Mufti Sayyid Muhammad Na’eemuddin Muradabadi عَـلَيْهِ رَحۡمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـهَادِی has said: When Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ bought Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ at a very high price and freed him, the unbelievers were astonished and said: Why did Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ do this? Perhaps Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ did him a favour, that’s why he bought him by paying a very high price and freed him. Upon this, a blessed verse was sent and it was disclosed that this act of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was only for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, not the return of someone’s favour and nor was there any favour of Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ for him. Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ freed many slaves after buying them due to them embracing Islam. (Khaza’in-ul-Irfan, pp. 1108)

سبھی اَصحاب سے بڑھ کر مقرَّب ذات ہے ان کی      رفیقِ سرورِ اَرض و سما صدیقِ اکبر ہیں

Dear Islamic brothers! As a matter of fact, all the blessed companions
عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ had great love for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, but the deep love of Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was unique. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ crossed those stages of love for the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم due to which love and obedience to Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم became his habit. Many blessed Ahadees are replete with his glory and praises. Let’s listen to some of them.

Owner of life and wealth

On one occasion, the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:        ‘مَا نَفَعَنِیْ مَالٌ  قَــطُّ مَا نَفَعَنِیْ مَالُ اَبِیْ بَکْرٍ’, i.e. No one’s wealth benefited me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr. ‘فَبَـكىٰ اَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ هَلْ اَنَا وَمَالِي اِلَّا لَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ’ (upon hearing this) Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ started weeping and humbly said: You are the owner of my life and my wealth.

On another occasion, the Prophet of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم mentioned the overflowing sacrifices and love of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq in these words: ‘مَا لِاَحَدٍ عِنْدَنَا يَدٌ اِلَّا وَقَدْ كَافَيْنَاهُ مَا خَلاَ اَبَا بَكْرٍ فَاِنَّ عِنْدَنَا يَدًا يُكَافِیْہِ اللَّہُ بِها يَـوْمَ القِيَامَۃِ’, i.e. The people