Virtues of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ

1-2. Sani Isnain [the second of the two]

For Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ, Allah Almighty has stated (صاحبە) i.e. ‘The companion of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’ and (ثانی اثنین) (The second of the two) in the Holy Quran. (Part 10, Surah Al-Taubah, Ayah 40)

Nobody else was blessed with this honour.

3. The name, ‘Siddeeq’

Allah Almighty gave him the name Siddeeq. Nobody else was given the name Siddique by Allah Almighty.

4. Companion during Hijrah [migration]

Due to the cruelties, oppression and tyrannies inflicted by the disbelievers of Makkah; the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم migrated from the blessed Makkah, and in this migration, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was the companion of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

5. Companion in the cave

In this very migration, verily he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was the only one to have the privilege of becoming the companion in the cave. (Faizan-e-Siddeeq-e-Akbar, pp. 493)

6. Only the door of Abu Bakr will remain open

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم instructed during his final days: All doors in the Masjid (Nabavi) should be shut except the door of Abu Bakr. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 177, Hadees 664 – Tafheem-ul-Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 818)

7) The very first to enter Paradise

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: Jibraeel Ameen عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام came to me and holding my hand, showed me that door through which my Ummah will enter Paradise. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly requested: ’Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! It is my wish that I were with you at that time so that I would have also seen that door.’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: ’Abu Bakr! You will be the first person from my Ummah to enter Paradise.’ (Abu Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 280, Hadees 4652)

8) Three morsels and three congratulations

Once the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prepared food and called the blessed Companions رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave one morsel each to all the blessed Companion رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُم whereas, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave three morsels to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ. Sayyiduna Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked the reason behind it. He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: When I gave the first morsel, Sayyiduna Jibraeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said: O ‘Ateeq! Congratulations to you. When I gave the second morsel, Sayyiduna Mikaeel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said: O Rafeeq! Congratulations to you. When I gave the third morsel, Allah Almighty said: O Siddeeq! Congratulations to you. (Al-Haawi Lil-Fatawa, vol. 2, pp. 51)

9) Superior to all

Sayyiduna Abu Darda رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ has stated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم saw me walking ahead of Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and said: ’Are you walking ahead of him who is superior to you? Don’t you know that after the Ambiya and Rusul, the sun neither rose nor set on anybody better than Abu Bakr.’ (Fazail-ul-Khulafa La-Abi Naeem, pp. 38, Hadees 10)

10. Masjid in the courtyard of the house

Before migration, Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ built a Masjid in the courtyard of his house. Sayyidatuna Aisha Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا has stated: ‘Since I reached the age of discernment, my parents were following Islam. No day passed without the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم visiting our home in the two ends of the day i.e., in the morning and in the evening. Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ thought to build a Masjid in the courtyard of his home. Then he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ used to offer Salah in it and recite the Holy Quran (aloud). The sons and women of disbelievers used to listen to it and get surprised and would look at him. (Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 180, Hadees 476, Tafheem-ul-Bukhari, vol. 1, pp. 829)

11. The most beneficial amongst all

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once stated: ‘The one whose companionship and wealth have benefitted me the most amongst all people is Abu Bakr (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ); and if I were to make a Khalil (best friend) from my Ummah, I would have chosen Abu Bakr (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ) but the brotherhood has been established. (Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 591, Hadees 3904)

12. Companionship at the pond of Kausar

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم once said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ: You are my companion at the pond of Kausar and you are my companion of the cave. (Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 378, Hadees 3690)

13. The kindest person

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked Sayyiduna Jibraeel Amin عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام: ‘Who will migrate with me?’ Sayyiduna Jibraeel Amin عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام humbly replied: ’Abu Bakr (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ). He will manage the matters of your Ummah after you and he (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ) is the most superior in the Ummah and the kindest person towards the Ummah.’ (Jami’-ul-Jawami’ vol. 11, pp. 39, Hadees 160)

14. The favours of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: There is no favour due upon me from anyone, except that I have repaid him, but verily Abu Bakr (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ) has those favours upon me which Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) will repay him for on Judgement Day. (Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 374, Hadees 3681)

15) Special spiritual effulgence

When the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم started heading towards the cave of Saur, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ offered him a she-camel and requested: ’Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم please ride on it.’ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم rode on it. Then he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم turned towards Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ and stated: ’May Allah Almighty grant you Ridwan-e-Akbar.’ He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ humbly requested: ‘What is it?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ’Allah Almighty will manifest His Divine Noor (light) all bondmen in general and will manifest His Divine Noor in particular.’ (Al Riaz-ul-Nuzra, vol. 1, pp. 166)

16. Blessed demise

He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ departed this life on 22^nd Jumadal Ukhra, 13 AH, on the night between Monday and Tuesday in Madinah Munawwarah between the time of Maghrib and Isha Salah at the age of 63. Sayyiduna Umar Ibn Khattab رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ led his funeral Salah. (Kitab-ul-Aqaid, pp. 43)

May Allah Almighty shower His Mercy upon him and forgive us for his sake!

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

After the Blessed Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام, the most superior personality amongst the whole mankind is ‘Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ‘ who holds the privilege of being the ‘Yaar-e-Ghar’ and ‘Yaar-e-Mazaar’(accompanying the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the blessed cave of Thawr and resting beside the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the blessed shrine). The way he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ ruled and guided the Muslim Ummah is highly commendable and worth following. He رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ delivered sermons filled with knowledge and wisdom from time to time for the reformation of the Ummah. His blessed sermons contain the pearls of wisdom regarding ‘reminders of the Hereafter’ and ‘Divine-fear’, serving as an excellent source of salvation in the Hereafter for every person. Out of these incredible sermons, read a remarkable sermon, enriched with pearls of wisdom, and instil ‘Divine-fear’ and ‘remembrance of the Hereafter’ in yourself:

I advise you to fear Allah and urge you to glorify Allah Almighty in a way He deserves to be glorified. Supplicate abundantly in the merciful court of Allah Almighty with ‘Divine-fear’ and ‘hope’ because while praising Sayyiduna Zakariyya عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام and his household, Allah Almighty has stated:

اِنَّهُمْ كَانُوْا یُسٰرِعُوْنَ فِی الْخَیْرٰتِ وَ یَدْعُوْنَنَا رَغَبًا وَّ رَهَبًاؕ-وَ كَانُوْا لَنَا خٰشِعِیْنَ(۹۰)

Indeed they (the aforementioned Prophets) used to hurry to perform good deeds,
and they pray to Us with hope and fear, and are humble in Our Majestic Court.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)](Part. 17, Surah Al-Ambiya, Ayah 90)

O pious bondmen of Allah Almighty! Be aware, undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has held in pledge your souls for His right and He عَزَّوَجَلَّ has taken a (firm) covenant from you upon it and has bought this little and mortal life from you at the cost of an endless life. You have the Divine Book of Allah Almighty whose wonders do not cease nor does its Noor [spiritual light] fade. Testify the blessed verses of glorious Quran and seek advice from it; moreover, seek spiritual light from it for the dark day (i.e. Day of Judgement). Undoubtedly, Allah Almighty has created you to worship [Him] and has appointed over you, کِرَامًاکَاتِبِیْن (i.e. The angels that record a person's deeds) and they know what you do.

O bondmen of Allah Almighty! Be aware! You are spending your time from morning to evening till an appointed time (i.e. till death) and you have not been given any knowledge about it [death]. If you can devote your time to spending in the deeds that please Allah Almighty, then you must do so but it is not possible without the Taufeeq of Allah Almighty. So, take advantage of the remaining time period of your life and excel each other in (good) deeds before death approaches you and turn you back to your bad acts as many nations spent their lives for others ignoring themselves. It is for the reason I forbid you, to be like them. Hasten to attain salvation! Undoubtedly death is chasing you and it will approach very soon. (Musannaf Ibn-e-Abi Shaybah, vol. 8, pp. 144, Hadees 1)

May Allah Almighty also grant us Taufeeq to prepare for the Hereafter while acting upon these pieces of advice.

صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّماٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن