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

Abu’l-Qasim al-Baghawi narrated that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said: Abu bakr was asked about an ayah and he said, ‘What land would hold me or what sky would shade me if I were to say about an ayah of the Book of Allah that which Allah did not wish?’ Abu cUbaydah narrated that Ibrahim at-Taymi said: Abu Bakr was asked about His words, exalted is He, And fruits and herbage,’ (Qur’an 80: 31) and he said, ‘Which sky would shade me and what land would sustain me if I were to say about the Book of Allah that which I do not know?’ Al-Bayhaqi and others narrated that Abu Bakr was asked about al-Kalalah and he said, ‘I will say my view on it and if it is correct it is from Allah, and if it is wrong it is from me and from shaytan.

I think that it is the one who has no child nor parent (surviving to inherit from him).’ When cUmar was appointed khalifah he said, ‘I am shy of rejecting something which Abu Bakr said.’ Abu Nucaym narrated in al-Hilyah that al-Aswad ibn Hilal said:

8 Since the intelligent man derives from his glance at the creation, the greatness of the Creator. And Allah knows best.

Abu Bakr said to his companions, ‘What do you say about these two ay at, “Truly, the ones who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’, and then go straight, ...” (Qur’an 41: 30) and “And the ones who believe and do not clothe their belief in wrongdoing ...”? (Qur’an 6: 82).’ They said, ‘Then they go straight and do not do wrong actions and do not clothe their belief in error.’ He said, ‘You have made it to carry a meaning which it cannot carry.’ Then he said, ‘They say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then they go straight, so they do not incline towards a god other than Him and do not clothe their belief in shirk (associating others as partners with Him).” Ibn Jarir narrated that cAmir ibn Sacd al-Bajili related from Abu Bakr as-Siddiq about His words, exalted is He, ‘For the ones who do excellently well there is the very best and morel (Qur’an 10: 26) that he said, ‘Gazing on the face of Allah, exalted is He.’ Ibn Jarir narrated that Abu Bakr said about His words, exalted is He, ‘Truly the ones who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then go straight, ...’ (Qur’an 41: 30), that he said, ‘People have said it. So whoever dies upon that is of those who go straight.’