Abū Bakr.”

This explicitly shows that, in his estimation, no one on earth except Abū Bakr deserved his intimate friendship, had such friendship with a created being been possible for him. Thus, in his estimation, no one was superior to Abū Bakr or dearer to him. Likewise, it is reported in the Sahīh that ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ās asked him:

“Who is dearest to you?”
He replied, “‘Ā’ishah.”
He asked, “And among men?”
He replied, “Her father.”

It is likewise reported in the Sahīh that he said to ‘Ā’ishah:

“Call your father and your brother for me, so that I may write a document for Abū Bakr, leaving no room for people to disagree about him after me.”

Then he said:

“Allah and the believers will accept none but Abū Bakr.”

It is also reported in the Sahīh that a woman said to him, “Messenger of Allah, what if I come and do not find you?”—as though she meant his death. He replied:

“Then go to Abū Bakr.”

In the Sunan, he is reported to have said:

“Follow the example of the two who come after me: Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.”

It is reported in the Sahīh that, while on a journey, he said:

“If the people obey Abū Bakr and ‘Umar, they will be rightly guided.”

In the Sunan, he is reported to have said:

“I saw myself as though I had been placed in one pan of a balance and the community in the other, and I outweighed the community. Then Abū Bakr was placed in one pan and the community in the other, and Abū Bakr outweighed them. Then ‘Umar was placed in one pan and the community in the other, and ‘Umar outweighed them.”

It is reported in the Sahīh that Abū Bakr and ‘Umar had an exchange of words. Abū Bakr asked ‘Umar to seek forgiveness for him, but he did not do so. Abū Bakr then came to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and told him what had happened. He said:

“Sit down, Abū Bakr. May Allah forgive you.”

‘Umar regretted what he had done and went to Abū Bakr’s home, but did not find him there. He then came to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—became angry and said:

“People, I came to you and said, ‘I am the Messenger of Allah,’ but you said, ‘You are lying,’ while Abū Bakr said, ‘You are speaking the truth.’ Will you then leave my companion alone for my sake? Will you then leave my companion alone for my sake? Will you then, for my sake, leave my