When the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and Abū Bakr arrived in Medina as emigrants, the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—sat down, while Abū Bakr stood and addressed(1) the people on his behalf. Those who did not know the two men therefore assumed that Abū Bakr was the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—until they later learned that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was the one seated.

Abū Bakr would also accompany him to meet delegations and address them; he would likewise address them in the Prophet’s absence. When the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—passed away, Abū Bakr was the one who addressed the people. On the day of al-Saqīfa, he delivered an eloquent address from which everyone present benefited. Umar said:

“I had carefully composed in my mind a speech that pleased me, intending to deliver it before Abū Bakr, and I would use tact in handling a certain sharpness in his temper. When I was about to speak, Abū Bakr said, ‘Wait a moment.’ I did not wish to anger him, so Abū Bakr spoke. He was more forbearing(2) and dignified than I. By Allah, he did not omit a single expression that I had admired in the speech I had prepared; extemporaneously, he said the same or something better.”(3)

Anas said, “Abū Bakr—may Allah be pleased with him—addressed us when we were like foxes and continued to steady us until we became like lions.”

Ziyād ibn Abīhi was among the most eloquent and articulate speakers. Al-Sha‘bī said, “Whenever anyone spoke well, I wished that he would stop, fearing that if he continued, he would speak poorly—except Ziyād: the longer he spoke, the better he spoke”—or words to that effect. People wrote down Ziyād’s addresses.