Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 39838 — Reports on the caliphate of Abu Bakr

It is narrated from al-Qasim bin Muhammad that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to say: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, and such calamities descended upon Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that had they descended upon a mountain, they would have crushed it to pieces. Hypocrisy spread in Madinah and (many) people of the Arabs apostatised. By Allah! The people did not differ over any ruling of Islam except that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr rushed to protect and defend it. And along with this, Sayyidah Aishah also used to say: Whoever saw Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) would know that he was created to remove harm from Islam. By Allah! Sayyiduna Umar was extremely alert in all matters, and he was without equal. And he prepared for the matters the people suited to them.