Companion whose father, mother, and children embraced Islam and met the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and whose grandchildren also met him, except Abū Bakr, through both the male and female lines. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahmān ibn Abū Bakr ibn Abū Quhāfah: these four were believers during the Prophet’s lifetime—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Likewise, in the family line of Abdullāh ibn al-Zubayr through Asmā bint Abū Bakr, all believed in the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and were his Companions. Abū Bakr’s mother, Umm al-Khayr (1), also believed in the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Thus, theirs was a household of faith, with no hypocrite among them. No comparable case is known among the Companions outside Abū Bakr’s household.
It used to be said: “Faith has its households, and hypocrisy has its households. Abū Bakr’s household is among the households of faith among the Emigrants, and Banū al-Najjār are among the households of faith among the Helpers (2).”
His claim, “They told Abū Quhāfah, ‘Your son is the oldest of the Companions,’” is an obvious lie. Many Companions were older than Abū Bakr, including al-Abbās. Al-Abbās was three years older than the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was older than Abū Bakr.
Abū Umar ibn Abd al-Barr (3) said: “There is no disagreement that he—meaning Abū Bakr—died at the age of sixty-three and reached the same age as the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—apart from reports that are not authentic. However, what is related from Abū Quhāfah is that, upon the death of the Prophet—may Allah bless him