companion alone?”

After that, he was never mistreated again.

It is also established by mass-transmitted reports in the Sahīh and Sunan that, when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—fell ill, he said:

“Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

He repeated this twice or three times, until he said:

“You are indeed like the women in Joseph’s story! Tell Abū Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

By singling him out, repeating his instruction, and emphatically giving him precedence over all the other Companions in leading the prayer—even though ‘Umar, ‘Uthmān, ‘Alī, and others were present—he made clear to the community that Abū Bakr held precedence over the others in his estimation—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

It is reported in the Sahīh that, when ‘Umar’s body was laid out for the funeral, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib came through the rows and said:

“I hope that Allah will place you with your two companions, for I often heard the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—say, ‘I entered with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar; I went out with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar; I went with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.’”

This shows how constantly the two accompanied the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—when he entered, went out, and went about. Thus, when al-Rashīd asked Mālik, “Abū ‘Abd Allāh, tell me about the standing of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar in relation to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace,” he answered:

“Commander of the Faithful, their position beside him during his lifetime was like their position beside him after his death.”

He replied, “You have set my mind at rest, Mālik!”

This makes clear the exceptional closeness of their companionship with him, their support for his mission, and their relationship with him as confidants. These are facts necessarily known to everyone familiar with the circumstances of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—his words, his deeds, and his conduct with his Companions. Hence, no one knowledgeable about his life, Sunnah, and character disputed this. Rather, only