It is narrated from Abu Huraira that: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:
“Abu Bakr and Umar are the best of the folks of the heavens and the earth and the best from the formers and the latter, except prophets and messengers.”
Ibne Hajar has mentioned this report in Sawaiq1 quoting through Hakim and
Ibne Adi.2 Khatib has quoted it in his Tarikh,3 and according to his usual habit, in
narrating the excellence of Abu Bakr and Umar, he has not uttered a word
regarding doubts about them; and in their chains, he has included Jabrun bin
Waqi Afriqi and Muhammad bin Dawood Qantari has narrated from him.
Dhahabi says in Mizanul Etedal:4
“Jabrun is accused of lying. He has shamelessly narrated reports from
Sufyan. And Muhammad bin Dawood Qantari has narrated from Jabrun from
Abu Huraira through incomplete chains that Abu Bakr and Umar are the best of
the formers… and only he has narrated this tradition and the previous tradition,
and both of them are fabricated.”
Allamah Amini says: I don’t know through what did they get precedence
over proximate angels, who are infallibles of the folks of the heavens and among
them is chief of angels, trustee of divine revelation, Jibraeel?
Was it through their exceeding knowledge? Whose quantum you understood
or through protection from mistakes and sins? You can never make this claim
[and have no such belief].
11. Abu Bakr evaluated
As mentioned in Mirqatul Wasul:5 Hakim Tirmidhi has narrated from
Rizaqullah bin Musa Baji Basri from Moammar bin Ismail – Adawi, Basri – from
Hammad bin Salma from Saeed bin Jamhan Basri from Safeena, slave of Umme
Salma that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), when he was praying the Morning
Prayer turned to the companions and asked:
“Which of you had a dream last night?”
A man said: “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), I had a dream as if a balance
was suspended from the sky and you were placed in one pan and Abu Bakr in the
other. And you were heavier than Abu Bakr. Then you were removed and Abu
Bakr remained there. Then Umar was placed in the other pan and weighed with
Abu Bakr and Abu Bakr was heavier than Umar. Then Abu Bakr was lifted and
Umar was placed there. Then Uthman was placed in the other pan and Umar was
heavier than him. Then Umar was removed and Uthman remained there. Then Ali was placed in the other pan and Uthman was heavier than him. Then the
balance was taken away.”
The complexion of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) changed. He said:
“Successorship of the Prophet is for thirty years, after that there would be rulership.”
Chain of the narrators
1. Razaqullah Basri (d. 256 or 260 A.H.); Andulusi has said regarding him:
“He has narrated unacceptable traditions, but he is a righteous man and there
is no problem with him.”6
2. Moammal Adawi Basri, (d. 206 A.H.); Abu Hatim has written about him
that:
“He is very truthful in narrating Sunnah and has committed many
mistakes.”7
Bukhari has written8: “His traditions are not acceptable.”
3. Saeed bin Jamhan Basri (d. 136 A.H.); Abu Hatim9 has written about him
that his traditions are written, but they cannot be used as evidence.
Saaji has written:10“No one has approved his traditions.”
Allamah Amini says:
وَيْلٌۭ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ (١) ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ٱكْتَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ (٢) وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ (٣) أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَنَّهُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ (٤) لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ (٥) يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلنَّاسُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ (٦)
“Woe to the defrauders, who, when they take the measure (of
their dues) from men take it fully, but when they measure out to
others or weigh out for them, they are deficient. Do not these
think that they shall be raised again, for a mighty day, the day
on which men shall stand before the Lord of the worlds?”11
This balance, which people of Basra brought and which was suspended from
the sky of Basra, its pointer is non-criterion; one of its pan is lighter than the
other and its balancing rod is bent:
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Say: Are those who know and those who do not know alike?”12
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الْأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَتُ وَالنُّوْرُ
“Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or can the darkness and the light be equal?”13
How the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), with this greatness could be weighed
in the balance of justice and equity with the son of Abu Qahafa who is only Abu
Bakr?
Which noble nature and which good morals and manners Abu Bakr had that
he should be placed in it? Which valuable ability? Which academic or practical
wisdom? Which famous acts and lofty divine recognitions? Which superior
insight? Which knowledge? Which valor? Which infallibility? Which piety?
Which greatness? Which determination? Which resoluteness? And which and
which…?
Does conscience and logic accept this comparison that it should be said that
one of the pans of balance became heavier than the other?
فَمَالِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
“What is the matter with these people that they do not make approach to understanding what is told (them)?”14
Furthermore, how Abu Bakr became heavier than Umar whereas the two of
them throughout their lives were equal in all the merits, and only the conquests of
Umar and his favor in spreading Islam to nooks and corners of the world will not
be forgotten, and will always be mentioned on pages of history.
If the balance is not defective, and if it stabilized with Abu Bakr, Umar
should be heavier than Abu Bakr.
How in this balance, there is difference between Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and
Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.)? Whereas, he is according to the declaration of the
Holy Quran, self of Prophet and according to command of great book, is having
infallibility, and is heir of the knowledge of Prophet, gate of his wisdom, equal in
status of Quran, and on the basis of the statement of Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
‘I leave among two things as my successors: Book of Allah and my progeny,
my Ahle Bayt (a.s.),’
…he is the Caliph of the Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.a.)?
I don’t know what great and important excellence Uthman have that he was
placed in the pan of balance and by that got precedence over Ali (a.s.), who is
similar to Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) in excellence?
In addition to this, if this comparison, which they have attributed to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), were true, then it shows helplessness to divine destiny and
intention of Allah, the Mighty and the High and from the aspect of defending the
system it was preferable, then why His Eminence was distraught at what Allah
had destined?
Whereas His Eminence did not have any aim, except obtaining divine
pleasure and calling to it and conveying the nation to it. Does this not contradict
the infallibility of His Eminence and is not opposed to his lofty rank?
But exaggeration in excellence sometimes corrects such statements. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.