—the type who will count out the tiny copper coins before even reaching the silver riyals, so attached is he to his wealth.

This narration further shows that the Prophet ﷺ did not possess knowledge of the unseen, for he made the promise yet passed away before he could fulfill it, the funds having failed to arrive. It also highlights the virtue of Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), to whom the Companions gave their pledge of allegiance.

The report likewise demonstrates that a trustworthy claimant’s word is accepted when no one contests it. If there is a challenger, however, the burden of proof lies with the claimant and the oath rests upon the one who denies. In this episode no one disputed Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him), for Abū Bakr—being in charge of the public treasury—had announced, “Whoever has a promise or a debt from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, let him come to us.” Jābir came, and Abū Bakr did not ask, “Where is your evidence that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ promised you?” He demanded no proof because he trusted him and faced no opposing claim.

Finally, the ḥadīth establishes the validity of estimating one quantity by means of its counterpart. If a person weighs something in a vessel and finds it, for instance, to be one hundred kilograms, he may refill that vessel with another substance and regard it as one hundred kilograms—provided the two substances are equal in density and weight. Abū Bakr, after counting the first handful, assumed the second and third handfuls to be identical to it in measure.