At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban, in his Sahih, narrated that Abu Sacid al-Khudri said: Abu Bakr said, ‘Am I not the most suitable of people for it (the khilafahy. Am I not the first to accept Islam? Am I not the one of such-and-such? Am I not the one of such-and-such?’ Ibn cAsakir narrated by way of al-Harith who related that cAli, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The first among men to accept Islam was Abu Bakr.

Ibn Abi Khaythamah narrated with a sahih isnad that Zaid ibn Arqam said: The first to perform the prayer with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was Abu Bakr as-Siddiq.

Ibn Sacd narrated that Abu Arwa ad-Dawsi the Companion, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The first to accept Islam was Abu Bakr as-Siddiq.

At-Tabarani narrated in the Kabir and cAbdullah ibn Ahmad [Ibn Abu Bakr as-Siddiq I lanbal] narrated in the Zawa’id az-Zuhd that ash-Shacbi said: I asked Ibn cAbbas, ‘Who was the first person to accept Islam?’ He said, ‘Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. Did you not hear the words of Hassan?:

“When you recall the distress of a trusted brother, then remember your brother Abu Bakr for what he did.

I he best of creation, most fearfully obedient of them, and the most just, except for the Prophet, and the most certain to fulfil what he has undertaken, ' I he second, the follower whose assembly is praised, and the first of the men of they who affirmed the Messenger.’” Abu Nucaym narrated that Furat ibn as-Sa’ib said: I asked Maymun ibn Mihran, ‘Is cAli better in your view or Abu Bakr and ‘Umar?’ He shook until his staff fell from his hand and replied, ‘I never thought that I would live to a time when anyone would be compared with them. Their good deeds belong to Allah! They were the head of Islam.’ I said, ‘cAli was the first to accept Islam or Abu Bakr?’ He said, ‘By Allah, Abu Bakr believed in the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at the time of Buhayra the monk when he passed by him.’ There is a disagreement as to him and Khadijah (which of them was first to accept Islam) until (it is said that) he married her to him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and all of that before the birth of cAli.

A whole group of the Companions and the Followers said that he was the first to accept Islam, and some of them claimed that there was a consensus on that. It has been said, ‘The first to accept Islam was cAli.’ It has also been said, ‘Khadijah.’ The reconciliation between these apparently conflicting statements is that Abu Bakr was the first man to accept Islam, cAli was the first of the children to accept Islam, and Khadijah was the first woman to accept Islam.

I he first to reconcile it in this way was the Imam Abu Hanifah, may Allah be merciful to him.

Ibn Abi Shaybah and Ibn cAsakir narrated that Salim ibn Abi’l- Jacd said: I said to Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, ‘Was Abu Bakr the first person to accept Islam?’ He said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘So how did Abu Bakr excel and precede others so much so that no-one else is mentioned but Abu Bakr?’ He said, ‘Because he was the best of them in Islam from the moment he accepted Islam until the moment he met his Lord.’ Ibn cAsakir narrated with an excellent isnad that Muhammad ibn Sacd ibn Abi Waqqas said to his father Sacd, ‘Was Abu Bakr the first of you to accept Islam?’ He said, ‘No. More than five people accepted Islam before him, but he was the best of us in Islam.’ Ibn Kathir said: It is clear that the people of his house, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, believed before anyone; his wife Khadijah, his freed slave Zaid, Zaid’s wife Umm Ayman, cAli and Waraqah.

Ibn cAsakir narrated that Tsa ibn Yazid said: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq said, ‘I was sitting in the courtyard of the Kacbah and Zaid ibn cAmr ibn Nufayl was seated, then Umayyah ibn Abi’s-Salt passed by him and said, “How are you, seeker after good?” He said, “Well.” He said, “And have you found?” He said, “No,” so he said, “Every deen on the Day of Rising, except that which Allah has decreed, will perish.

“But as for this Prophet who is awaited, will he be from us or from you?” And I had not heard before that of a prophet who was awaited and who would be sent. So I went to Waraqah ibn Nawfal who used to look much towards heaven, and was much astonished of heart. I stopped him and told him the story. He said, “Yes, my nephew. We are the people of books and sciences, but this Prophet who is awaited is from the midst (noblest) of the Arabs genealogically - and I have a knowledge of genealogy - and your people are midmost (noblest)

of the Arabs in terms of lineage.” I said, “Uncle, and what will the Prophet say?” He said, “He will say what is said to him, except that he will not oppress nor be oppressed nor seek the oppression (of anyone).” So that when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent I believed in him and affirmed him.’ Ibn Ishaq said: Muhammad ibn cAbd ar-Rahman ibn cAbdullah Ibn al-Husayn at-Tamimi narrated to me that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘I have never Invited anyone to Islam except that he had an aversion to it, and Irresolution and deliberation, except for Abu Bakr. He did not delay when I reminded him and he was not irresolute.’ Al-Bayhaqi said:

I h is was because he used to see the proofs of the prophethood of I lie Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and hear the traces of it before his invitation (to Islam), so that when he invited him he had already reflected and thought about it, and he submitted and accepted Islam at once.

I hen he [al-Bayhaqi] narrated that Abu Maysurah said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to hear someone calling him when he went out, ‘Muhammad!’ When he heard the voice he would turn back in flight and he told It in confidence to Abu Bakr who was his friend in Jahiliyyah.

Abu Nucaym and Ibn cAsakri narrated that Ibn cAbbas said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘I never spoke to anyone about Islam but that they refused me and rejected my words except for the son of Abu Quhafah. I never spoke to him about something but that he accepted it and was steadfast in it.

Al-Bukhari narrated that Abu’d-Darda’ said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Will you leave me my companion? (Will you leave me my companion?) I said, “People, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all,” and you said, “You are lying.” Abu Bakr said, “You have told the truth.’”