it was said: his speech stands above (1) the speech of created beings, though below the speech of the Creator, and orators learned from him.”

The response is that one may say: There is no doubt that Alī was one of the most eloquent orators among the Companions (2). Abū Bakr was an orator, as was Umar. Thābit ibn Qays ibn Shammās was a renowned orator, known as the orator of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—just as Hassān ibn Thābit, Ka‘b ibn Mālik, and Abdullāh ibn Rawāha were his poets.

Abū Bakr, however, would deliver addresses on behalf of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—both in his presence and in his absence. Whenever the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—went out during the pilgrimage season to call people to Islam, Abū Bakr would accompany him, addressing them alongside him and setting forth in his speech what would lead people to follow the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—while the Prophet of Allah remained silent, approving what he said. His words served as a preparation and prelude to what the Messenger would convey, aiding him rather than putting himself forward before Allah and His Messenger.

Similarly, Thābit ibn Qays ibn Shammās would sometimes deliver addresses on behalf of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and was known as the orator of the Messenger of Allah.

Umar was among the most eloquent of men, yet Abū Bakr was more eloquent than he, and Umar acknowledged this of him (3). It was Abū Bakr who addressed the Muslims, made clear to them that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had died, and made faith firm in the Muslims’ hearts so that the people would not be thrown into turmoil by the enormity of the calamity that had befallen them.