a role in fostering the faith of the entire community, coupled with a firm resolve to do so. Abū Bakr preceded ‘Umar in this and was stronger in resolve. These two assisted the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in fostering the community’s faith in matters great and small, both during his lifetime and after his death. For this reason:

“On the day of Uhud, Abū Sufyān asked, ‘Is Muhammad among the people? Is Ibn Abī Quhāfa among the people? Is Ibn al-Khattāb among the people?’ The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘Do not answer him.’ Abū Sufyān then said, ‘You have been rid of these men.’ ‘Umar could not restrain himself and said, ‘You lie, enemy of Allah! Those you named are alive, and what will distress you still awaits you.’”

Al-Bukhārī and Muslim narrated this from al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib. Abū Sufyān—the leader of disbelief at that time—asked only about these three because they were the leaders of the believers. Likewise, it is established in the two Sahīh collections that:

“When ‘Umar’s bier was set down, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib said, ‘By Allah, there is no one on the face of the earth whose deeds I would rather meet Allah with than those of this shrouded man. By Allah, I hope that Allah will gather you with your two companions, for I often heard the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) say, “Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and I entered; Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and I went out; Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and I went.”’”

Many similar texts explain why they would deserve the equivalent of the deeds of the entire community, if that is indeed what they receive: because they possessed firm resolve together with the means and ability