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The companionship that Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) had with Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was unique and unparalleled to such an extent that it transcended the boundaries of this physical world.
The love that Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) had for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was matchless and his entire life was spent in serving and being in the companionship of the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). He had such a special station of closeness to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that Hazrat Sayyidah Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) narrates that no day used to go by without Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) blessing their home with his august presence. {Sahih Bukhari}
Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) himself stated, “There are three things that I like; to look at the blessed countenance of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), to spend my wealth on Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), and to be present in the company of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). {Tafseer Roohul Bayaan} From this we can understand that the life of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) revolved around Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).
The pinnacle of his companionship was experienced during the migration to Madinatul Munawwarah in the Ghaar-e-Thaur (Cave of Thaur) and this was the Me’raj of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh).
It is mentioned that during the migration (Hijrat) Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was in solitude with Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) the way in which Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was in solitude with Allah Ta’ala on the Night of Me’raj (Ascension). This cave was the Me’raj of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). When Allah Ta’ala wanted His Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) to be in solitude with Him, He removed all of the Angels. When Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) wanted Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) to be in solitude with him, he (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) removed everyone else. At that moment in time, this cave was more excellent than the Arsh and it was the place of the Me’raj of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). {Tafseer Naeemi}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said to Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh), “O Abu Bakr! You were with me in the Cave of Thaur and you will be with me at the Hauz-e-Kauthar (Fountain of Kauthar). {Sunan At Tirmidhi}
Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) also made the following Dua for him in the cave, “O Allah! On the Day of Judgement, grant Abu Bakr a place with me in Jannah.” Allah Ta’ala then sent a revelation to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “Undoubtedly your Rabb has accepted your Dua.” {Hilyatul Awliya}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Zubair (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) made Dua for Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) in the following manner, “O Allah! I made Siddiq my companion in the Cave of Thaur, so make him my companion in Jannah.” {Faizaan-e-Siddiq-e-Akbar}
In another narration Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) has stated that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Every Prophet has a companion and my companion in Jannah will be Abu Bakr.” {Al Riyaadun Nadarah}
These are the blessings that Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) will receive in the hereafter due to his unparalleled companionship with Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in this world.
It is stated that after the physical departure of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), sadness had predominated the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and life itself became difficult for him due to separation from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). He became restless in the remembrance of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) so much so that Hazrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states, “The actual cause of the demise of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was the physical departure of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). From the time Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) left this mundane world, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq’s (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) body gradually dissolved away until he finally also passed away.” {Al Mustadrak Alal Sahihain}
Sher-e-Khuda Hazrat Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates, “I was present in the court of Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) in the final moments of his physical life. He said to me, “O Ali! When I pass away then give me Ghusl in that blessed vessel in which Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was given Ghusl. Then you must put my Kafan (shroud) on, take me towards the blessed grave of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), and seek permission in the following manner:
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ هٰذَا اَ بُوْبَكْر يَسْتَاْذِنُ
“Ya Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Peace be upon you, Abu Bakr is present in your court and seeks permission.”
If the door of the Rauza Mubarak opens then you must bury me there, and if you do not get permission, then you must bury me in the graveyard of the Muslims (Jannatul Baqi).””
Sayyiduna Maula Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) states that after giving him Ghusl and putting the Kafan on, he went to the door of the Rauza Mubarak of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and sought permission from Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as per the instruction of Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh). He says that as soon as his sentence was completed, the door of the Rauza Mubarak opened and a voice from inside was heard, saying:
اَدْخِلُوْا الْحَبِيْبَ اِلَى الْحَبِيْبِ
“Unite the Beloved with the Beloved.”
Therefore Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) was buried next to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). {Khasaaisul Kubra; Lisaanul Mizaan}
Hazrat Abu Darda (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “On the Day of Qiyaamah, the very first person to come by me will be Abu Bakr.” {Al Riyaadun Nadarah}
From this we can understand the unique status of Hazrat Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that his sacrifices for and companionship with Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was so sincere and true that Allah Ta’ala has blessed him with the permanent companionship of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in his grave, on the Day of Judgement and for eternity in Jannah. SubhanAllah!
May Allah Ta’ala grant us true love for Sayyiduna Siddiq-e-Akbar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and an atom of the love that he had for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Allahumma Ameen.