Indeed, in the presence of the leading men of Quraysh, Ibn al-Daghinnah described him in much the same terms as those with which “Khadījah described the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when revelation first came to him and he said to her:

‘I feared for my sanity.’

She replied, ‘No, by Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain ties of kinship, bear others’ burdens, offer hospitality to guests, provide people with what they lack, and help others face hardships in worthy causes.’” (1).

These, then, were the qualities of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the best of the prophets; and his steadfast affirmer of the truth was the foremost of all such affirmers.

The two Sahīh collections relate from Abū Sa‘īd:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on the pulpit and said, ‘Allah gave a servant the choice between granting him some of this world’s splendour and giving him what is with Allah, and he chose what is with Him.’ Abū Bakr wept and said, ‘May our fathers and mothers be your ransom!’ It was the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who had been given the choice, and Abū Bakr understood him better than any of us. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then said, ‘Do not weep, Abū Bakr. The person who has been most generous to me with his companionship and wealth is Abū Bakr. Were I to take anyone on earth as an intimate friend, I would take Abū Bakr. Every small doorway into the mosque must be blocked up except Abū Bakr’s.’” (2).

The two Sahīh collections also relate from Abū al-Dardā’, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:

I was sitting with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when Abū Bakr approached, holding the edge of his garment. He went on to relate the hadith until he said: Then the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Indeed, Allah sent me