Virtues and Excellences of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr in the Ahadeeth

The genealogy of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq radiyAllahu ‘anhu is:

• ‘Abd-Allah (Abu Bakr)
• Son of ‘Uthman (Abu Quhafah)
• Son of ‘Amir
• Son of ‘Amr
• Son of Ka’b
• Son of Ibn Sa’d
• Son of Tameem
• Son of Murrah

His genealogy joins the noble genealogy of the Prophet ﷺ at his seventh ancestor (Murrah). His appelation is al-Siddiq, agnomen ‘Ateeq. He is known as al-Siddiq after he testified to the Mi’raj of the Prophet ﷺ magnificently that morning. He acquired the name ‘Ateeq after freeing Sayyiduna Bilal radiyAllahu ‘anhu; it means “the one free from Hell” or “the one who frees people”. His virtues are as innumerable as the stars in the sky and the atoms of the earth. He is the greatest creation (i.e. human) after the Anbiya’ ‘Alayhim al-Salam. He was never separated from the Prophet ﷺ after accepting Islam; he was with the Prophet ﷺ in every battle. He was the first to accept Islam. He was fair, tall, slender with a broad forehead. His parents, all of his children and his grandchildren were Sahabah, an honour only he possesses. He was born in Makkah al-Mu’azzamah two years and four months after the incident of the elephant. He passed away in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah between Maghrib and ‘Isha’ on Tuesday 22 Jumad al-Akhir 13 H, at the age of 63. He is resting directly next to the Prophet ﷺ. His Khilafah lasted two years and four months.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiyAllahu ‘anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

No one has a favour upon us but we have repaid it, except Abu Bakr. Indeed he has favour upon us, Allah will repay him on the Day of Qiyamah. And the wealth of no-one has benefited me more than the wealth of Abu Bakr. And if I was to take a friend (khalil), I would make Abu Bakr my friend. Remember that your companion is the friend of Allah. [Tirmidhi]

It is narrated from Sayyiduna ‘Umar radiyAllahu ‘anhu that he said, “Abu Bakr is our leader and the best of us and the most beloved to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from us.” [Tirmidhi]

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radiyAllahu ‘anhuma narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radiyAllahu ‘anhu, “You are my companion in the cave, and you are my companion at the pool.” [Tirmidhi]

Sayyidatuna ‘A’ishah radiyAllahu ‘anha narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “It does not befit a nation in which Abu Bakr is present that someone else leads them.” [Recorded by Imam al-Tirmidhi, and he comments this is a gharib Hadith.]

Sayyiduna ‘Umar radiyAllahu ‘anhu narrates:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that we give Sadaqah. Coincidentally, I had a lot of wealth at the time. So I said, “I will surpass Abu Bakr today if I am to surpass Abu Bakr any day.” So I came with half of my wealth. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, “What have you left for your family?” I said, “The same amount.” And Abu Bakr came with everything he possessed so the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked him, “What have you left for your family?” He said, “I have kept for them Allah and His Messenger.” I said, “I will not surpass him to anything ever.” [Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud]

Sayyidatuna ‘A’ishah radiyAllahu ‘anha narrates that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radiyAllahu ‘anhu came in the service of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he ﷺ said, “You are free by Allah (‘Ateeq-Allah] from Hell.” So from that day, he was known as ‘Ateeq.” [Tirmidhi]

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar radiyAllahu ‘anhuma narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I am the first person for whom the earth will open, then Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar; then I will come to the people of Baqi’ and they will be gathered with me. Then I will wait for the people of Makkah and we will witness Hashr between the two sanctuaries.” [Tirmidhi]

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiyAllahu ‘anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Jibraeel came to me and took my hand and showed me the gate of Jannah from which my Ummah will enter.” Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah, I wish I had been with you that I would see it.” So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “O Abu Bakr, indeed you are the first who will enter Jannah from my Ummah.” [Abu Dawud]

Taken from Mishkat al-Masabih

Translated by Neesarahmed Amjadi