being distressed by it, whereas whoever chose to obey him was right to do so. This is unlike someone who caused her distress for a personal purpose (1), rather than in obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
Anyone who reflects on Abū Bakr’s conduct in carefully observing the Prophet’s command—peace and blessings be upon him—and recognizes that his sole intention was to obey the Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—and that he pursued no purpose (2) other than this, will conclude that his conduct was more perfect, more excellent, [and loftier] (3) than that of Alī—may Allah be pleased with them both. Each is a great master—one of the eminent God-fearing allies of Allah, of Allah’s successful party, [and of Allah’s righteous servants] (4), one of the first and foremost, and one of the eminent among those brought near, who drink from Tasnīm.
Hence, Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—used to say:
“By Allah, maintaining ties with the relatives of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—is dearer to me than maintaining ties with my own relatives.” (5)
He also said:
“Be mindful of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—with regard to his household.” Al-Bukhārī narrated this from him (6).
(1) A reads: “for a purpose sought for its own sake”; B reads: “for a specific purpose.”
(2) A, B, S, H, and R read: “not for another purpose.”
(3) The phrase “and loftier” is omitted in N and M.
(4) The text between square brackets is omitted in N and M.
(5) A, B, S, and R read: “dearer to me than maintaining ties with my own relatives.” These words form part of the previously cited hadith stating that the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—was not to be inherited from and that whatever he left was charity (see this volume, p. [0–9]95). These words also appear in al-Bukhārī, 5/20 (Book of the Merits of the Companions of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—, “The Merits of the Relatives of the Messenger of Allah…”); 5/90 (Book of Military Expeditions, “The Account of Banū al-Nadīr…”); and 5/139–140 (Book of Military Expeditions, “The Expedition to Khaybar”). They also occur elsewhere; see above, p. 195.
(6) The hadith from Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—is found in al-Bukhārī, 5/21 (Book of the Merits of the Companions of the Prophet…, “The Merits of the Relatives of the Messenger of Allah…”), and 5/26 (Book of the Merits of the Companions of the Prophet…, “The Merits of al-Hasan and al-Husayn…”).