عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ: جَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَسْتَأْذِنُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَسَمِعَ عَائِشَةَ وَهِيَ رَافِعَةٌ صَوْتَهَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُ، فَدَخَلَ فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَةَ أُمِّ رُومَانَ، وَتَنَاوَلَهَا، أَتَرْفَعِينَ صَوْتَكِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: فَحَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا، قَالَ: فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ جَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ لَهَا يَتَرَضَّاهَا: أَلَا تَرَيْنَ أَنِّي حُلْتُ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَكِ؟...ثُمَّ جَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ، فَوَجَدَهُ يُضَاحِكُهَا. قَالَ: فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَدَخَلَ، فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَشْرِكَانِي فِي سِلْمِكُمَا كَمَا أَشْرَكْتُمَانِي فِي حَرْبِكُمَا.

[38] an-Nu‘maan ibn Basheer [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated: Aboo Bakr once went and asked permission to enter the dwelling of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). When Aboo Bakr did that, he heard ‘Aa’ishah (i.e. his daughter) raising her voice at Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). The Prophet granted Aboo Bakr permission, so he entered and said, “Daughter of Umm Roomaan!”, and he took hold of her. He continued, “Are you raising your voice at the Messenger of Allaah?!” The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) then stood between the two of them to restrain Aboo Bakr. After Aboo Bakr left, the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) sought to appease ‘Aa’ishah by telling her, “Do you not realize that I came between the man and you in order to restrain him?” Aboo Bakr came again later on and asked permission to enter the dwelling of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). When Aboo Bakr did that, he found the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) joking with ‘Aa’ishah and she was joking back with him. The Prophet granted Aboo Bakr permission, so he entered. Aboo Bakr then said, “Messenger of Allaah, I would like the two of you to let me share in the time of peace between you just as you both let me share in the time of war between you.”

قَالَ النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ: اسْتَأْذَنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَسَمِعَ صَوْتَ عَائِشَةَ عَالِيًا، وَهِيَ تَقُولُ: وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ أَبِي - مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا -، فَاسْتَأْذَنَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَدَخَلَ، فَأَهْوَى إِلَيْهَا فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَةَ فُلَانَةَ، أَلَا، أَسْمَعُكِ تَرْفَعِينَ صَوْتَكِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ!

[39] an-Nu‘maan ibn Basheer [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated: Aboo Bakr once went to ask permission to enter the dwelling of Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), and he heard ‘Aa’ishah (i.e. his daughter) saying in a raised voice, “I swear by Allaah that I certainly know ‘Alee is more beloved to you than my father.” She said that twice or thrice. Aboo Bakr then asked permission, entered after he was granted permission, extended his hand to take hold of her, and said, “Daughter of such-and-such woman, pay attention to this: I am hearing you raise your voice at the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)!”

سُئِلَ عَنْ قَوْلِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَغَيْرِهِ: خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ

[Section] [al-Imaam Ahmad] was asked about the statement of ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib and others saying that the best individuals of this Ummah after its Prophet are Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar

[عَنْ عَلِيٍّ] يَقُولُ: أَلَا، أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَلَا، أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ: عُمَرُ.

[40](A) ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “Pay attention to this: I will inform you of who the best individual among this Ummah is after its Prophet. It is Aboo Bakr. Pay attention to this as well: I will inform you of who the best individual among this Ummah is after Aboo Bakr. It is ‘Umar.”

[عَنْ عَلِيٍّ] يَقُولُ: أَلَا، أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ.

[41](A) ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “Pay attention to this: I will inform you of who the best individuals among this Ummah are after its Prophet. They are Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar.”

[عَنْ عَلِيٍّ] قَالَ: أَلَا، أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا. فَقَالُوا: نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَلَا، أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ. قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. فَقَالَ: عُمَرُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَلَا أُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ عُمَرَ؟ فَقَالُوا: بَلَى، فَسَكَتَ.

[44] ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “Pay attention to this: I will inform you of who the best individual among this Ummah is after its Prophet.” The people present said, “Please do inform us.” He said, “It is Aboo Bakr.” He then said, “Pay attention to this: I will inform you of who the best individual among this Ummah is after Aboo Bakr.” Those present said, “Please do inform us.” He said, “It is ‘Umar.” He then said, “Shall I not tell you who the best individual among this Ummah is after ‘Umar?” Those present replied, “Please do inform us.” However, he remained quiet.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ: خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَخَيْرُهَا بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عُمَرُ، وَلَوْ شِئْتُ سَمَّيْتُ الثَّالِثَ.

[45] ‘Alee [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “The best person among this Ummah after its Prophet is Aboo Bakr; the best person among it after Aboo Bakr is ‘Umar; and if I wanted, I could name the third.”

خَطَبَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ عُمَرَ كَانَتْ خِلَافَتُهُ فَتْحًا، وَإِمَارَتُهُ رَحْمَةً. وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ يَفْرَقُ أَنْ يُحْدِثَ حَدَثًا مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يُغَيِّرَهُ عَلَيْهِ عُمَرُ. وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ عُمَرَ أَحَبَّ كَلْبًا لَأَحْبَبْتُ ذَلِكَ الْكَلْبَ.

[46](A) ‘Abdullaah [ibn Mas‘ood (may Allaah be pleased with him)] delivered an address in which he said, “ ‘Umar’s leadership of the Ummah was one of victory, and his governance was one of mercy. I swear by Allaah that I am sure shaytaan had remained afraid of introducing anything at all into Islaam during that time, out of fear that ‘Umar would annul whatever could be introduced into the religion and he would change it back to being the correct way. I swear by Allaah that if ‘Umar had love for even a mere dog, I would have love for that dog too.”

عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: وَالَّذِي لَوْ شَاءَ أَنْ يُنْطِقَ قَنَاتِي هَذِهِ لَنَطَقَتْ، لَوْ أَنَّ عُمَرَ كَانَ مِيزَانًا مَا كَانَ فِيهِ مَيْطُ شَعْرَةٍ.

[47](A) Aboo ‘Uthmaan [an-Nahdee – a taabi‘ee (may Allaah have mercy upon him) –] used to say, “If Allaah willed to make this spear of mine speak, it would surely speak. I swear by Him that if ‘Umar was a balance, it would not deviate even as little as a strand of hair from remaining fair when weighing anything.”

عَنْ وَهْبٍ السُّوَائِيِّ قَالَ: خَطَبَنَا عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ: مَنْ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا؟ فَقُلْنَا: أَنْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ: لَا، خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، وَمَا كُنَّا نُبْعِدُ أَنَّ السَّكِينَةَ تَنْطِقُ عَلَى لِسَانِ عُمَرَ.

[50](A) Wahb as-Suwaa’ee stated: ‘Alee [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] delivered an address to us in which he asked us, “Who is the best individual among this Ummah after its Prophet?” We replied, “Leader of the people of eemaan, you are.” He said, “Incorrect. The best individual among this Ummah after its Prophet is Aboo Bakr and then ‘Umar. In addition, we had not considered it farfetched for ‘Umar’s words to be ones worthy of our souls being drawn to them and our hearts finding tranquility with them.”

عَنْ ذَكْوَانَ، مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ دُرْجًا جِيءَ بِهِ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْعِرَاقِ وَفِيهِ جَوْهَرٌ، فَسَأَلَ عُمَرُ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: أَتَأْذَنُونَ أَنْ أَبْعَثَ بِهِ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ لِحُبِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِيَّاهَا؟ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهَا بِهِ فَفَتَحَتْهُ فَقَالَتْ: مَا هَذَا؟ قَالُوا: أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْكِ عُمَرُ. فَقَالَتْ: مَاذَا فُتِحَ عَلَى ابْنِ الْخَطَّابِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟!

[51](A) Thakwaan – a former slave who was emancipated by ‘Aa’ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] narrated that a small vessel [– a type used by women for storage of fragrances and other items –] had been brought from the direction of al-‘Iraaq and it had jewels in it. ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] then asked the Companions, “Would you allow me to send this to ‘Aa’ishah due to the love that Allaah’s Messenger had for her (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)?” ‘Umar then sent it to her, and when she opened it she asked, “What is this?” Those who delivered to it her replied, “ ‘Umar sent it for you.” She then said, “What is there that has been opened up for the son of al-Khattaab after Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)?!”

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كُنَّا نُفَضِّلُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ، ثُمَّ لَا نُفَضِّلُ أَحَدًا عَلَى أَحَدٍ.

[53](A) [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “During the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), we considered Aboo Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmaan to be better than others; and after them, we would not say that anyone was better than anyone else.”

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كُنَّا فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا نَعْدِلُ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِأَبِي بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ عُمَرَ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ، ثُمَّ نَتْرُكُ وَلَا نُفَاضِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ.

[54] [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “During the lifetime of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), we did not consider anyone after the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) to be at the same level as Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan; and after that, we would refrain from considering anyone better than anyone else.”

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَقُولُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيٌّ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ.

[55](A) [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “While Allaah’s Messenger was alive (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), we used to say: Aboo Bakr, ‘Umar, and ‘Uthmaan.”

[عَنْ] عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: إِنَّا كُنَّا نَقُولُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيٌّ: أَفْضَلُ أُمَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ.

[56] ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “While Allaah’s Messenger was alive (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) we used to say that the most virtuous individual among the Ummah of Allaah’s Messenger after him is Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan.”

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ.

[57](A) [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “During the lifetime of Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), we used to say: the best individual among this Ummah after its Prophet is Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan.”

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَعُدُّ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيٌّ وَأَصْحَابُهُ مُتَوَافِرُونَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، وَعُثْمَانُ، ثُمَّ نَسَكْتُ.

[58] [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated, “While Allaah’s Messenger was alive (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) and many of his Companions were around, we would name them one-by-one: Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan, and after that we would stay quiet.”

[عَنْ] عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: جَاءَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ فِي خِلَافَةِ عُثْمَانَ فَكَلَّمَنِي، فَإِذَا هُوَ يَأْمُرُنِي فِي كَلَامِهِ بِأَنْ أَعْيَبَ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، فَتَكَلَّمَ كَلَامًا طَوِيلًا، وَهُوَ امْرُؤٌ فِي لِسَانِهِ ثِقَلٌ، فَلَمْ يَكَدْ يَقْضِي كَلَامَهُ فِي سَرِيحٍ، قَالَ: فَلَمَّا قَضَى كَلَامَهُ قُلْتُ لَهُ: إِنَّا كُنَّا نَقُولُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيٌّ: أَفْضَلُ أُمَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ، وَإِنَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا نَعْلَمُ عُثْمَانَ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ، وَلَا جَاءَ مِنَ الْكَبَائِرِ شَيْئًا، وَلَكِنْ هُوَ هَذَا الْمَالُ، فَإِنْ أَعْطَاكُمُوهُ رَضِيتُمْ، وَإِنْ أَعْطَاهُ أُولِي قَرَابَتِهِ سَخِطْتُمْ، إِنَّمَا تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا كَفَارِسَ وَالرُّومِ، لَا يَتْرُكُونَ لَهُمْ أَمِيرًا إِلَّا قَتَلُوهُ.

[64] [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated: A man from among the Ansaar came to me during the era when ‘Uthmaan was the Khaleefah (leader of the Muslim Ummah). The man then spoke to me and he was instructing me in his remarks to say disparaging things about ‘Uthmaan. The man spoke for a long time and he was a person whose tongue had a bit of heaviness, so there was almost no way for him to finish what he wanted to say quickly. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar continued: When he finished his remarks, I said to him, “While Allaah’s Messenger was alive (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) we used to say that the most virtuous individual among the Ummah of Allaah’s Messenger after him is Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar, then ‘Uthmaan. I swear by Allaah that we do not know ‘Uthmaan to have wrongfully killed any person or committed any major sin. However, what people are really making a problem about is this wealth [that belongs to ‘Uthmaan]. When he gives it to you, you are pleased; but when he gives it to any of his relatives, you are displeased. All that you people want is to be just like the lands of Persia and Rome: they do not leave any leader of theirs alone without killing him.”

قَوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنَ النَّاسِ خَلِيلًا، لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا

[Section] The statement of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), “If I were to take for myself any individual among mankind for whom I would specifically have utmost love due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him, I would have taken Aboo Bakr as that individual”

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ عَاصِبًا رَأْسَهُ فِي خِرْقَةٍ، فَقَعَدَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَمَنَّ عَلَيَّ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنَ النَّاسِ خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا، وَلَكِنْ خَلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ أَفْضَلُ، سُدُّوا عَنِّي كُلَّ خَوْخَةٍ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ غَيْرَ خَوْخَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ.

[67] [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Abbaas [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) came out to us during the illness from which he eventually passed away. He came out while his head was tied with a piece of cloth. He then sat on the minbar (podium from which he addressed the congregation), then praised Allaah and repeated His praises, and further said, “There is not person who has been more generous to me with his self and his wealth than Aboo Bakr ibn Abee Quhaafah; and if I were to take for myself any individual among mankind for whom I would specifically have utmost love due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him, I would have taken Aboo Bakr as that individual. However, the love that there is between us due to Islaam is what is most virtuous. I want all of you to close off from me every small door that opens into this masjid from any person’s dwelling, except for the door of Aboo Bakr.”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَقُولُ: قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَارْتَدَّتِ الْعَرَبُ، وَاشْرَأَبَّ النِّفَاقُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَلَوْ نَزَلَ بِالْجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي مَا نَزَلَ بِأَبِي لَهَاضَهَا، فَوَاللَّهِ مَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِي نُقْطَةٍ إِلَّا طَارَ أَبِي بِحَظِّهَا وَ[غَنَائِهَا] فِي الْإِسْلَامِ. وَكَانَتْ تَقُولُ مَعَ هَذَا: وَمَنْ رَأَى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ عَرَفَ أَنَّهُ خُلِقَ غَنَاءً لِلْإِسْلَامِ، كَانَ وَاللَّهِ أَحْوَزِيًّا، نَسِيجَ وَحْدِهُ، قَدْ أَعَدَّ لِلْأُمُورِ أَقْرَانَهَا.

[68] ‘Aa’ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] used to say: “The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) passed away and there were individuals among the Arab people who then rejected Islaam after accepting it, and nifaaq increased in al-Madeenah. If the adversities that fell upon my father at that time had fallen upon the massive firmly anchored mountains, those adversities would have broken the mountains to bits even after they were put together so solidly. Furthermore, I swear by Allaah that any time people differed about even the slightest matter, my father was the one who had the greatest share and effectiveness in Islaam when it came to settling those differences.” ‘Aa’ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] also used to say along with the preceding, “And if anyone saw ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, they knew that he had been created as enrichment for Islaam so that it would not need anything else. I swear by Allaah that he was an astute individual. Nothing was blameworthy about him. He indeed had appropriate solutions prepared for all situations.”

[عَنْ] جُنْدُبٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُتَوَفَّى بِخَمْسٍ يَقُولُ: إِنَّهُ كَانَ لِي مِنْكُمْ إِخْوَةٌ وَأَصْدِقَاءُ، وَإِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي مِنْكُمْ خَلِيلٌ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا، وَإِنَّ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدِ اتَّخَذَنِي خَلِيلًا كَمَا اتَّخَذَ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا، أَلَا وَإِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانُوا يَتَّخِذُونَ قُبُورَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ وَصَالِحِيهِمْ مَسَاجِدَ، فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا الْقَبْرَ مَسْجِدًا، إِنِّي أَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ.

[71] Jundub [ibn ‘Abdillaah al-Bajalee (may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated that he heard the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) say the following five days before he passed away: “Among you, I indeed had brothers and friends. However, I declare to Allaah – the Almighty and Most Majestic – that I am innocent of having anyone among you be an individual for whom I specifically have utmost love due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him. If I were to take for myself any individual among my Ummah for whom I would have that utmost love, I would have taken Aboo Bakr as that individual. However, my Lord – the Almighty and Most Majestic – has taken me for Himself as an individual to whom He specifically grants a degree of love greater than what is granted to others, just as He took my forefather, Ibraaheem, for Himself as an individual to whom He specifically granted a degree of love greater than what is granted to others. Pay attention to the following: People who preceded you used to make the burial sites of their Prophets and their righteous individuals into places where they performed acts of worship. Thus, you must not make any burial site a place where you perform acts of worship. I certainly prohibit you from that.”

قَامَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَذَكَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَاسْتُخْلِفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَعَمِلَ بِعَمَلِهِ، وَسَارَ بِسِيرَتِهِ، حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ اسْتُخْلِفَ عُمَرُ فَعَمِلَ بِعَمَلِهِمَا، وَسَارَ بِسِيرَتِهِمَا، حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

[72](A) ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him)] stood on the minbar (podium), and he mentioned Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) and then said, “Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) passed away and Aboo Bakr was appointed as the Khaleefah (leader of the people of Islaam). His deeds and path were subsequently the same as those of the one who preceded him, and that continued until Allaah made him pass away while in that state. ‘Umar was then appointed as the Khaleefah. His deeds and path were subsequently the same as those of the two who preceded him, and that continued until Allaah made him pass away while in that state.”

قَوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ بِالنَّاسِ

[Section] The statement of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”{1}

Notes:

{1} There is a hadeeth in this section with the wording mentioned in the heading. However, we have not included that hadeeth in our selections because its chain of narration was graded inauthentic.

\End of notes.

عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِحِرَاءٍ، فَقَالَ: اسْكُنْ حِرَاءُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا نَبِيُّ، أَوْ صِدِّيقٌ، أَوْ شَهِيدٌ. قَالَ: قِيلَ: وَمَنْ هُمْ؟ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، وَعَلِيٌّ، وَعُثْمَانُ، وَطَلْحَةُ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ، وَسَعْدٌ، وَابْنُ عَوْفٍ، قَالَ: فَقِيلَ فَمَنِ الْعَاشِرُ؟ قَالَ: أَنَا، يَعْنِي نَفْسَهُ.

[82] Sa‘eed ibn Zayd [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: We were once at the Hiraa’ mountain with the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) and he said, “Hiraa’, remain tranquil, as there is none upon you besides one who is a Prophet, one who continually attests to the truthfulness of the Prophet, or one who is a martyr.” Sa‘eed ibn Zayd was asked, “Who were they?” He replied, “Aboo Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Alee, ‘Uthmaan, Talhah, az-Zubayr, Sa‘d [ibn Abee Waqqaas], and [‘Abdur-Rahmaan] ibn ‘Awf.” He was asked, “Who was the tenth?” He replied, “I was”, referring to himself.

[عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ] أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: عَشْرَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَطَلْحَةُ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، يَعْنِي: ابْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ. فَعَدَّ هَؤُلَاءِ التِّسْعَةَ، فَقَالَ الْقَوْمُ: نَنْشُدُكَ بِاللَّهِ يَا أَبَا الْأَعْوَرِ، أَنْتَ الْعَاشِرُ؟ قَالَ: إِذْ نَاشَدْتُمُونِي بِاللَّهِ، أَبُو الْأَعْوَرِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

[85](A) Sa‘eed ibn Zayd [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had said, “There are ten who will be in Jannah: Aboo Bakr will be in Jannah; ‘Umar will be in Jannah; ‘Alee will be in Jannah; ‘Uthmaan will be in Jannah; az-Zubayr will be in Jannah; and so will Talhah, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, Aboo ‘Ubaydah bin ‘Abdillaah” – meaning ibn al-Jarraah – “and Sa‘d ibn Abee Waqqaas.” Sa‘eed ibn Zayd counted out those nine and the people present then said to him, “Abul-A‘war, we ask you for Allaah’s sake to tell us: are you the tenth?” He replied, “Since you have asked me by Allaah, then I add: Abul-A‘war will be in Jannah.”

[عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ]: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: النَّبِيُّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَطَلْحَةُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَسَعْدٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَلَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَ الْعَاشِرَ...ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ نَفْسَهُ يَعْنِي الْعَاشِرَ.

[87] Sa‘eed ibn Zayd [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) say, ‘The Prophet will be in Jannah, Aboo Bakr will be in Jannah, ‘Umar will be in Jannah, ‘Uthmaan will be in Jannah, ‘Alee will be in Jannah, Talhah will be in Jannah, az-Zubayr will be in Jannah, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf will be in Jannah, Sa‘d will be in Jannah.’ And I could name the tenth for you if I wanted.” [Some sub-narrators of this hadeeth] mentioned that Sa‘eed ibn Zayd then mentioned himself as the tenth.

بَقِيَّةُ قَوْلِهِ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ

[Section] Remaining narrations related to the statement of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ فِي مَقَامِكَ لَمْ يُسْمِعْ. قَالَ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ لِحَفْصَةَ: قُولِي لَهُ إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِذَا قَامَ لَمْ يُسْمِعِ النَّاسَ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ، فَمُرْ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ. فَفَعَلَتْ حَفْصَةُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَهْ، إِنَّكُنَّ لَأَنْتُنَّ صَوَاحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ، مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَلْيُصَلِّ لِلنَّاسِ. فَقَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ: مَا كُنْتُ لِأُصِيبَ مِنْكِ خَيْرًا.

[88](A) ‘Aa’ishah [(may Allaah be pleased with her)] – a wife of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) – narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had said, “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” ‘Aa’ishah replied, “Messenger of Allaah, it is indeed the case that if Aboo Bakr stood where you stand when leading the congregational prayer, he would be unable to make his voice heard.” Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” ‘Aa’ishah then said to Hafsah, “Tell him it is indeed the case that if Aboo Bakr stood to lead the congregational prayer, he would be unable to make his voice heard by the people due to his weeping; so you should instruct ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab to lead the people in prayer.” Hafsah then conveyed that but Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) replied, “Desist from doing this. Indeed, you women are most certainly like those women who came together to support each other in influencing the Prophet Yoosuf to do what they insisted on and were inclined towards. Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” Hafsah subsequently told ‘Aa’ishah, “I will certainly not attain anything good from you when I agree to support you in a manner like that.”

[عَنْ] رِيَاحِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ قَالَ: كُنَّا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مَعَ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ فِي أُنَاسٍ كَثِيرٍ، فَجَاءَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُفَيْلٍ، فَأَوْسَعَ لَهُ الْمُغِيرَةُ وَقَالَ: هَا هُنَا، فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ، فَجَاءَ شَابٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ يُقَالُ لَهُ: قَيْسُ بْنُ عَلْقَمَةَ، فَاسْتَقْبَلَ الْمُغِيرَةَ فَسَبَّ وَسَبَّ، فَقَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ: لِمَنْ يَسُبُّ هَذَا؟ فَقَالَ الْمُغِيرَةُ: يَسُبُّ عَلِيًّا، فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ يَا مُغِيرَةُ، أَلَا أَرَى أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُسَبُّونَ عِنْدَكَ، ثُمَّ لَا تُغَيِّرُ، لَنْ أَقُولَ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يَقُلْ فَيَسْأَلَنِي عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ كَذِبًا عَلَيَّ لَيْسَ كَكَذِبٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ، مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَيَّ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُمَرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَلِيٌّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، وَسَعْدُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَالزُّبَيْرُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَطَلْحَةُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَتَاسِعُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُسَمِّيَهُ لَسَمَّيْتُهُ، قَالَ: فَضَجَّ النَّاسُ وَقَالُوا: يَا صَاحِبَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، أَخْبِرْنَا مَنْ تَاسِعُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ؟ وَنَاشَدُوهُ، فَقَالَ: لَوْلَا أَنَّكُمْ نَاشَدْتُمُونِي مَا أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ، أَنَا تَاسِعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُتِمُّ الْعَاشِرَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ لَمَوْقِفُ رَجُلٍ أَوْ مَشْهَدُ رَجُلٍ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَغْبَرُّ فِيهِ وَجْهُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ عُمُرَهُ.

[90](A) Riyaah ibn al-Haarith stated: Were in the masjid with al-Mugheerah ibn Shu‘bah [– a Companion, may Allaah be pleased with him –] amidst a large number of people. Sa‘eed ibn Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl then came, al-Mugheerah made some space for him, told him “Over here”, and Sa‘eed then sat with al-Mugheerah on the raised seat where he was. A young man from al-Koofah named Qays ibn ‘Alqamah then came, faced al-Mugheerah, and said insulting things about someone again and again. Sa‘eed ibn Zayd asked, “Who is he insulting?” Al-Mugheerah replied, “He is insulting ‘Alee.” Sa‘eed said, “Mugheerah, I beseech Allaah to grant you His mercy. Is it really the case that I see Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) being insulted in your presence, yet you do not change that? I will not narrate anything from him that he did not say, so as to not end up having him ask me on the Day of Resurrection about ascribing false things to him. I heard him say, ‘Lying on me is indeed unlike lying on any other person. Anyone who deliberately lies on me must take his seat in the hellfire. Aboo Bakr will be in Jannah, ‘Umar will be in Jannah, ‘Alee will be in Jannah, ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan will be in Jannah, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf and Sa‘d ibn Maalik will be in Jannah, az-Zubayr will be in Jannah, and Talhah will be in Jannah’.” Sa‘eed added, “As for the ninth of the Muslims, if I wanted to name him, I could certainly name him.” The people present then cried out in alarm and said, “Companion of Allaah’s Messenger, inform us of who the ninth of the Muslims is,” and they urged him to do so for Allaah’s sake. Sa‘eed then said, “Had you not asked me by Allaah, I would not inform you. I am the ninth of the people of eemaan, and Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) completes ten.” Sa‘eed added, “I swear by Allaah that just one instance of any man among them standing alongside Allaah’s Messenger, or being present in an expedition along with Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), during which that man’s face got a bit of dust on it is certainly more virtuous than the worship that anyone among you performs throughout his entire life.”

عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ يَقُولُ: لَمَشْهَدٌ شَهِدَهُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمًا وَاحِدًا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اغْبَرَّ فِيهِ وَجْهُهُ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عَمَلِ أَحَدِكُمْ وَلَوْ عُمِّرَ عُمُرَ نُوحٍ.

[91](A) Sa‘eed ibn Zayd [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] had stated, “A single expedition in Allaah’s path for which any many among them was present for just one single day alongside Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), during which that man’s face got a bit of dust on it, is certainly more virtuous than the deeds that anyone among you could perform even if he lived for as long as the Prophet Nooh.”

[عَنْ أَبِي] هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: وَبَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي فِي حُلَّةٍ قَدْ أَعْجَبَتْهُ هَيْئَتُهُ خَسَفَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْأَرْضَ، فَهُوَ يَتَجَلْجَلُ فِيهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَشَهِدَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ. وَلَيْسَ ثَمَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَلَا عُمَرُ.

[92] Aboo Hurayrah [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “While a man was once walking along as he was adorned in an outfit consisting of an upper and lower garment, and the outfit’s fine appearance filled him with arrogance, Allaah cased the ground beneath him to collapse and the man will continue sinking into it until the Day of Resurrection.” Both Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar bore witness to that even though neither Aboo Bakr nor ‘Umar were present when it happened.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ جَالِسًا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، هَذَانِ سَيِّدَا كُهُولِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ مِنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْآخِرِينَ إِلَّا النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، لَا تُخْبِرْهُمَا.

[93](A) ‘Alee [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: I was once with the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) when Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar approached. Upon looking at the two of them, Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “ ‘Alee, those two will be the leaders of all the adults who reached completion admitted to Jannah from all earlier and latter generations, except for the Prophets and Messengers.” He then added, “ ‘Alee, do not inform them of that.”

عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ: مِنْ فَضْلِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَشُكَّ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ سَاعَةً قَطُّ.

[96](A) Ibn Shihaab [az-Zuhree – a taabi‘ee (may Allaah have mercy upon him)] said: “Part of Aboo Bakr’s virtue is that there was never a single moment when he had any sort of doubt about Allaah, the Almighty and Most Majestic.”

عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: مَنْ جَهِلَ فَضْلَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَقَدْ جَهِلَ السُّنَّةَ.

[108](A) Aboo Ja‘far [– the taabi‘ee named Muhammad ibn ‘Alee ibn al-Husayn ibn ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib, and commonly referred to as al-Baaqir (may Allaah have mercy upon him) –] stated: “Anyone who lacks knowledge about the virtue held by Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar certainly lacks knowledge about the Sunnah.”

[قَالَ وَكِيعُ بْنُ] الْجَرَّاحِ: لَوْلَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ ذَهَبَ الْإِسْلَامُ.

[111](A) Wakee‘ ibn al-Jarraah [from a generation after the taabi‘een (may Allaah have mercy upon him)] stated: “If it were not for Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq, Islaam would have disappeared.”

[عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ] عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يُونُسَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ وَكِيعًا يَقُولُ وَنَحْنُ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ: لَوْلَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ لَذَهَبَ الْإِسْلَامُ.

[114](A) Ahmad ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Yoonus stated: I heard Wakee‘ say while we were travelling along the path to Makkah, “If it were not for Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq, Islaam would have certainly disappeared.”

[شُعَيْبُ بْنُ] حَرْبٍ أَوْمَأَ إِلَى ابْنِهِ فَقَبَّلَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَتَدْرُونَ لِمَ قَبَّلْتُ مُحَمَّدًا؟ لِأَنَّهُ قَدْ وَهَبَ نَفْسَهُ فِي نُصْرَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ.

[115](A) Shu‘ayb ibn Harb [(may Allaah have mercy upon him)] motioned towards his son, kissed him, and then said to those present, “Do you know why I kissed Muhammad?” It is because he has dedicated himself to defending Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar.”

قَالَ بَكْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ: إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ لَمْ يَفْضُلِ النَّاسَ بِأَنَّهُ كَانَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ صَلَاةً وَصَوْمًا، إِنَّمَا فَضَلَهُمْ بِشَيْءٍ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ.

[118] Bakr ibn ‘Abdillaah [al-Muzanee, a taabi‘ee (may Allaah have mercy upon him)] stated, “Indeed, Aboo Bakr did not do outdo other people by being the one among them who prayed most and fasted most. He certainly only outdid them due to something that was in his heart.”

[عَنْ] عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ يَقُولُ: وَاللَّهِ مَا انْشَرَحَ صَدْرِي قَطُّ أَنْ أُفَضِّلَ عَلِيًّا عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ، وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى عُثْمَانَ، رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحِبَّهُمْ فَمَا هُوَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ، وَإِنَّ أَوْثَقَ أَعْمَالِنَا حُبُّنَا إِيَّاهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ، وَلَا جَعَلَ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ فِي أَعْنَاقِنَا تَبِعَةً، وَحَشَرَنَا فِي زُمْرَتِهِمْ وَمَعَهُمْ، آمِينَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

[126](A) ‘Abdur-Razzaaq [ibn Hammaam as-San‘aanee (may Allaah have mercy upon him)] said, “I swear by Allaah, never at all did my heart find it acceptable to consider ‘Alee more virtuous than Aboo Bakr or ‘Umar. I implore Allaah to grant His mercy to Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar, and I implore Allaah to grant His mercy to ‘Uthmaan. I further implore Allaah to grant His mercy to ‘Alee. Anyone who does not have love for them is certainly not a person of eemaan. Surely, among our deeds, the one we most strongly hope that Allaah would accept is our love for all of them (may Allaah be pleased with them all). We pray that Allaah protects us from anything that involves wronging even a single one of them in the least, and we pray that He gathers us in the hereafter among their collective and along with them. O Allaah, Lord of all creation, we implore You to respond to our supplication.

عَنِ ابْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، فِيمَنْ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقُ، وَاسْمُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَتِيقٌ، وَهُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ تَيْمٍ.

[127] Among those whom [Muhammad] ibn Is-haaq mentioned as having participated in the Battle of Badr was: “Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq. Aboo Bakr was called ‘Ateeq{1}, and his name was ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Uthmaan ibn Ka‘b ibn ‘Amr ibn Sa‘d ibn Taym.”

Notes:

{1} ‘Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr narrated that the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) looked at Aboo Bakr one day then said, “This is the ‘Ateeq of Allaah [i.e. the one who has been emancipated and saved by Allaah] from the hellfire.” Hence, ever since then he was called ‘Ateeq, whereas the name he was known by before that was ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Uthmaan. [Saheeh. See Anees as-Saaree (10/917-920)].

\End of notes.

وَهَذِهِ الْأَحَادِيثُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ شُيُوخِهِ، وَلَيْسَتْ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ

[Section] The following are narrations of Aboo Bakr ibn Maalik from other scholars he narrated from, and are not from ‘Abdullaah the son of al-Imaam Ahmad

[عَنْ عَبْدِ خَيْرٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ] قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، وَإِنَّا قَدْ أَحْدَثْنَا بَعْدَهُمَا أَحْدَاثًا يَقْضِي اللَّهُ فِيهَا مَا أَحَبَّ.

[128](Q) ‘Abdu Khayr al-Hamdaanee stated: I heard ‘Alee ibn ‘Abee Taalib saying while on the minbar, “Indeed, the best individuals among this Ummah after the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) are Aboo Bakr, then ‘Umar; and after their passing, we were certainly involved in various unprecedented things. Allaah will pass judgment regarding those things in the way that is beloved to Him.”

عَنْ أَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ: أَلَا إِنَّ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالثَّالِثِ.

[130](Q) Aboo Juhayfah [also known as Wahb al-Khayr (may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “I heard ‘Alee [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] say, ‘Pay attention to this: the best individuals among this Ummah after its Prophet are Aboo Bakr then ‘Umar, and Allaah knows best who comes third after them.”

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ أَهْلَ عِلِّيِّينَ لَيَرَاهُمْ مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ الْكَوْكَبَ الدُّرِّيَّ فِي أُفُقِ السَّمَاءِ، وَإِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَنْعَمَا.

[131](Q) Aboo Sa‘eed al-Khudree [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, ‘The people who are in the highest ranks of Jannah will certainly be seen by those below them just as you see a brightly shining star in the sky. Indeed, Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar are among those people, and will – in fact – be even higher in virtue and blessed with even more’.”

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَرَجَ مِنْ مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ عَاصِبًا رَأْسَهُ بِخِرْقَةٍ، فَجَلَسَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَمَنَّ عَلَيَّ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ مِنِ ابْنِ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنَ النَّاسِ خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَكِنْ خَلَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ أَفْضَلُ، سُدُّوا عَنِّي كُلَّ خَوْخَةٍ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ غَيْرَ خَوْخَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ.

[134](Q) [‘Abdullaah] ibn ‘Abbaas [(may Allaah be pleased with both of them)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) came out to us during the illness from which he eventually passed away. He came out while his head was tied with a piece of cloth. He then sat on the minbar (podium from which he addressed the congregation), praised Allaah and repeated His praises, then said, “There is no person who has been more generous to me with his self and his wealth than [Aboo Bakr] the son of Aboo Quhaafah; and if I were to take for myself any individual among mankind for whom I would specifically have utmost love due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him, I would have taken Aboo Bakr as that individual. However, the love that there is between us due to Islaam is what is most virtuous. I want all of you to close off from me every small door that opens into this masjid from any person’s dwelling, except for the door of Aboo Bakr.”

عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ ابْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ - قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتِ، مَنْ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ. قُلْتُ: ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: عُمَرُ. قَالَ: فَخَشِيتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ فَيَقُولَ: عُثْمَانُ، فَقُلْتُ: أَنْتَ يَا أَبَتِ؟ فَقَالَ: أَبُوكَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ.

[136](Q) Muhammad the son of al-Hanafiyyah – and he, Muhammad, is the son of ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib [(may Allaah be pleased with him), al-Hanafiyyah being an ascription to his mother] – said, “I had once inquired, ‘My father, who is the best individual among this Ummah after Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection)?’ He replied, ‘Aboo Bakr’. I asked, ‘Then who?’ He replied, ‘ ‘Umar’.” Muhammad said, “I was hesitant to ask ‘Then who?’ again lest he reply by saying, ‘ ‘Uthmaan’ so I asked instead, ‘Then you, my father?’{1} He replied, ‘Your father is just a man among the Muslims’.”

Notes:

{1} Scholars explained that the reason Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah worried about his father saying that ‘Uthmaan is the next best individual was that he believed his father to be more virtuous, and he did not wish to become confused regarding this topic. This is especially so considering that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah was young at the time as he himself explained according to alternate wording of this report from another route of narration. In it, he said, “Because of my young age at the time, I hastened to say, ‘Then you, my father?” It should also be kept in mind that there was initially a difference of opinion regarding which of the two men – ‘Uthmaan or ‘Alee – held more virtuous standing after Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar. However, there was eventually consensus among the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah that the order of the four Khulafaa’ in terms of their virtue is the same as the chronological order in which each one of them served as a Khaleefah. (See Fath al-Baaree 7/33, Mashaariq al-Anwaar al-Wahhaajah 3/117).

\End of notes.

[End of section containing narrations of Aboo Bakr ibn Maalik from other than ‘Abdullaah the son of al-Imaam Ahmad]

عَنْ [أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ] قَالَ: مَرِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ. فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ رَجُلٌ رَقِيقٌ. فَقَالَ: مُرُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ، فَإِنَّكُنَّ صُوَيْحِبَاتُ يُوسُفَ. فَأَمَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ النَّاسَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيٌّ.

[140] Aboo Moosaa al-Ash‘aree [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) became ill, so he said, “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer.” ‘Aa’ishah replied, “Messenger of Allaah, Aboo Bakr is certainly a soft-hearted man [who cries easily while reciting the Qur’aan when praying].” Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “Instruct Aboo Bakr to lead the people in prayer. Indeed, you women are most certainly like those women who came together to support each other in influencing the Prophet Yoosuf to do what they insisted on and were inclined towards.” As a result, Aboo Bakr led the people in prayer and that took place while Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) was still alive.

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ، فَقَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، هَذَانِ سَيِّدَا كُهُولِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَشَبَابِهَا بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

[141](A) ‘Alee [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: I was once with the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) when Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar approached. Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “ ‘Alee, after the Prophets and Messengers, those two will be the leaders of all the adults who reached completion admitted to Jannah, and of the young people admitted to Jannah.”

عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ قَالَ: كُنْتُ إِذَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَدِيثًا نَفَعَنِي اللَّهُ بِمَا شَاءَ مِنْهُ، فَإِذَا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ غَيْرِي اسْتَحْلَفْتُهُ، فَإِذَا حَلَفَ لِي صَدَّقْتُهُ، وَإِنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنِي، وَصَدَقَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يُذْنِبُ ذَنْبًا، فَيَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَيَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ.

[142] ‘Alee ibn Abee Taalib [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Whenever I would hear a hadeeth directly from Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), Allaah would allow me to glean as much benefit from it as He willed; and whenever anyone conveyed a hadeeth to me, I would ask him to swear by Allaah [in order to confirm that he actually heard it from Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)], and once he did so I would accept what he said as being true. Indeed, Aboo Bakr conveyed to me – and everything Aboo Bakr said was the truth – that he heard the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) say, “Whenever any individual commits a sin, then performs wudoo’ properly, and follows that by performing two units of prayer and beseeching Allaah – the Almighty and Most Majestic – to forgive him, that individual would surely be forgiven.”

عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ قَيْسٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ يَقُولُ: بَرِئَ اللَّهُ مِمَّنْ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ.

[143] ‘Amr ibn Qays stated: I heard Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Alee [(may Allaah have mercy upon him)] say, “Allaah has disavowed anyone who disavows Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar”.

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، أَنَّهُمْ خَرَجُوا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ، فَنَزَلُوا رُفَقَاءَ، رُفْقَةٌ مَعَ فُلَانٍ، وَرُفْقَةٌ مَعَ فُلَانٍ، قَالَ: فَنَزَلْتُ فِي رُفْقَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، وَكَانَ مَعَنَا أَعْرَابِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَادِيَةِ، فَنَزَلْنَا بِأَهْلِ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْأَعْرَابِ وَفِيهِمُ امْرَأَةٌ حَامِلٌ، فَقَالَ لَهَا الْأَعْرَابِيُّ: إِنِّي لَأُبَشِّرُكِ أَنْ تَلِدِي غُلَامًا، إِنْ أَعْطَيْتِنِي شَاةً وَلَدْتِ غُلَامًا. فَأَعْطَتْهُ شَاةً، وَسَجَعَ لَهَا أَسَاجِيعَ. قَالَ: فَذَبَحَ الشَّاةَ، فَلَمَّا جَلَسُوا الْقَوْمُ يَأْكُلُونَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ: أَتَدْرُونَ مَا هَذِهِ الشَّاةُ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُمْ، قَالَ: فَرَأَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ مُتَبَرِّزًا مُسْتَقْبِلًا يَتَقَيَّأُ.

[146] Aboo Sa‘eed al-Khudree [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated that they had set out on a journey with Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). When it was time to stop for a rest, they divided into groups: one group in the company of one person, and another and in the company of another person. Aboo Sa‘eed said: I had stopped to rest in the company of Aboo Bakr, and we had a bedouin with us who resided in a rural area. We were hosted during that stop by a bedouin family, and there was a pregnant woman among them. The bedouin in our company told her, “I can most surely convey to you the glad tidings of giving birth to a boy; if you give me a sheep, you will give birth to a boy.” Hence, she gave him a sheep, and he recited some rhyming words to her. Aboo Sa‘eed continued: The bedouin slaughtered that sheep. Then, while people sat together to eat, a man said, “Do you know the story behind this sheep?” and he proceeded to tell them about it. Aboo Sa‘eed said: I then saw Aboo Bakr out in the open facing a certain direction, and vomiting what he ate.

عَنْ [مَيْمُونِ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ] أَنَّ عُمَرَ قَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ: امْدُدْ يَدَكَ نُبَايِعْكَ. قَالَ: عَلَامَ تُبَايِعُونِي؟ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أَنَا بِأَتْقَاكُمْ وَلَا أَقْوَاكُمْ، أَتْقَانَا سَالِمٌ - يَعْنِي مَوْلَى أَبِي حُذَيْفَةَ - وَأَقْوَانَا عُمَرُ. قَالَ: امْدُدْ يَدَكَ ((إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا)). قَالَ: فَبَايَعُوهُ، وَجَعَلُوا لَهُ أَلْفَيْ دِرْهَمٍ. قَالَ: زِيدُونِي؛ إِنَّكُمْ قَدْ مَنَعْتُمُونِي مِنَ التِّجَارَةِ وَلِي عِيَالٌ. فَزَادُوهُ خَمْسَ مِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ، وَجَعَلُوا لَهُ شَاةً كُلَّ يَوْمٍ يُطْعِمُهَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَقَالَ: طَيِّبُوا لِأَهْلِي رَأْسَهَا وَأَكَارِعَهَا، فَفَعَلُوا.

[147](A) Maymoon ibn Mihraan [(may Allaah have mercy upon him) from the generation of the taabi‘een] narrated that ‘Umar [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] said to Aboo Bakr [(may Allaah be pleased with him)], “Extend your hand so that we may pledge allegiance to you.” Aboo Bakr replied, “What are you pledging allegiance to me for? I swear by Allaah that neither am I the one among you who does the most in terms of fulfilling Allaah’s commands and avoiding His prohibitions, nor am I the one among you with the most strength. The individual among us who does the most in terms of fulfilling Allaah’s commands and avoiding His prohibitions is Saalim” – referring to the emancipated slave adopted by Aboo Huthayfah – “and the individual among us with the most strength is ‘Umar.” ‘Umar reiterated, “Extend your hand” and he read Allaah’s statement, ((The two of them were in that cave at the mountain called Thawr when the Prophet told his companion, “Do not grieve. Allaah is certainly with us to support, guide, and protect.”)) [9:40]. Maymoon continued: They then pledged allegiance to Aboo Bakr and allocated a stipend of two thousand dirhams for him. Aboo Bakr said, “I kindly request that you increase my stipend. By choosing me for this position, you have prevented me from pursuing my livelihood through commerce, and I have a family to support.” Hence, they gave him an increase of five hundred dirhams, and also allocated for him one sheep on a daily basis with which he could feed those in need among the Muslims. Aboo Bakr then said, “I kindly request that if my family were to have the sheep’s head and lower legs, you would approve of them doing so,” and they did approve.

[عَنْ] عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: وَلِيَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَمَا وَلِيَنَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ مِثْلُهُ.

[148](A) ‘Abdullaah ibn Ja‘far [ibn Abee Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him)] said, “Aboo Bakr assumed leadership over us, and there was no one else like him among all the other people who assumed leadership over us after him.”

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِنِّي رَأَيْتُنِي عَلَى قَلِيبٍ أَنْزِعُ بِدَلْو، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَنَزَعَ بِهَا ذَنُوبًا أَوْ ذَنُوبَيْنِ، فِيهِمَا ضَعْفٌ وَاللَّهُ يَرْحَمُهُ، ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا عُمَرُ، فَإِنْ بَرِحَ يَنْزِعُ حَتَّى اسْتَحَالَتْ غَرْبًا، ثُمَّ ضُرِبَتْ بِعَطَنٍ، فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ نَزْعِ عَبْقَرِيٍّ أَحْسَنَ مِنْ نَزْعِ عُمَرَ.

[149] Aboo Hurayrah [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] narrated that the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “In a dream, I saw myself at a well that had no wall around its opening. I was drawing out water with a bucket. Then, Aboo Bakr took that bucket and drew out one – or rather, two – bucketfuls with a bit of weakness as he drew, and Allaah will bestow mercy upon him. Then, ‘Umar took that bucket and continued drawing out water until the bucket eventually transformed into a very large one like those made from bull skin and used to draw out water for camels. ‘Umar drew out so much water that people and their camels drank their fill, and the camels sat down to rest. I have not seen any strong leader among his people drawing out water in a more proficient manner than ‘Umar did.”

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَاصِبٌ رَأْسَهُ، قَالَ: فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ حَتَّى صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ، فَقَالَ: إِنِّي السَّاعَةَ لَقَائِمٌ عَلَى الْحَوْضِ. قَالَ: ثُمَّ قَالَ: إِنَّ عَبْدًا عُرِضَتْ عَلَيْهِ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا، فَاخْتَارَ الْآخِرَةَ. فَلَمْ يَفْطِنْ لَهَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ إِلَّا أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي، بَلْ نَفْدِيكَ بِأَمْوَالِنَا وَأَنْفُسِنَا وَأَوْلَادِنَا! قَالَ: ثُمَّ هَبَطَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ، فَمَا رُئِيَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى السَّاعَةِ.

[154] Aboo Sa‘eed al-Khudree [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated, “Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) came out to us during the illness from which he eventually passed away. He came out while his head was tied with a piece of cloth.” Aboo Sa‘eed continued by saying, “I followed him until he ascended the minbar (podium from which he addressed the congregation), and he then said, ‘At this very moment, I am certainly standing at the Hawd (immense cistern which I have been granted in the hereafter).’ Aboo Sa‘eed further said, “[Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection)] then said, ‘A worshipping servant of Allaah was offered the life of this world and the adornments it contains; however, he chose the hereafter.’ No one among those present understood what that statement was referring to except Aboo Bakr who then said, ‘I would readily part with my own father and mother to safeguard you from all harm; rather, we are all willing to part with our wealth, our souls, and our children in exchange for you’. Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) then descended from the minbar; and from then until he passed away, he was not seen on it again.

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَلَا إِنِّي أَبْرَأُ إِلَى كُلِّ خِلٍّ مِنْ خِلِّهِ، وَلَوِ اتَّخَذْتُ خَلِيلًا لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ خَلِيلًا؛ إِنَّ صَاحِبَكُمْ خَلِيلُ اللَّهِ.

[155] ‘Abdullaah [ibn Mas‘ood (may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “Pay attention to this: I certainly disavow anyone’s claim for there to be utmost love between us due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him; and if I were to take for myself any individual for whom I would specifically have that utmost love, I would have taken Aboo Bakr as that individual. However, your companion” [– referring to himself –] “certainly has that utmost love for Allaah, and Allaah has taken him as the individual to whom He specifically granted a degree of love greater than what He granted to others.”

عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا أَحَدًا خَلِيلًا اتَّخَذْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلًا.

[156] [‘Abdullaah] ibn Mas‘ood [(may Allaah be pleased with him)] stated: Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “If I were to take for myself any individual for whom I would specifically have utmost love due to the attachment of my heart to him and the need I have for him, I would have taken [Aboo Bakr] – the son of Aboo Quhaafah – as that individual”.

عُبَيْدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الضَّحَّاكَ يَقُولُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: ((وَصَالِحُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ))، قَالَ: أَخْيَارُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ.

[161] ‘Ubaid ibn Sulaymaan stated: I heard ad-Dahhaak explaining the statement of Allaah – the Almighty and Most Majestic – [in Sooratut-Tahreem, aayah 4, in which Allaah said,] ((and the righteous people who accept and comply with the truth from Allaah)). Ad-Dahhaak said, “It refers to the best individuals among the people who accept and comply with the truth from Allaah: Aboo Bakr and ‘Umar”.