Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 34098 — Reports on Abu Bakr al-Siddiq

Salim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I asked Ibn al-Hanafiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him): "Was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) the first of the people to accept Islam?" He said: "No." I said: "Then why did Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) become so high in rank and so renowned that no one other than Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) is even mentioned?" He said: "When he accepted Islam, he was the best of the people in respect of Islam, until he went to meet Allah."