to Abū Bakr to fight (1) would make matters worse, since he had fled several times (2) during his campaigns. And which (3) is more meritorious: one who stays out of battle, or one who fights (4) in person in (5) Allah’s cause?

As for his spending on the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—that is a lie, for he had no wealth. His father was extremely poor and would call people to the table of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Jud‘ān in return for a mudd (a measure of food) (6) each day (7), on which he subsisted. Had Abū Bakr been wealthy, he would have provided for his father. During the pre-Islamic era, Abū Bakr taught children, and after embracing Islam he worked as a tailor (8). When he assumed leadership of the Muslims, the people prevented him from tailoring, so he said, “I am in need of (9) sustenance.” They therefore allotted him, each day (10), three dirhams from the public treasury (11), and the Prophet—may Allah bless