These were some of the verdicts and views of Abu Bakr which we found. However few they may be, they guide us to his real position in knowledge of
Quran, identification of Sunnah understanding Shariah and laws of religion.
Now, is it not exaggeration to say:
“Everyone, who has a share of knowledge, knows that knowledge of Abu
Bakr was many times that of Ali (a.s.).”1?
Is it not exaggeration to say:
“It is well known that people have collected adjudication and verdicts of
Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali and the best and most correct of them, which
are proofs of knowledge of its owner, are found in the acts of Abu Bakr, then
Umar; therefore acts of Umar, which are opposed by text of Quran and
statements of Prophet are less than the acts of Ali, and as for the acts of Abu
Bakr, no text is opposed to them.”?
Is it not exaggeration to say:
“Abu Bakr, Umar and other senior companions never posed questions to Ali
(a.s.) and the fact is that Ali (a.s.) obtained knowledge from Abu Bakr.”?2
Is it not exaggeration to say:
“Abu Bakr is the most senior of jurists and without any exception, he is the most learned of people.”?3
Is it not exaggeration to say:
“Abu Bakr was most intelligent and wisest from companions and at the same
time, was most knowledgeable about Sunnah of Prophet; and companions
referred to him in different instances and he narrated to them sayings of Prophet,
which he had memorized and which they did not know in times of need. How it
should not be so, whereas since the advent of Islam (Besat) till passing away of
Prophet, he was constantly in the company of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.)?”4
Can what is attributed to Prophet that: “Almighty Allah has not dropped
anything onto my breast, except that I dropped it into the breast of Abu Bakr,”
not be regarded as exaggeration?
Is the traditional report, which Saad has narrated from Ibne Umar that:5 Ibne
Umar was asked: “Who delivered verdicts during the period of Messenger of
Allah (s.a.w.a.)?” He replied: “Abu Bakr and Umar and I don’t know of anyone
else,” not exaggeration?
Ref: Usudul Ghaba, Sawaiq and Tarikhul Khulafa, Suyuti.6
Allamah Amini says: Alas, if I and my community only knew the motive of
Ahle Sunnat in fabricating these hollow claims and making up these evil lies and
pulling the weak ones of the Ummah to decadence and deviation and preventing
them from clear and right path and from the path of truth in recognizing persons
and values and with estimation of the past people?
Are these viewpoints compatible with the statement of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) to Fatima (s.a.):
“Will you not agree that I married you to the first of Muslims, who is most learned of all Muslims?”?
And his statement: “I married to the best and the wisest person of my Ummah.”?
Also, is it not opposed to the statement:
“Indeed, Ali is the first of those, who embraced Islam from my companions and his wisdom is more than that of them.”?
And his statement: “After me, the most intelligent person of my Ummah is Ali.”?
“I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.”
“Ali is the vessel of my knowledge.”
“Ali is the gate of my knowledge.”
“Ali is the treasurer of my knowledge.”
“Ali is the casket of my knowledge.”
“I am the house of wisdom and Ali is its door.”
“I am the house of knowledge and Ali is its door.”
“I am the criterion of knowledge and Ali is its pair of pans.”
“I am the balance of wisdom and Ali is its balancing rod.”
“Ali is the best judge of my Ummah.”
“Ali is the best judge among you.”7
And other statements of this kind.
How can it be said that in the Islamic Ummah, there is someone more
knowledgeable than Ameerul Momineen Ali (a.s.) after the fact that:8
“Folks of knowledge have consensus that only Ali (a.s.) is the heir of
knowledge of Prophet and not others,” as we mentioned before?
Now, which meager knowledge is a sign of excellence of Abu Bakr? Is it his opinion regarding the meaning of ‘abb’ or his viewpoint about ‘Kalala’, heir of
grandmother and inheritance of two grandmothers, Caliphate and other instances,
are these signs of his excellence?
Was he and his friend delivering these kinds of verdicts during lifetime of
Prophet?
And you know well that acceptance of these authentic reports, which are
narrated from Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and statements of companions and
companions of companions about knowledge of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and
their consensus on knowledge of Abu Bakr, would entail it necessary to say that
Abu Bakr was also wiser than Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).
Because the Prophet and Ali (a.s.): both of them are branches of one root
and in excellence, Ali (a.s.) is equal to his brother and is his soul and inheritor of
his knowledge, his gate, casket, vessel, and his treasurer.
I don’t think most Ahle Sunnat would utter such nonsense that Abu Bakr
more knowledgeable than Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).
Yes, one who exaggerates regarding Abu Hanifah and regards him more
knowledgeable than Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) in adjudication has no qualms9
to claim the same for Abu Bakr, who is superior to Abu Hanifah.
O followers of Ibne Hazm, Ibne Taymiyyah, Ibne Kathir and Ibne Jauzi, this
is the same malicious exaggeration, which makes the ears deaf and not what the
Shia say.