The Virtues Of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him)

Anas b. Malik reported that Abu Bakr Siddiq reported him thus:

I saw the feet of the polytheists very close to us as we were in the cave. I said: Allah's Messenger, if one amongst them were to see at his feet he would have surely seen us. Thereupon he said: Abu Bakr, what can befall two who have Allah as the third One with them.

Abu Sa'id reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) sat on the pulpit and said:

Allah gave a choice to His servant that he may opt the beauties of the world or that which is with Him and the servant chose that which was with Him. Thereupon Abu Bakr wept and he wept bitterly and said:

 Let our fathers and our mothers be taken as ransom for you. It was Allah's Messenger (pbuh) who had been given the choice and Abu Bakr knew it better than us, and Allah's Messenger (pbuh) is reported to have said:

 Behold, of all people the most generous toward me in regard to his companionship and his property was Abu Bakr and were I to choose anyone as my bosom friend, I would have chosen Abu Bakr as my dear friend, but (for him) I cherish Islamic brotherliness and love. There shall be left open no window in the mosque except Abu Bakr's window.

'Abdullah b. Mas'ud reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying:

If I were to choose a bosom friend I would have definitely chosen Abu Bakr as my bosom friend, but he is my brother and my companion and Allah, the Exalted and Gliorious. has taken your brother and companion (meaning Prophet himself) as a friend.

'Amr b. al-'As reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) sent him in command of the army despatched to Dhat-as-Salasil. When 'Amr b. al-'As came back to the Prophet (pbuh) he said:

Who amongst people are dearest to you? He said: A'isha. He then said: Who amongst men? He said: Her father (Abu Bakr), and I said: And who next? He said: Umar. He then enumerated some other men.

Ibn Abu Mulaika reported:
I heard `A'isha as saying and she was asked as to whom Allah's Messenger (pbuh) would have nominated as his successor if he had to nominate one at all. She said:

 Abu Bakr. It was said to her: Then whom after Abu Bakr? 

She said: `Umar. It was said to her. Then whom after `Umar?

 She said: Abu `Ubaida b. al-Jarrah, and then she kept quiet at this.

that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) to speak to him about something. Then he ordered her with something, and she said: "What should I do O Messenger of Allah if I do not find you?" He said: "If you do not find me, then go to Abu Bakr."

A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) in his (last) illness asked me to call Abu Bakr, her father, and her brother too, so that he might write a document, for he feared that someone else might be desirous (of succeeding him) and that some claimant may say:

I have better claim to it, whereas Allah and the Faithful do not substantiate the claim of anyone but that of Abu Bakr.

Source: Sahih Muslim/ Taleemulislam.net