History of Khulafah Rashideen by Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti - translated by Abdassamad Clarke

Al-Bukhari narrated that Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

cUmar ibn al-Khattab said, ‘Abu Bakr is our chief (Sayyid)! Al-Bayhaqi narrated in Shucah al-Iman that cUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘If the iman of Abu Bakr were to be weighed against the iman of the inhabitants of the earth, he would mil weigh them.’ Ibn Abi Khaythamah and cAbdullah ibn Ahmad, in Zawa’id Ht-Zuhd, that cUmar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Abu Nakr was a surpassing outstripper.’ And cUmar said, ‘I would that I were a hair upon the chest of Abu Bakr.’ Musaddad narrated it in his Musnad. And he said, ‘I would love to be in the Garden in such it position that I could see Abu Bakr.’ Ibn Abi’d-Dunya and Ibn 'Asakir narrated it. And he said, ‘Certainly the scent of Abu Bakr was sweeter than the scent of musk.’ Abu Nucaym narrated it.

Ibn cAsakir narrated that cAli entered upon Abu Bakr when he was shrouded and said, ‘No-one who will meet Allah with his pages (of the records of his deeds) is more beloved to me than this shrouded one.’ Ibn cAsakir narrated that cAbd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr as-Siddiq said: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘TJmar ibn al-Khattab told me that he never attempted to be before Abu Bakr in a good action but that Abu Bakr was before him in it.’ At-Tabarani narrated in al-Awsat that cAli said: By the One in Whose hand is my self, we never strove to be first in a good action but that Abu Bakr was before us in it.

He also narrated in al-Awsat from Juhayfah that cAli said: The best of mankind after the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, are Abu Bakr and cUmar. Love of me will never be united with hatred of Abu Bakr and cUmar in the heart of a believer.

He narrated in al-Kabir that Ibn cUmar said: Three of Quraysh are the most handsome faced of Quraysh and the best of them in character, and the surest hearted of them. If they were to tell you something they would not lie to you. If you told them something they would not call you a liar; Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Abu cUbaydah ibn al-Jarrah and cUthman ibn cAffan.

Ibn Sacd narrated that Ibrahim an-Nakhaci said: Abu Bakr was named, ‘Al-Awwah - Compassionate (literally: one saying “Ah” and sighing a great deal for pity for people),’ because of his pity and his mercy.

Ibn cAsakir narrated that ar-Rabic ibn Anas said: It is recorded in the First Book, ‘The likeness of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq is the likeness of rain, wherever it falls it is of benefit.’ Ibn cAsakir narrated that ar-Rabic ibn Anas said: We considered the companions of the prophets and we couldn’t find a prophet who had a companion the like of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. He narrated that az-Zuhri said: One of the merits of Abu Bakr is that he never doubted about Allah for an hour.

He narrated that az-Zubayr ibn Bakkar said: I heard one of the people of knowledge saying, ‘The orators (who gave the khutbah)

among the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and cAli ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with both of them.’ He narrated that Abu Husayn said: There was not born to Adam among his descendants anyone better than Abu Bakr, after the prophets and messengers. Abu Bakr took a stand on the Day of ar-Riddah (repudiation of Islam by many of the Arab tribes on the death of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace)

which was like the stand of one of the prophets.