O daughter of al-Siddīq. Rather, it is the man who fasts, prays, and gives charity, yet fears that it may not be accepted from him.’ (1)

[It is established] in the two Sahīh collections (2) that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Do not revile my Companions. By Him in whose hand is my soul, if one of you were to spend in charity gold equal to Mount Uhud, it would not equal one mudd (a small dry measure) given by one of them, nor even half of it.” (3)

This is because the faith within their hearts when they gave in charity—during the early days of Islam, when its adherents were few, the factors turning people away from it were many, and the motives (4) drawing them toward it were weak—was of a kind that no one after them could ever attain. Some understanding of this is gained by those who have experienced life and known the trials and tribulations that befall people, as well as the varying states that arise within their hearts.

This also makes it known that no one will ever be the equal of Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—for no one equaled the certainty and faith that were in his heart. Abū Bakr ibn Ayyāsh (5) said: “Abū Bakr did not surpass them through an abundance of prayer or fasting, but through something that had become firmly established in his heart.”

Likewise, through accompanying the Messenger as believers in him and striving alongside him, the rest of the Companions attained a degree of faith and certainty in which no one after them had any share.