And whoever knows that what matters is the perfection attained in the end, and that repentance raises the servant to a more perfect station than before, knows that what Allah did to His believing servants was among His greatest blessings upon them.

Furthermore, whenever only one of the leading Companions was with the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—he was that one. This was the case during the Prophet’s journey of migration and his stay in the shelter on the day of Badr: only Abū Bakr was with him there. Likewise, when he went out to the Arab tribes to invite them to Islam, Abū Bakr was the leading Companion who accompanied him.

No one else enjoyed this distinction in companionship, as unanimously acknowledged by those knowledgeable about the Prophet’s life—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. As for anyone who is ignorant of the Prophet’s life—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—or is a liar, such a person is to be addressed (1) in a manner befitting someone like him.

Thus Allah Most High’s words in the Quran:

“when he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve’” [Surah al-Tawbah: 40]

are not restricted to his companionship in the cave. Rather, he was his companion in the fullest sense, attaining perfection [in] companionship (2) to a degree shared by no one else. He was thus uniquely distinguished by the highest perfection (3) of companionship.

As stated in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhārī from Abū al-Dardā’, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“O people, acknowledge what is due to Abū Bakr, for he has never