Forty hadith on the superiority of Abu Bakr the Truthful/ Meadow of the fastidious in the virtue of the truthful

Imam As-Suyuti
In the name of Allah, the most merciful the most compassionate

All praise belongs to Allah who made Abu Bakr the truthful the best of this nation and raised his rank above all ranks lofty by certainty and truthfulness, by verification a scholar of Islam. I praise Him with the praise of creation. I testify that there is no deity except Allah, the One, He has no partner, speech that widens every restriction, I testify that Muhammad is his servant, his messenger, the Prophet of mercy (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him), his family, his companions, his partners, his offspring and those worthy of guidance and success. To begin: this book I have named Meadow of the fastidious in the virtue of the truthful. I have narrated forty hadiths chosen for easy memorisation for whoever desires piety. I ask Allah to benefit us by connection to him and to gather us and you in the Dar Al-Zalafa (the house of proximity) with him, with Muhammad (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him and his family) O Allah accept, O Allah accept, O Allah accept.

Hadith one
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah and the believers deny those who dispute over you O Abu Bakr. Imam Ahmed.

Hadith two
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are mature masters of the first and the last with the exception of the Prophets and the Messengers. Al Tabarani in Al-Kabir part 22 p104 Al-Diyah in Mukhtar.

Hadith three
Saed ibn Zayd reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is in Paradise, Umar is in Paradise, Uthman is in Paradise, Ali is in Paradise, Talha is in Paradise, Al-Zubayr is in Paradise, Abdurrahman ibn Awf is in Paradise, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas is in Paradise, Saed ibn Zayd in Paradise and Abu Ubayd ibn Al-Jarrah is in Paradise. Abu Dawood.

Hadith four
Al-Muttalib ibn Abdullah ibn Hintab narrates from his father, from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are to me like the station of the hearing and sight to the head. Al-Barawadi, Abu Nayim and others.

Hadith five
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are to the religion like the station of the hearing and the sight to the head. Ibn Al-Najar and Al-Khattib in Tarikh from Jabir.

Hadith six
Jabir narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr the Truthful is my minister, my vicegerent of my nation after me, Umar converses upon my tongue, Ali is my cousin, my brother and bearer of my standard and Uthman is from me and I am from Uthman. Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir, Ibn Addi in Al-Kamal and others.

Hadith seven
Shadad ibn Awais reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is the most compassionate of my nation and the most merciful, Umar is the best of my nation and the most just, Uthman is the shyest of my nation and the most generous, Ali is the most intelligent of my nation and the most courageous, Abdullah ibn Masud is the most pious of my nation and its most faithful, Abu Dhar is the most ascetic of my nation and the most honest, Abu Darda is the most worshipful of my nation and fearful and Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan is the most just of my nation and its most kind. Ibn Asakir who stated it as weak and others.

Hadith eight
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are the best of the early community and the best of the inhabitants of paradise, the best of the people of the earth except the Prophets and the Messengers. Ibn Addi, Al-Hakim in Al-Kani and Al-Khatib in Tarikh.

Hadith nine
Ikramah ibn Amar reports from Iyas ibn Salamah ibn Al-Ikawa from his father that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is the best of my nation after me, except if there would be a prophet. Ibn Addi, Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir and others

Hadith ten
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is my companion, my friend in the cave, so know him for this. If I were to take a bosom friend I would have taken Abu Bakr. Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmed in Zawid Al-Musnad, Al-Daylami and others

Hadith eleven
Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are like the eyes of my head, Uthman ibn Affan is like the tongue in my mouth, Ali ibn Abu Talib is the soul in my body. Ibn Al-Najar

Hadith twelve
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are to me in the station of Haroon from Musa. Al-Khatib in Tarikh

Hadith thirteen
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is from me and I am from him. Abu Bakr is my brother in the world and the afterlife. Al-Daylami.

Hadith fourteen
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr and Umar are the best of the inhabitants of the heavens, the inhabitants of the earth, and the best until the day of judgement. Al-Daylami.

Hadith fifteen
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah has given salvation to Abu Bakr from the fire. Abu Nayim

Hadith sixteen
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr is my minster and shall take my place, Umar converses upon my tongue, I am from Uthman and Uthman is from me; It is as if through O Abu Bakr my nation intercedes. Ibn Al-Najjar

Hadith seventeen
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Jibreal came to me and took me by the hand then showed me the door of paradise from which my nation will enter. Abu Bakr said, I would love to be with you when you see it. He replied, As for you O Abu Bakr you shall be the first of my nation to enter paradise. Abu Dawood and others. Authenticated by Al-Hakim by a different chain

Hadith eighteen
Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Jibreal came to me I asked, Who shall I emigrate with? He said, Abu Bakr he will lead your nation after you and he is the best of your nation. Al-Daylami

Hadith nineteen
Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Jibreal came to me and said, O Muhammad, Allah has ordered you to consult Abu Bakr. Reported Tamam

Hadith twenty
Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I saw the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) walking in front of Abu Bakr. So I asked, Do you walk after him and he is better than you? (He replied) Abu Bakr is better than what the sun risen or set upon. Taken from Abu Nayim, on the virtue of the companions, who narrates as follows, Do you walk after him and he is better than you? Do you not know that the sun does not rise or set on anyone better than Abu Bakr? The sun has not risen or set upon anyone better than Abu Bakr except the Prophets and the Messengers.

Hadith twenty one

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I was brought scales and placed in it against my nation in the other scale, I outweighed it. Then I was raised then Abu Bakr placed on the scale so he outweighed my nation. Then Umar ibn Al-Khattab was placed against my nation on the scales and he outweighed my nation. Then the scales were lifted to the heavens as I gazed at it. Abu Nayim in the virtue of the companions

Hadith twenty two

Amr ibn Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, The woman I love the most is Aisha and from the men is Abu Bakr. Muslim and Al-Bukhari

Hadith twenty three

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I shall be resurrected then Abu Bakr and then Umar, on the day of judgement. (He showed his index finger, his middle finger and his ring finger.) We are honoured over people. Al-Hakim At-Tirmidhi

Hadith twenty four

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I shall be resurrected on the day of judgement between Abu Bakr and Umar until the horizon is the sacred sanctuaries and the people of Medinah and Mecca shall come to me. Ibn Asakir

Hadith twenty five

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Call Abu Bakr your father and your brother so I can dictate a letter as I fear the claim on he who says, I am first. Allah and the believers deny all except Abu Bakr. Imam Ahmed and Muslim

Hadith Twenty six

Hudhayfa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Follow those after me; Abu Bakr and Umar. At-Tirmidhi rated Hassan

Hadith twenty seven

Abu Al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Follow those after me; Abu Bakr and Umar. As they are the rope of Allah outstretched, whoever clings to it has clung to the firmest pillar which shall never perish. Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir

Hadith twenty eight

Sahl ibn Abi Hathmah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, When I, Abu Bakr, Umar die then if you are able to perish then perish. Abu Nayim in Hilyah Al-Awilya and Ibn Asakir

Hadith twenty nine

Samarah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I was instructed to consult Abu Bakr first. Al-Daylami

Hadith thirty
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah chose my companions over all of creation except the Prophets and the Messengers. Chosen for me was four companions then they were made good in my companionship and in every companion goodness: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. My nation was chosen for me above all the other nations then I was sent to the best generation then the second and then third see them and the fourth one after the other. Abu Nayim in Hilyah Al-Awliya, Al-Khateeb who said it is Gharib and Ibn Asakir

Hadith thirty one

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah ordered me to love four of my companions. He said, Love them: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. Ibn Asakir and others

Hadith thirty two

Ibn Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah supports me by four ministers. Two are from the residents of the heavens: Jibreal and Mikael and two are from the residents of the Earth: Abu Bakr and Umar. Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir

Hadith thirty three

Abu Said (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah gave a servant the choice between the world and what is with him, so the servant chose what Allah has. Abu Bakr wept, he said, O Abu Bakr do not weep you are the most faithful of the people in your companionship and your wealth. If I were to take a bosom friend other than my Lord I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend and moreover the brotherhood of Islam is friendship. Do not leave an open door in the masjid except for the door of Abu Bakr. Muslim and others

Hadith thirty four

Muadh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Allah the Exalted dislikes, in heaven, that Abu Bakr is offended. Al-Harith ibn Abi Usamah

Hadith thirty five

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I hope that my nation love Abu Bakr and Umar as I hope for them the words, there is no deity except Allah. Al-Daylami.

Hadith thirty six

Samarah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Abu Bakr has the first opinion and his sound opinion is a share of Prophethood. Al-Tabarani in Al-Kabir

Hadith thirty seven

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, The most compassionate of my nation is Abu Bakr, the most strongest in the religion of Allah is Umar, the most truthful in shyness is Uthman, the most just of them is Ali ibn Abu Talib, the most knowledge in inheritance is Zayd ibn Thabit, the one who recites the book of Allah is Ubayy ibn Kab, the most knowledge of you in the lawful and unlawful is Muadh ibn Jabal. Is there not in every nation security? The security of this nation is Abu Ubayd Al-Jarrah. Ibn Asakir and others

Hadith thirty eight

Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, Every nation of a prophet has its elite of his companions. The elite of my companions are Abu Bakr and Umar. Al-T abarani in Al-Kabir

Hadith thirty nine

Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, I am the first to come from the earth then Abu Bakr and Umar. We shall be resurrected and go to Al-Baqi, so they are resurrected with me then we pause for the people of Mecca until they are resurrected with me and so those between the sacred sanctuaries. At-Tirmidhi said it Hassan Gharib

Hadith forty
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said to Hassan (ibn Thabit), Do you have anything on Abu Bakr? he said, Yes. He replies, Speak so I can hear. He replies, The second of two in the lofty cave, the enemy encircle when they climbed the mountain, the love of the Messenger of Allah was known by creation that cannot be equal to this man. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) smiled until his molars showed then said, O Hassan he is as you said. Ibn Addi and Ibn Asakir.

Know that this subject has many hadiths on it but this report is where I would love to pause. All praise is for Allah, the king of the dominion, the first, the last, the internal, the external and may Allah bless our master Muhammad, his family, his companions, his wives, his offspring with a worthy greeting, always, permanently and forever until the day of judgement. Allah suffices for us then all praise is for Allah and prayers be upon his Messenger. The text is complete through the support of the giving King.

This translation was completed on the second of Rajab 1432/4th June 2011 by the assistance of Allah the greatest. By his unworthy and unrighteous servant, in need of his forgiveness, Arfan shah (Sheikhy notes).