Volume 5, Book 57, Number 20:
Narrated Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiya:
I asked my father (‘Ali bin Abi Talib), “Who are the best people after Allah’s Apostle ?” He said, “Abu
Bakr.” I asked, “Who then?” He said, “Then ‘Umar. ” I was afraid he would say “Uthman, so I said,
“Then you?” He said, “I am only an ordinary person.
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 5:
Narrated Abu Bakr:
I said to the Prophet while I was in the Cave. “If any of them should look under his feet, he would
see us.” He said, “O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?”
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 21:
Narrated ‘Aisha:
We went out with Allah’s Apostle on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baida or Dhatul-Jaish
where my necklace got broken (and lost). Allah’s Apostle stopped to search for it and the people too
stopped with him. There was no water at that place and they had no water with them. So they went
to Abu Bakr and said, “Don’t you see what ‘Aisha has done? She has made Allah’s Apostle and the
people stop where there is no water and they have no water with them. Abu Bakr came while Allah’s
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Apostle was sleeping with his head on my thigh and said, “You detained Allah Apostle and the people
where there is no water and they have no water.” He then admonished me and said what Allah
wished and pinched me at my flanks with his hands, but I did not move because the head of Allah’s
Apostle was on my thigh .
Allah’s Apostle kept on sleeping till be got up in the morning and found no water. Then Allah re –
vealed the Divine Verse of Tayammum, and the people performed Tayammum. Usaid bin AlHudair
said. “O family of Abu Bakr! This is not the first blessings of yours.” We urged the camel on which I
was sitting to get up from its place and the necklace was found under it.
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 6:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Allah’s Apostle addressed the people saying, “Allah has given option to a slave to choose this world
or what is with Him. The slave has chosen what is with Allah.” Abu Bakr wept, and we were aston –
ished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned as to a Slave ( of Allah) who had been
offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Allah’s Apostle himself was the person who was given the
choice, and that Abu Bakr knew best of all of us. Allah’s Apostle added, “The person who has favored
me most of all both with his company and wealth, is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a Khalil other than
my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as such, but (what relates us) is the Islamic brotherhood and
friendliness. All the gates of the Mosque should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr.”
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Volume 5, Book 57, Number 22:
Narrated Abu Said:
The Prophet said, “Do not abuse my companions for if any one of you spent gold equal to Uhud (in
Allah’s Cause) it would not be equal to a Mud or even a half Mud spent by one of them.”
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 7:
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:
We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle . We
used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then ‘Umar, and then ‘Uthman .
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 23:
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari:
I performed ablution in my house and then went out and said, “Today I shall stick to Allah’s
Apostle and stay with him all this day of mine (in his service).” I went to the Mosque and asked about
the Prophet . They said, “He had gone in this direction.” So I followed his way, asking about him till
he entered a place called Bir Aris. I sat at its gate that was made of date-palm leaves till the Prophet
finished answering the call of nature and performed ablution. Then I went up to him to see him sit –
ting at the well of Aris at the middle of its edge with his legs uncovered, hanging in the well. I
greeted him and went back and sat at the gate. I said, “Today I will be the gatekeeper of the Prophet.”
Abu Bakr came and pushed the gate. I asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Abu Bakr.” I told him to wait, went
in and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Abu Bakr asks for permission to enter.” He said, “Admit him and give
him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise.” So I went out and said to Abu Bakr, “Come in, and
Allah’s Apostle gives you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise” Abu Bakr entered and sat on
the right side of Allah’s Apostle on the built edge of the well and hung his legs n the well as the
Prophet did and uncovered his legs. I then returned and sat (at the gate). I had left my brother per –
forming ablution and he intended to follow me. So I said (to myself). “If Allah wants good for so-and-
so (i.e. my brother) He will bring him here.” Suddenly somebody moved the door. I asked, “Who is it?”
He said, “‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.” I asked him to wait, went to Allah’s Apostle, greeted him and said,
‘Umar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to enter.” He said, “Admit him, and give him the glad tid –
ings that he will be in Paradise.” I went to “Umar and said “Come in, and Allah’s Apostle, gives you the
glad tidings that you will be in Paradise.” So he entered and sat beside Allah’s Apostle on the built
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edge of the well on the left side and hung his legs in the well. I returned and sat (at the gate) and
said, (to myself), “If Allah wants good for so-and-so, He will bring him here.” Somebody came and
moved the door. I asked “Who is it?” He replied, “Uthman bin Affan.” I asked him to wait and went to
the Prophet and informed him. He said, “Admit him, and give him the glad tidings of entering Para –
dise, I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet and informed him. He said, “Adult him, and give
him the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall him.” So I went up to him
and said to him, “Come in; Allah’s Apostle gives you the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a
calamity that will befall you. “Uthman then came in and found that the built edge of the well was oc –
cupied, so he sat opposite to the Prophet on the other side. Said bin Al-Musaiyab said, “I interpret this
(narration) in terms of their graves.”
Volume 5, Book 57, Number 8:
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:
The Prophet said, “If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and
my companion (in Islam).”