1310 — Abū Bakr ibn Abī Dāwūd narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Musaffā ⦗1845⦘ al-Himsī narrated to us, saying: Baqiyya—that is, Ibn al-Walīd—narrated to us, from Ibn Jurayj, from Atā, from Abū al-Dardā, who said: The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—saw me walking ahead of Abū Bakr and said: “O Abū al-Dardā, why are you walking ahead of one who is better than you? Abū Bakr is the best person upon whom the sun has ever risen or set.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—said: Abū Bakr’s virtues—may Allah be pleased with him—are many. I have mentioned those that occurred to me, and we shall mention his virtues in various chapters. Allah the Generous has joined his virtues with those of Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—and we shall mention them chapter by chapter, if Allah Most High wills.