Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken on the Night Journey to Masjid al-Aqsa, and in the morning people began to discuss this matter, some people who had already believed in him and affirmed him became apostates. They came to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: “Your companion is making such a claim that he was taken to Bayt al-Maqdis last night. Now, what do you say about this?” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: “Did he (peace and blessings be upon him) make this claim?” They said: “Yes.” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “If he (peace and blessings be upon him) has said such a thing, then he has spoken the truth.” They said: “Will you affirm that he went to Bayt al-Maqdis in the night and returned before morning?” Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Yes. (Reflect that) I affirm him in matters even more difficult and remote (according to your understanding) than this incident. I affirm the heavenly news, that is, the revelation sent down to him (peace and blessings be upon him), whether it comes in the morning or in the evening.” It is for this reason that Abu Bakr was called “al-Siddiq” (the Truthful).