Fine Qualities

`Umar b. al-Khattab told he heard God's messenger say he had asked his Lord about disagreement among his companions after his death and received the revelation, "Your companions, Muhammad, are in my estimation in the position of the stars in the sky, some stronger than others, but all having light. So, I consider him who holds to anything about which they disagree to be rightly guided." He also told that God's messenger said, "My companions are like the stars, so whichever of them you copy, you will be guided." Razin transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported the Prophet as saying, "The one who has been most generous to me with his companionship and property is Ab Bakr[*], and if I were to take a friend I would take Abu Bakr as a friend, but we have the brotherhood and love of Islam. No opening into the mosque must be left but that of Abu Bakr." A version has "If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr as a friend." *After giving Abu Bakr with the nominative, it says Bukhari read Aba Bakr. That would be more usual, as it follows inna, but see p.18.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

`Abdallah b. Mas'ud reported the Prophet as saying, "If I were taking a friend, I would take Abu Bakr as a friend, but he is my brother and my companion, and God has taken your companion[*] as a friend." *i.e., the Prophet himself.Muslim transmitted it.

`A'isha told that during his illness God's messenger said to her, "Call me Abu Bakr, your father, and your brother, so that I may write a document, for I fear that someone may be desirous of succeeding me and that one may [make unjustifiable claims for himself[*]] whereas God and the believers will have no one but Abu Bakr." 3. Literally, "may say, `I'". Pt. 17Muslim transmitted it.

Al-Humaidi's book has "I have most right" instead of "make unjustifiable claims for himself." Jubair b. Mut'im told that a woman came and spoke to the Prophet about a matter, and when he ordered her to come back some other time she said, "Messenger of God, tell me what to do if I come and do not find you"; and it seemed as if she meant that he might be dead. He replied, "If you do not find me go to Abu Bakr." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

`Amr b. al-'As told that when God's messenger sent him as head of the army to Dhat as-Salasil[*] he went to him and asked him which of the people he liked best. On his replying that it was `A'isha, he said he was referring to men, and he replied that it was her father. He asked who came next, and when he replied that it was `Umar and went on to enumerate some men, he asked him no more from fear that he might put him among the last of them. *In 8 AH.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Muhammad b. al-Hanafiya[*] told that when he asked his father which of the people after the Prophet was best, he replied that it was Abu Bakr. He asked who came next and he replied that it was `Umar. As he was afraid that he might mention `Uthman next he suggested that his father himself came next, but he replied, "I am only a man among the Muslims." *He was a son of Ali bin Abu Talib.Bukhari transmitted it.

In the time of the Prophet, we did not compare anyone with Abu Bakr. `Umar came next and then Uthman. We would then leave the Prophet's companions without treating any as superior to others. Bukhari transmitted it.In a version by Abu Dawud, he said: When God's messenger was alive, we used to say that the most excellent member of the Prophet's people after himself was Abu Bakr, then 'Umar, then 'Uthman.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "No one has helped me without my making it up to him except Abu Bakr, for he has given me help which God will make up to him on the day of resurrection. No one's property has benefited me to the extent of Abu Bakr's, and if I were taking a friend I would take Abu Bakr as a friend, but your companion is God's friend." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Bakr is our chief, the best among us, and the one of us who is dearest to God's messenger. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar told that God's messenger said to Abu Bakr, "You were my companion in the cave, and you will be my companion at the Pond. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

`A'isha reported God's messenger as saying, "It is not fitting for a people among whom Abu Bakr is to be led by anyone else." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition.

God's messenger ordered us to give sadaqa, and as that happened when I had some property I said, "If I am going to get ahead of Abu Bakr any day I shall do so to-day." I brought half my property, and when God's messenger asked what I had kept for my family I told him I had kept a similar amount. Abu Bakr, then brought all he had, and when he asked him what he had kept for his family he replied that he had kept God and His messenger for them. I then said, "I shall never get ahead of him in anything." Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

`A'isha told that Abu Bakr came in to visit God's messenger who said, "You are God's freedman (atiq) from hell," so on that day he was named `Atiq. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn `Umar reported God's messenger as saying, "I am the first from whom the earth will burst open, then Abu Bakr and then `Umar. I shall then come to those who are buried in al-Baqi' and they will be gathered along with me; and after that I shall wait for the people of Mecca so as to be gathered among the inhabitants of the two sacred cities." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Gabriel came, and taking me by the hand showed me the gate of paradise by which my people will enter." Abu Bakr then said, "Messenger of God, I wish I had been with you so that I might have looked at it to which God's messenger replied, "You, Abu Bakr, will be the first of my people to enter paradise." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

When Abu Bakr was mentioned in `Umar's presence he wept and said, "I wish all my good deeds could compare with what he did on a certain day and a certain night. The night was the one on which he went with God's messenger to the cave and said when they reached it, `I swear by God that you will not enter it before I have first done so, for if there is anything in it I shall be smitten by it and not you.' He then entered and swept it and found some holes in the side of it, so he tore up his lower-garment and stopped them with it; but as two were still left he thrust his feet into them[*] and told God's messenger to enter. When he had done so the Prophet laid his head on his lap and went to sleep. Abu Bakr's foot in one of the holes received a sting, but he did not move for fear God's messenger might awake. His tears, however, fell on God's messenger's face, and he asked him what was the matter with him. He replied, `O you for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, I have been stung.' God's messenger then spat and the pain left him, but the effect of the poison later returned and was the cause of his death. The day was when God's messenger died and the Arabs apostatised and refused to pay zakat. He said, `If they were to refuse me a tether, I would strive with them over it.' I said, `Successor of God's messenger, be affable and gentle to the people,' but he replied, `Have you who were a powerful man in the pre-Islamic period become weak in the Islamic period? The revelation has ceased and the religion has been perfected. Is it to diminish while I am alive?'" *Literally gave his feet as mouthfuls. Razin transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's messenger as saying, "Among the nations before your time there have been inspired people, and if there is one among my people he is `Umar." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Sa'd b. Abu Waqqas told that `Umar b. al-Khattab asked permission from God's messenger to enter when there were with him some women of Quraish who were talking volubly to him with loud voices. They got up when `Umar asked permission and hastened to veil themselves, and when `Umar entered God's messenger was laughing, so he said, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God!" The Prophet replied, "I was astonished at these women who are with me, for when they heard your voice, they hastened to veil themselves." `Umar then said, "Enemies of yourselves, do you stand in awe of me and do not stand in awe of God's messenger?" They replied, ``Yes, you are more churlish and harsher." God's messenger then said, "Never mind, son of al-Khattab; I swear by Him in whose hand my soul is that the devil has never met you walking on a mountain-road without going to another one than yours." Al-Humaidi said that after "messenger of God" al-Barqani added ``What makes you laugh[*]?"*i.e., after `Umar's remark, "God keep you smiling, messenger of God." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God's messenger as saying, "I entered paradise and met ar-Rumaisa', the wife of Abu Talha. Hearing a movement, I asked who it was and was told that it was Bilal. I saw a palace with a girl in the courtyard and when I asked whose palace it was, I was told that it belonged to `Umar b. al-Khattab. I wanted to enter and look at it, but I remembered your jealous nature." `Umar replied, "Messenger of God for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom, could I be jealous of you?" (Bukhari and Muslim.)