ABU BAKR: THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND INTELLIGENT COMPANION
An-Nawawi states in his Tahdheeb: Scholars have deduced that Abu Bakr is the most knowledge of the Prophet’s Companions on the basis of the authentic Hadith reported by Al-Bukhari and Moslem: “When Allah’s Messenger passed away and Abu Bakr became the caliph, some Arab renegade (reverted to disbelief). Abu Bakr, decided to declare war against them. ‘ Umar, said to him, “How can you declare war against these people when Allah’s Messenger says: “I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against people till they bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and if they do so their lives and property shall be protected, unless (they do acts that are punishable) is accordance with Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah Almighty.” Abu Bakr said, “By Allah! I will fight those who distinguish between Salaah (prayer) and Zakaah (obligatory charity), because Zakaah is the compulsory right to be taken from one’s property (according to Allah’s Commands). By Allah, if they refuse to give me even the cord used for hobbling the feet of a camel, which they used to pay as Zakaah at the time of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, I would fight them for withholding it.” Then ‘Umar said, “By Allah it was nothing, but Allah guided Abu Bakr’s heart towards the decision.”
An-Nawawi adds: Sheikh Abu Ishaq and others quote this Hadith in support of their view that Abu Bakr was the last knowledgeable of the Prophet’s Companions. They argue that all the companions feel short of judging the situation until Abu Bakr stated his opinion which was correct and they acted in accordance with it.
Ibn ‘Umar was asked, “Who amongst the Companions used to give Falwa during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?” He said, “Abu Bakr and ‘ Umar, and no one else”.
On the authority of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudryy, may Allah be pleased with him: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, addressed the people saying: “There is a slave whom Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, offered the choice between the good afterworld and that which is with Him, and the slave has chosen that which is with Allah.” Abu Bakr wept, and we were astonished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned. We learned later on that Allah’s Messenger himself was the person who was given the choice, and that Abu Bakr knew best of all of us. Allah’s Messenger added: “The most bountiful of men unto me in his companionship and his sacrifice of his wealth is Abu Bakr. If I were to choose a bosom friend, I would choose Abu Bakr – but companionship and brotherhood in faith bind us until Allah unites us in His presence. All the gates of the mosque should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr.”
Ibn Katheer maintains: As-Sideeq, may Allah be pleased with him, knew best of all of the Prophet ‘s Companions about the Qur’an, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered him to lead the other Companions in prayer, and he is reported to have said, “Let the one who recites the Qur’an best lead the people in Salaah.
” Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “It is not fitting for people among whom is Abu Bakr to be led by anyone other than him. ” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi.)
Abu Al-Qaasim Al-Baghawi quotes Maymoon Ibn Mahraan to have said: “When Abu Bakr was asked to judge in a certain case, he would resort to the Glorious Qur’an: if he did not find guidance, he would resort to the Surtnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. If he again failed to find a solution, he would go out and ask the Muslims, “I am supposed to judge in so and so, does anyone of you remember the Prophet to have said anything concerning this case?” It used to happen that a group of people would come to him, all of whom remembered a judgment of the Prophet, in which case Abu Bakr would say, ‘All praise and thanks are due to Allah, Who has made among us people who memorize the Sayings of the Prophet. If there was one who could recall a judgment of the Prophet in a case in hand, Abu Bakr would gather the people and consult them as regards the case, and if they reached a consensus he would act accordingly. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to do the same. If he failed to find guidance in the Qur’an or Sunnah, he would ask if Abu Bakr had passed a judgment concerning the case in question, in which case he would resort to the judgment of Abu Bakr. But if he failed to find a judgment passed by Abu Bakr, he would gather the Muslims with a view to reaching unanimity on a certain judgment.
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was known as the foremost genealogist of Quraysh and the best of them at interpreting dreams. He used to interpret dreams during the lifetime of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. According to Muhammad Ibn Sireen, he was the best at interpreting dreams, after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Abu Bakr, Ibn Katlieer states, was the most eloquent speaker. Az-Zubayr Ibn Bakkaar is quoted to have said, “I heard some scholars say that the most eloquent speakers among the Prophet’s Companions are Abu Bakr As-Sideeq and ‘ Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, may Allah be pleased with them both. ‘ Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab is reported to have said about Abu Bakr, “He is the most knowledgeable and most conscious of Allah.”
‘Amr Ibn AI-‘Aas. may Allah be pleased with him, quotes the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to have said, “Gabriel has come to me and said, ‘Allah orders you to consult Abu Bakr.’ ” (Reported by Ibn ‘ Asaakir.)
Mu’aadh Ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him narrates: When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wanted to send me to Yemen, he consulted some of his Companions, among whom were Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan, ‘Ali, Talhah, Az-Zubayr, Usayd Ibn Hudayr. Every one of them stated his own opinion. Then the Prophet asked me, “What do you see, O Mu’aadh?” I replied, “I go with what Abu Bakr has said.” To this the Prophet said, “Allah hates in His Heaven that the view of Abu Bakr be considered wrong.” (Reported by At-Tabaraani, Abu Nu’aym and others.)
(Source: Biographies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.)
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