Written by: Abu al-Abbas Hafiz Sher Muhammad
O Allah! Fill our hearts with the love for Sayyidina Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) and all the Sahabah (RA), and increase this love. Ameen.
Sayyidina Amr ibn al-As (RA) narrated:
"I asked the Prophet (PBUH), 'Who do you love the most?' The Prophet (PBUH) replied, 'Aisha’s father (Abu Bakr Siddiq RA).' I asked, 'Who after him?' The Prophet (PBUH) said, 'Umar (RA).'”(Sahih Bukhari: 3662 and Sahih Muslim: 2384)Muhammad bin Ali bin Abi Talib, known as Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah (RA), said:
"I asked my father (Sayyidina Ali RA), 'Who is the best person after the Prophet (PBUH)?' He replied, 'Abu Bakr (RA).' I asked, 'Who after him?' He said, 'Umar (RA).'”(Sahih Bukhari: 3671)Mention of Sayyidina Abu Bakr (RA) in the Quran:
Allah says:إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللّٰهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَا"If you do not aid him, Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, 'Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.'"(Surah At-Tawbah: 40, Al-Kitab p. 117)Sayyidina Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
"In terms of companionship and wealth, Abu Bakr has done the most favors for me. If I were to take a Khalil other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a Khalil, but Islamic brotherhood and love are sufficient. Pay attention! All the doors leading to the mosque should be closed except the door of Abu Bakr."(Sahih Bukhari: 3654 and Sahih Muslim: 2382)Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that:
The Prophet (PBUH) asked (his companions), 'Who observed fast today?' Abu Bakr said, 'I did.' The Prophet (PBUH) asked, 'Who attended a funeral today?' Abu Bakr said, 'I did.' The Prophet (PBUH) asked, 'Who fed a poor person today?' Abu Bakr said, 'I did.' The Prophet (PBUH) asked, 'Who visited a sick person today?' Abu Bakr said, 'I did.' The Prophet (PBUH) then said, 'These deeds, if found together in a person, will lead him to Paradise.'”(Sahih Muslim: 1028 and after Hadith 2387)Sayyidina Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (RA) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) was in a garden. A man came and asked for the gate to be opened. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"Open the gate for him and give him the glad tidings of Paradise." It was Abu Bakr (RA) who entered.(Sahih Bukhari: 3693 and Sahih Muslim: 2403)A famous Hadith mentions that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
أبو بكر في الجنة "Abu Bakr is in Paradise."(Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 3747, and its chain is authentic; Ibn Hibban authenticated it in al-Ihsan 6963)Sayyidina Anas bin Malik (RA) narrated:
"Once, the Prophet (PBUH), Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (RA) climbed Mount Uhud. The mountain trembled (due to an earthquake). The Prophet (PBUH) struck it with his foot and said, 'Settle down, Uhud, for upon you are a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.'”(Sahih Bukhari: 3686)Sayyidina Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) said:
"If the faith of Abu Bakr were weighed against the faith of all the people of the earth, the faith of Abu Bakr would outweigh them."(Kitab as-Sunnah by Abdullah bin Ahmad: 821, and its chain is sound; Shu'ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi: 36; 'Aqidah al-Salaf Ahl al-Hadith by al-Sabuni p. 70, 71 Hadith 110; and Fada'il Abi Bakr by Khaythama al-Atrabalsi p. 133)The virtues of Sayyidina Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) are numerous, and this brief article cannot cover them in detail. Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (RA) was asked about a person who curses Abu Bakr, Umar, and Aisha (RA)? He replied:
"I do not consider such a person to be a Muslim."(as-Sunnah by al-Khallal p. 493 Hadith 779, and its chain is authentic)Imam Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hanbal (RA) said that he asked his father (Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal RA) about a person who curses a Sahabi. He replied:
"I do not consider such a person to be a Muslim."(as-Sunnah by al-Khallal Hadith 782, and its chain is authentic)The reliable jurist and pious Tabi'i Imam Masruq bin al-Ajda' (RA) said:
"Loving Abu Bakr and Umar and recognizing their virtues is Sunnah."(Kitab al-Ilal wa Ma'rifat al-Rijal 1/177 Hadith 945, and its chain is sound; Sharh Usul I'tiqad Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah by al-Lalakai 2322)Imam Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husayn al-Baqir (RA) said:
"Whoever is ignorant of the virtues of Abu Bakr and Umar is ignorant of the Sunnah."(Kitab al-Shari'ah by al-Ajurri p. 851 Hadith 803, and its chain is sound)Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (RA) said:
"Allah is free from anyone who is free from Abu Bakr and Umar."(Fada'il al-Sahabah by Imam Ahmad 1/160 Hadith 143, and its chain is authentic)Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq used to say:
"O Allah, I love Abu Bakr and Umar, and I befriend them. O Allah, if there is anything in my heart contrary to this, do not grant me the intercession of Muhammad (PBUH) on the Day of Judgment."(as-Sunnah by al-Lalakai: 2466, and its chain is sound)Imam Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i (RA) said:
"Hating Abu Bakr and Umar is a major sin (i.e., disbelief)."(Fada'il al-Sahabah by Abdullah bin Ahmad 1/294 Hadith 385, and its chain is sound)O Allah! Fill our hearts with the love for Sayyidina Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (RA) and all the Sahabah (RA), and increase this love. Ameen.