“One of two, when they were in the cave, when he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; Allah is with us.’”

In the two Sahīhs, Abū Sa‘īd reported that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Allah gave a servant the choice between this world and the Hereafter, and that servant chose what is with Allah.”

Abū Bakr wept and said, “Rather, we would ransom you with our lives and our wealth!”

He continued: “The people were astonished: the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had spoken of a servant whom Allah had given the choice between this world and the Hereafter. Yet it was Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—who had been given that choice, and Abū Bakr understood this better than any of us. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

‘No one has been more generous to us in companionship and wealth than Abū Bakr. Were I to take anyone on earth as an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend. But he is my brother and companion. Seal every small doorway into the mosque except Abū Bakr’s.’”

This is among the most authentic hadiths, by the agreement of scholars versed in the Prophet’s sayings, deeds, and circumstances—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

The point is that companionship has both a specific and a general sense. Its general sense includes everyone who saw him while believing in him. Thus, one may say, “I accompanied him for a year,” “for a month,” “for an hour,” and so forth.

Mu‘āwiyah, ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās, and others like them were believers; none of the early generations accused them of hypocrisy. Indeed, it is established in an authentic hadith that when ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās pledged allegiance to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—he said:

“On condition that my past sins be forgiven.”

He replied: