long. During this expedition, Allah revealed Surah Barā’ah. Abū Bakr’s written instructions on zakat are the most comprehensive and concise of such documents, which is why the majority of jurists followed them. Other such documents contain earlier provisions that had been abrogated, indicating that he was more knowledgeable about the Sunnah that superseded them.

In the two Sahīh collections, Abū Sa‘īd is reported to have said:

“Abū Bakr knew the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, better than any of us.”

Furthermore, during Abū Bakr’s time, whenever the Companions disputed an issue, he settled it between them and their disagreement ended. Not a single issue is known over which they disputed during his time without his intervention bringing their disagreement to an end. Examples include their disagreements concerning the death of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, his burial place, his inheritance, the preparations for Usāmah’s army, fighting those who withheld zakat, and other major issues.

Indeed, he served among them as the successor to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: teaching them, correcting them, and providing explanations that dispelled their doubts. Thus, while he was among them, they did not disagree. After him, no one’s knowledge and excellence equalled his, so they began to dispute certain issues, such as inheritance involving a grandfather and siblings, declaring one’s wife forbidden to oneself, triple divorce, and other well-known matters over which they had not disputed during Abū Bakr’s time. They disagreed with ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, and ‘Alī on many of their views, whereas they are not known to have disagreed with Abū Bakr on any matter in which he issued a legal opinion or judgment. This demonstrates the utmost degree of knowledge.

He took the place of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and upheld Islam without neglecting any part of it. Rather, he brought people back through the very door by which they had left, despite the many opponents among the apostates and others, and the many who failed to support him. Through him, their knowledge and religion were brought to such completeness that he could not be matched in this by