Abū Bakr, and would set out when he did during the Hajj, just like all the others under Abū Bakr’s authority who were with him during the pilgrimage season.

This occurred after the expedition of Tabūk, during which the Prophet had appointed Ali as his deputy over those he left behind in Medina, and after he had said to him:

“Are you not content to hold the same position in relation to me as Aaron held in relation to Moses?”

Yet after this, he appointed Abū Bakr to lead the pilgrimage season and sent Ali after him, placing him under the command of Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him. This was among the indications that Ali was the Prophet’s deputy only for the period of his absence from Medina. He then placed Abū Bakr in command over Ali in the ninth year. After that, he sent Ali, Abū Mūsā al-Asharī, and Muādh to Yemen. Ali and Abū Mūsā returned to him while he was in Mecca for the Farewell Hajj, and both had entered ihram with the same intention as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Muādh, however, did not return until after the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had passed away, during the caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him.

[The Rāfidī’s charge against Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—that he cut off a thief’s left hand, and the response to it]

(Chapter)

(1)
The Rāfidī (2) said:

“He cut off a thief’s left hand (3), not knowing that the right hand was to be amputated” (4).

The response is that the claim that Abū Bakr was ignorant of this is one of the most blatant lies. Even if it were assumed that Abū Bakr considered this permissible (5), it would have been a legally tenable position;