The Prophet ﷺ said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam).  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي  

The Prophet ﷺ said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr) as a Khalil, but the Islamic brotherhood is better."  

وَقَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُهُ خَلِيلاً وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ أَفْضَلُ  

The people of Kufa sent a letter to Ibn Az-Zubair, asking about (the inheritance of) (paternal) grandfather. He replied that the right of the inheritance of (paternal) grandfather is the same as that of father if the father is dead) and added, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ' If I were to take a Khalil from this nation, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr).  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُهُ أَنْزَلَهُ أَبًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ  

A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ who ordered her to return to him again. She said, "What if I came and did not find you?" as if she wanted to say, "If I found you dead?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr."  

أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَتْ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جِئْتُ وَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ كَأَنَّهَا تَقُولُ الْمَوْتَ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدِينِي فَأْتِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ  

I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ and there was none with him but five slaves, two women and Abu Bakr (i.e. those were the only converts to Islam then).  

سَمِعْتُ عَمَّارًا يَقُولُ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَمَا مَعَهُ إِلاَّ خَمْسَةُ أَعْبُدٍ وَامْرَأَتَانِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ  

While I was sitting with the Prophet, Abu Bakr came, lifting up one corner of his garment uncovering his knee. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Your companion has had a quarrel." Abu Bakr greeted (the Prophet ﷺ ) and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! There was something (i.e. quarrel) between me and the Son of Al-Khattab. I talked to him harshly and then regretted that, and requested him to forgive me, but he refused. This is why I have come to you." The Prophet ﷺ said thrice, "O Abu Bakr! May Allah forgive you." In the meanwhile, ʿUmar regretted (his refusal of Abu Bakr's excuse) and went to Abu Bakr's house and asked if Abu Bakr was there. They replied in the negative. So he came to the Prophet ﷺ and greeted him, but signs of displeasure appeared on the face of the Prophet ﷺ till Abu Bakr pitied (ʿUmar), so he knelt and said twice, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! By Allah! I was more unjust to him (than he to me)." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), 'You are telling a lie,' while Abu Bakr said, 'He has said the truth,' and consoled me with himself and his money." He then said twice, "Won't you then give up harming my companion?" After that nobody harmed Abu Bakr.  

كُنْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ آخِذًا بِطَرَفِ ثَوْبِهِ حَتَّى أَبْدَى عَنْ رُكْبَتِهِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَمَّا صَاحِبُكُمْ فَقَدْ غَامَرَ فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ إِنِّي كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ ابْنِ الْخَطَّابِ شَىْءٌ فَأَسْرَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ نَدِمْتُ فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ يَغْفِرَ لِي فَأَبَى عَلَىَّ فَأَقْبَلْتُ إِلَيْكَ فَقَالَ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ إِنَّ عُمَرَ نَدِمَ فَأَتَى مَنْزِلَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَسَأَلَ أَثَمَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَالُوا لاَ فَأَتَى إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَسَلَّمَ فَجَعَلَ وَجْهُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ يَتَمَعَّرُ حَتَّى أَشْفَقَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَثَا عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ أَنَا كُنْتُ أَظْلَمَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَعَثَنِي إِلَيْكُمْ فَقُلْتُمْ كَذَبْتَ وَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ صَدَقَ وَوَاسَانِي بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ تَارِكُو لِي صَاحِبِي مَرَّتَيْنِ فَمَا أُوذِيَ بَعْدَهَا  

The Prophet ﷺ deputed me to read the Army of Dhat-as-Salasil. I came to him and said, "Who is the most beloved person to you?" He said, " ʿAisha." I asked, "Among the men?" He said, "Her father." I said, "Who then?" He said, "Then ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab." He then named other men.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ بَعَثَهُ عَلَى جَيْشِ ذَاتِ السَّلاَسِلِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ أَبُوهَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ثُمَّ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَعَدَّ رِجَالاً  

I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "While a shepherd was amongst his sheep, a wolf attacked them and took away one sheep. When the shepherd chased the wolf, the wolf turned towards him and said, 'Who will be its guard on the day of wild animals when nobody except I will be its shepherd. And while a man was driving a cow with a load on it, it turned towards him and spoke to him saying, 'I have not been created for this purpose, but for ploughing." The people said, "Glorified be Allah." The Prophet said, "But I believe in it and so does Abu Bakr end ʿUmar."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ بَيْنَمَا رَاعٍ فِي غَنَمِهِ عَدَا عَلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَأَخَذَ مِنْهَا شَاةً فَطَلَبَهُ الرَّاعِي فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ الذِّئْبُ فَقَالَ مَنْ لَهَا يَوْمَ السَّبُعِ يَوْمَ لَيْسَ لَهَا رَاعٍ غَيْرِي وَبَيْنَا رَجُلٌ يَسُوقُ بَقَرَةً قَدْ حَمَلَ عَلَيْهَا فَالْتَفَتَتْ إِلَيْهِ فَكَلَّمَتْهُ فَقَالَتْ إِنِّي لَمْ أُخْلَقْ لِهَذَا وَلَكِنِّي خُلِقْتُ لِلْحَرْثِ قَالَ النَّاسُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَإِنِّي أُومِنُ بِذَلِكَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ  

I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "While I was sleeping, I saw myself standing at a well, on it there was a bucket. I drew water from the well as much as Allah wished. Then Ibn Abi Quhafa (i.e. Abu Bakr) took the bucket from me and brought out one or two buckets (of water) and there was weakness in his drawing the water. May Allah forgive his weakness for him. Then the bucket turned into a very big one and Ibn Al-Khattab took it over and I had never seen such a mighty person amongst the people as him in performing such hard work, till the people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels that knelt down there."  

سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَقُولُ بَيْنَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ رَأَيْتُنِي عَلَى قَلِيبٍ عَلَيْهَا دَلْوٌ فَنَزَعْتُ مِنْهَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا ابْنُ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ فَنَزَعَ بِهَا ذَنُوبًا أَوْ ذَنُوبَيْنِ وَفِي نَزْعِهِ ضَعْفٌ وَاللَّهُ يَغْفِرُ لَهُ ضَعْفَهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَحَالَتْ غَرْبًا فَأَخَذَهَا ابْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَلَمْ أَرَ عَبْقَرِيًّا مِنَ النَّاسِ يَنْزِعُ نَزْعَ عُمَرَ حَتَّى ضَرَبَ النَّاسُ بِعَطَنٍ  

That Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment at him who drags his robe (behind him) out of pride." Abu Bakr said "One side of my robe slacks down unless I get very cautious about it." Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "But you do not do that with a pride."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ جَرَّ ثَوْبَهُ خُيَلاَءَ لَمْ يَنْظُرِ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ أَحَدَ شِقَّىْ ثَوْبِي يَسْتَرْخِي إِلاَّ أَنْ أَتَعَاهَدَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ تَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ خُيَلاَءَ قَالَ مُوسَى فَقُلْتُ لِسَالِمٍ أَذَكَرَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ مَنْ جَرَّ إِزَارَهُ قَالَ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ ذَكَرَ إِلاَّ ثَوْبَهُ  

I heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "Anybody who spends a pair of something in Allah's Cause will be called from all the gates of Paradise, "O Allah's slave! This is good.' He who is amongst those who pray will be called from the gate of the prayer (in Paradise) and he who is from the people of Jihad will be called from the gate of Jihad, and he who is from those' who give in charity (i.e. Zakat) will be called from the gate of charity, and he who is amongst those who observe fast will be called from the gate of fasting, the gate of Raiyan." Abu Bakr said, "He who is called from all those gates will need nothing," He added, "Will anyone be called from all those gates, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" He said, "Yes, and I hope you will be among those, O Abu Bakr."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ مِنْ شَىْءٍ مِنَ الأَشْيَاءِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ دُعِيَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ يَعْنِي الْجَنَّةَ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ هَذَا خَيْرٌ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلاَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّلاَةِ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجِهَادِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الْجِهَادِ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصَّدَقَةِ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّيَامِ دُعِيَ مِنْ باب الصِّيَامِ وَبَابِ الرَّيَّانِ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا عَلَى هَذَا الَّذِي يُدْعَى مِنْ تِلْكَ الأَبْوَابِ مِنْ ضَرُورَةٍ وَقَالَ هَلْ يُدْعَى مِنْهَا كُلِّهَا أَحَدٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُمْ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ  

(the wife of the Prophet) Messenger of Allah ﷺ died while Abu Bakr was at a place called As-Sunah (Al-'Aliya) 'Umar stood up and said, "By Allah! Messenger of Allah ﷺ is not dead!" 'Umar (later on) said, "By Allah! Nothing occurred to my mind except that." He said, "Verily! Allah will resurrect him and he will cut the hands and legs of some men." Then Abu Bakr came and uncovered the face of Messenger of Allah ﷺ, kissed him and said, "Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, (O Messenger of Allah ﷺ), you are good in life and in death. By Allah in Whose Hands my life is, Allah will never make you taste death twice." Then he went out and said, "O oath-taker! Don't be hasty." When Abu Bakr spoke, 'Umar sat down. Abu Bakr praised and glorified Allah and said, No doubt! Whoever worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die." Then he recited Allah's Statement.:-- "(O Muhammad) Verily you will die, and they also will die." (39.30) He also recited:-- "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle; and indeed many Apostles have passed away, before him, If he dies Or is killed, will you then Turn back on your heels? And he who turns back On his heels, not the least Harm will he do to Allah And Allah will give reward to those Who are grateful." (3.144) The people wept loudly, and the Ansar were assembled with Sad bin 'Ubada in the shed of Bani Saida. They said (to the emigrants). "There should be one 'Amir from us and one from you." Then Abu Bakr, Umar bin Al-Khattab and Abu 'baida bin Al-Jarrah went to them. 'Umar wanted to speak but Abu Bakr stopped him. 'Umar later on used to say, "By Allah, I intended only to say something that appealed to me and I was afraid that Abu Bakr would not speak so well. Then Abu Bakr spoke and his speech was very eloquent. He said in his statement, "We are the rulers and you (Ansars) are the ministers (i.e. advisers)," Hubab bin Al-Mundhir said, "No, by Allah we won't accept this. But there must be a ruler from us and a ruler from you." Abu Bakr said, "No, we will be the rulers and you will be the ministers, for they (i.e. Quarish) are the best family amongst the 'Arabs and of best origin. So you should elect either 'Umar or Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarrah as your ruler." 'Umar said (to Abu Bakr), "No but we elect you, for you are our chief and the best amongst us and the most beloved of all of us to Messenger of Allah ﷺ." So 'Umar took Abu Bakr's hand and gave the pledge of allegiance and the people too gave the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr. Someone said, "You have killed Sad bin Ubada." 'Umar said, "Allah has killed him."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَاتَ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ بِالسُّنْحِ قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يَعْنِي بِالْعَالِيَةِ فَقَامَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ مَا مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَتْ وَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَاللَّهِ مَا كَانَ يَقَعُ فِي نَفْسِي إِلاَّ ذَاكَ وَلَيَبْعَثَنَّهُ اللَّهُ فَلَيَقْطَعَنَّ أَيْدِيَ رِجَالٍ وَأَرْجُلَهُمْ فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَكَشَفَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَبَّلَهُ قَالَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي طِبْتَ حَيًّا وَمَيِّتًا وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لاَ يُذِيقُكَ اللَّهُ الْمَوْتَتَيْنِ أَبَدًا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا الْحَالِفُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ فَلَمَّا تَكَلَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ جَلَسَ عُمَرُ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ أَلاَ مَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا قَدْ مَاتَ وَمَنْ كَانَ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ وَقَالَ {إِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ وَإِنَّهُمْ مَيِّتُونَ} وَقَالَ {وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ أَفَإِنْ مَاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انْقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَى أَعْقَابِكُمْ وَمَنْ يَنْقَلِبْ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ فَلَنْ يَضُرَّ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَسَيَجْزِي اللَّهُ الشَّاكِرِينَ} قَالَ فَنَشَجَ النَّاسُ يَبْكُونَ قَالَ وَاجْتَمَعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ إِلَى سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ فِي سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ فَقَالُوا مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ فَذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَأَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ فَذَهَبَ عُمَرُ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَأَسْكَتَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُ بِذَلِكَ إِلاَّ أَنِّي قَدْ هَيَّأْتُ كَلاَمًا قَدْ أَعْجَبَنِي خَشِيتُ أَنْ لاَ يَبْلُغَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَتَكَلَّمَ أَبْلَغَ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ فِي كَلاَمِهِ نَحْنُ الأُمَرَاءُ وَأَنْتُمُ الْوُزَرَاءُ فَقَالَ حُبَابُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ لاَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نَفْعَلُ مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لاَ وَلَكِنَّا الأُمَرَاءُ وَأَنْتُمُ الْوُزَرَاءُ هُمْ أَوْسَطُ الْعَرَبِ دَارًا وَأَعْرَبُهُمْ أَحْسَابًا فَبَايِعُوا عُمَرَ أَوْ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بَلْ نُبَايِعُكَ أَنْتَ فَأَنْتَ سَيِّدُنَا وَخَيْرُنَا وَأَحَبُّنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَخَذَ عُمَرُ بِيَدِهِ فَبَايَعَهُ وَبَايَعَهُ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ قَتَلْتُمْ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ قَتَلَهُ اللَّهُ  

-- "Muhammad is no more than an Apostle and indeed many Apostles have passed away before him.." (3.144)  

شَخَصَ بَصَرُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الرَّفِيقِ الأَعْلَى ثَلاَثًا وَقَصَّ الْحَدِيثَ قَالَتْ فَمَا كَانَتْ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِمَا مِنْ خُطْبَةٍ إِلاَّ نَفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهَا لَقَدْ خَوَّفَ عُمَرُ النَّاسَ وَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ لَنِفَاقًا فَرَدَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ لَقَدْ بَصَّرَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ النَّاسَ الْهُدَى وَعَرَّفَهُمُ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِمْ وَخَرَجُوا بِهِ يَتْلُونَ {وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلاَّ رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ} إِلَى {الشَّاكِرِينَ}  

I asked my father (ʿAli bin Abi Talib), "Who are the best people after Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?" He said, "Abu Bakr." I asked, "Who then?" He said, "Then ʿUmar. " I was afraid he would say "Uthman, so I said, "Then you?" He said, "I am only an ordinary person.  

قُلْتُ لأَبِي أَىُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ مَنْ قَالَ ثُمَّ عُمَرُ وَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَقُولَ عُثْمَانُ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَنْتَ قَالَ مَا أَنَا إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ  

We went out with Messenger of Allah ﷺ on one of his journeys till we reached Al-Baida or Dhatul-Jaish where my necklace got broken (and lost). Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 ʿAisha has done? She has made Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the people stop where there is no water and they have no water with them. Abu Bakr came while Allah's 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ was on my thigh . Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept on sleeping till be got up in the morning and found no water. Then Allah revealed 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.  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي بَعْضِ أَسْفَارِهِ حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بِالْبَيْدَاءِ أَوْ بِذَاتِ الْجَيْشِ انْقَطَعَ عِقْدٌ لِي فَأَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى الْتِمَاسِهِ وَأَقَامَ النَّاسُ مَعَهُ وَلَيْسُوا عَلَى مَاءٍ وَلَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ مَاءٌ فَأَتَى النَّاسُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ فَقَالُوا أَلاَ تَرَى مَا صَنَعَتْ عَائِشَةُ أَقَامَتْ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَبِالنَّاسِ مَعَهُ وَلَيْسُوا عَلَى مَاءٍ وَلَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ مَاءٌ فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَاضِعٌ رَأْسَهُ عَلَى فَخِذِي قَدْ نَامَ فَقَالَ حَبَسْتِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَالنَّاسَ وَلَيْسُوا عَلَى مَاءٍ وَلَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ مَاءٌ قَالَتْ فَعَاتَبَنِي وَقَالَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ وَجَعَلَ يَطْعُنُنِي بِيَدِهِ فِي خَاصِرَتِي فَلاَ يَمْنَعُنِي مِنَ التَّحَرُّكِ إِلاَّ مَكَانُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَلَى فَخِذِي فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَاءٍ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةَ التَّيَمُّمِ فَتَيَمَّمُوا فَقَالَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُضَيْرِ مَا هِيَ بِأَوَّلِ بَرَكَتِكُمْ يَا آلَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَبَعَثْنَا الْبَعِيرَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْنَا الْعِقْدَ تَحْتَهُ  

The Prophet ﷺ 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 Mudd or even a half Mudd spent by one of them."  

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «لاَ تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي! فَلَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْفَقَ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلاَ نَصِيفَهُ۔»  

I performed ablution in my house and then went out and said, "Today I shall stick to Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 ﷺ finished answering the call of nature and performed ablution. Then I went up to him to see him sitting 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ! 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 Messenger of Allah ﷺ gives you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise" Abu Bakr entered and sat on the right side of Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the built edge of the well and hung his legs n the well as the Prophet ﷺ did and uncovered his legs. I then returned and sat (at the gate). I had left my brother performing 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, "ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab." I asked him to wait, went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ, greeted him and said, ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to enter." He said, "Admit him, and give him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise." I went to "ʿUmar and said "Come in, and Messenger of Allah ﷺ, gives you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise." So he entered and sat beside Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the built 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 ʿAffan." I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him. He said, "Admit him, and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise, I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet ﷺ 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 occupied, so he sat opposite to the Prophet ﷺ on the other side. Saʿid bin Al-Musaiyab said, "I interpret this (narration) in terms of their graves."  

أَنَّهُ تَوَضَّأَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقُلْتُ لأَلْزَمَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَلأَكُونَنَّ مَعَهُ يَوْمِي هَذَا قَالَ فَجَاءَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَسَأَلَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالُوا خَرَجَ وَوَجَّهَ هَا هُنَا فَخَرَجْتُ عَلَى إِثْرِهِ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ بِئْرَ أَرِيسٍ فَجَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ وَبَابُهَا مِنْ جَرِيدٍ حَتَّى قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَاجَتَهُ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى بِئْرِ أَرِيسٍ وَتَوَسَّطَ قُفَّهَا وَكَشَفَ عَنْ سَاقَيْهِ وَدَلاَّهُمَا فِي الْبِئْرِ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ فَقُلْتُ لأَكُونَنَّ بَوَّابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْيَوْمَ فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَدَفَعَ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ ثُمَّ ذَهَبْتُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ حَتَّى قُلْتُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ ادْخُلْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِالْجَنَّةِ فَدَخَلَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَجَلَسَ عَنْ يَمِينِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَعَهُ فِي الْقُفِّ وَدَلَّى رِجْلَيْهِ فِي الْبِئْرِ كَمَا صَنَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَكَشَفَ عَنْ سَاقَيْهِ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ وَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ أَخِي يَتَوَضَّأُ وَيَلْحَقُنِي فَقُلْتُ إِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِفُلاَنٍ خَيْرًا يُرِيدُ أَخَاهُ يَأْتِ بِهِ فَإِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يُحَرِّكُ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ ثُمَّ جِئْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ هَذَا عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ يَسْتَأْذِنُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ فَجِئْتُ فَقُلْتُ ادْخُلْ وَبَشَّرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْجَنَّةِ فَدَخَلَ فَجَلَسَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْقُفِّ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَدَلَّى رِجْلَيْهِ فِي الْبِئْرِ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ فَجَلَسْتُ فَقُلْتُ إِنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ بِفُلاَنٍ خَيْرًا يَأْتِ بِهِ فَجَاءَ إِنْسَانٌ يُحَرِّكُ الْبَابَ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ فَقُلْتُ عَلَى رِسْلِكَ فَجِئْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ فَقَالَ ائْذَنْ لَهُ وَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ عَلَى بَلْوَى تُصِيبُهُ فَجِئْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ادْخُلْ وَبَشَّرَكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِالْجَنَّةِ عَلَى بَلْوَى تُصِيبُكَ فَدَخَلَ فَوَجَدَ الْقُفَّ قَدْ مُلِئَ فَجَلَسَ وُجَاهَهُ مِنَ الشِّقِّ الآخَرِ قَالَ شَرِيكٌ قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ فَأَوَّلْتُهَا قُبُورَهُمْ  

The Prophet ﷺ once climbed the mountain of Uhud with Abu Bakr, ʿUmar and ʿUthman. The mountain shook with them. The Prophet ﷺ said (to the mountain), "Be firm, O Uhud! For on you there are no more than a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs.  

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ صَعِدَ أُحُدًا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ فَرَجَفَ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ اثْبُتْ أُحُدُ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ نَبِيٌّ وَصِدِّيقٌ وَشَهِيدَانِ  

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said. "While (in a dream), I was standing by a well, drawing water from it. Abu Bakr and ʿUmar came to me. Abu Bakr took the bucket (from me) and drew one or two buckets of water, and there was some weakness in his drawing. May Allah forgive him. Then Ibn Al-Khattab took the bucket from Abu Bakr, and the bucket turned into a very large one in his hands. I had never seen such a mighty person amongst the people as him in performing such hard work. He drew so much water that the people drank to their satisfaction and watered their camels." (Wahab, a sub-narrator said, "till their camels drank and knelt down.")  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بَيْنَمَا أَنَا عَلَى بِئْرٍ أَنْزِعُ مِنْهَا جَاءَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ فَأَخَذَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الدَّلْوَ فَنَزَعَ ذَنُوبًا أَوْ ذَنُوبَيْنِ وَفِي نَزْعِهِ ضَعْفٌ وَاللَّهُ يَغْفِرُ لَهُ ثُمَّ أَخَذَهَا ابْنُ الْخَطَّابِ مِنْ يَدِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَاسْتَحَالَتْ فِي يَدِهِ غَرْبًا فَلَمْ أَرَ عَبْقَرِيًّا مِنَ النَّاسِ يَفْرِي فَرِيَّهُ فَنَزَعَ حَتَّى ضَرَبَ النَّاسُ بِعَطَنٍ قَالَ وَهْبٌ الْعَطَنُ مَبْرَكُ الإِبِلِ يَقُولُ حَتَّى رَوِيَتِ الإِبِلُ فَأَنَاخَتْ  

While I was standing amongst the people who were invoking Allah for ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab who was lying (dead) on his bed, a man behind me rested his elbows on my shoulder and said, "(O ʿUmar!) May Allah bestow His Mercy on you. I always hoped that Allah will keep you with your two companions, for I often heard Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "I, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar were (somewhere). I, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar did (something). I, Abu Bakr and ʿUmar set out.' So I hoped that Allah will keep you with both of them." I turned back to see that the speaker was ʿAli bin Abi Talib.  

أَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْكَ لأَنِّي كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ كُنْتُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَفَعَلْتُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَانْطَلَقْتُ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ فَإِنْ كُنْتُ لأَرْجُو أَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَعَهُمَا فَالْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا هُوَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ  

I asked ʿAbdullah bin ʿAmr, "What was the worst thing the pagans did to Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" He said, "I saw ʿUqba bin Abi Mu'ait coming to the Prophet ﷺ while he was praying.' ʿUqba put his sheet round the Prophet's neck and squeezed it very severely. Abu Bakr came and pulled ʿUqba away from the Prophet and said, "Do you intend to kill a man just because he says: 'My Lord is Allah, and he has brought forth to you the Evident Signs from your Lord?"  

عَنْ أَشَدِّ مَا صَنَعَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ أَبِي مُعَيْطٍ جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَوَضَعَ رِدَاءَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ فَخَنَقَهُ بِهِ خَنْقًا شَدِيدًا فَجَاءَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَتَّى دَفَعَهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ أَتَقْتُلُونَ رَجُلاً أَنْ يَقُولَ رَبِّيَ اللَّهُ وَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ