—granted you a garden, yet I still feel uneasy about it, so return it to the estate.” She replied, “Yes.” He added, “Since the day we were entrusted with the Muslims’ affairs we have not consumed a single dinar or dirham of theirs. We have eaten only a portion of their coarse food that has filled our stomachs, and we have worn a share of their rough clothes upon our backs. We possess nothing of the Muslims’ public wealth except this Ethiopian servant, this camel used for drawing water, and this worn-out cloak. When I die, send them to ʿUmar.” She fulfilled his request.
Al-Qāsim reported from ʿĀʾishah that when death approached Abū Bakr he said, “I know of nothing in the house of Abū Bakr except this milch camel and this young man who polishes swords. He used to forge swords for the Muslims and serve us. When I die, hand him over to ʿUmar.” When she delivered the boy to ʿUmar, he said, “May Allah have mercy on Abū Bakr; he has made it hard for those who come after him.”
Al-Zuhrī said: Abū Bakr directed that his wife, Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays, should wash his body; if she were unable, she might call upon their son ʿAbd al-Raḥmān to assist her.
ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Ayman and others narrated from Abū Jaʿfar al-Bāqir: ʿAlī entered upon Abū Bakr after he had been shrouded and said, “There is no one whose record I would rather take to Allah than that of this shrouded man.”
Al-Qāsim also related that Abū Bakr instructed that he be buried beside the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. A grave was dug for him, and his head was placed level with the Prophet’s shoulders.
ʿĀmir ibn ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr said: “The head of Abū Bakr is at the shoulders of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and the head of ʿUmar is at the waist of Abū Bakr.”
ʿĀʾishah said: “He died on the night preceding Tuesday, and he was buried before dawn.”
Mujāhid stated that Abū Quḥāfah was asked about his share of his son’s estate, and he replied, “I have returned it to his children.” He lived only six months and a few days after that.
It is also reported that his heirs were his father and his two wives, Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays and Ḥabībah bint