Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri : "Allah's Apostle said, "A time will come upon the people, when a group of people will wage a holy war and it will be said, 'Is there amongst you anyone who has accompanied Allah's Apostle?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you a none who has accompanied the companions of Allah's Apostle?' They will say, 'Yes.' And so victory will be bestowed on them. Then a time will come upon the people when a group of people will wage a holy war, and it will be said, "Is there amongst you anyone who has been in the company of the companions of the companions of Allah's Apostle ?' They will say, 'Yes.' And victory will be bestowed on them."

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيُّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيَقُولُونَ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ‏.‏ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيُقَالُ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ فَيَغْزُو فِئَامٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَيُقَالُ هَلْ فِيكُمْ مَنْ صَاحَبَ مَنْ صَاحَبَ أَصْحَابَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَيُفْتَحُ لَهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated By Imran bin Husain : "Allah's Apostle said, 'The best of my followers are those living in my generation (i.e. my contemporaries). and then those who will follow the latter" 'Imran added, "I do not remember whether he mentioned two or three generations after his generation, then the Prophet added, 'There will come after you, people who will bear witness without being asked to do so, and will be treacherous and untrustworthy, and they will vow and never fulfil their vows, and fatness will appear among them."

حَدَّثَنا إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا النَّضْرُ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي جَمْرَةَ، سَمِعْتُ زَهْدَمَ بْنَ مُضَرِّبٍ، سَمِعْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي قَرْنِي ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ عِمْرَانُ فَلاَ أَدْرِي أَذَكَرَ بَعْدَ قَرْنِهِ قَرْنَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا ‏"‏ ثُمَّ إِنَّ بَعْدَكُمْ قَوْمًا يَشْهَدُونَ وَلاَ يُسْتَشْهَدُونَ، وَيَخُونُونَ وَلاَ يُؤْتَمَنُونَ، وَيَنْذُرُونَ وَلاَ يَفُونَ، وَيَظْهَرُ فِيهِمُ السِّمَنُ ‏"‏‏.

Narrated By Abdullah : The Prophet said, "The best people are those living in my generation, and then those who will follow them, and then those who will follow the latter. Then there will come some people who will bear witness before taking oaths, and take oaths before bearing witness." (Ibrahim, a sub-narrator said, "They used to beat us for witnesses and covenants when we were still children.")

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ خَيْرُ النَّاسِ قَرْنِي، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ يَلُونَهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ قَوْمٌ تَسْبِقُ شَهَادَةُ أَحَدِهِمْ يَمِينَهُ وَيَمِينُهُ شَهَادَتَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَكَانُوا يَضْرِبُونَا عَلَى الشَّهَادَةِ وَالْعَهْدِ وَنَحْنُ صِغَارٌ‏.‏

Narrated By Al-Bara : Abu Bakr bought a (camel) saddle from 'Azib for thirteen Dirhams. Abu Bakr said to 'Azib, "Tell Al-Bara' to carry the saddle for me." 'Azib said, "No, unless you relate to me what happened to you and Allah 's Apostle when you left Mecca while the pagans were in search of you." Abu Bakr said, "We left Mecca and we travel led continuously for that night and the following day till it was midday. I looked (around) searching for shade to take as shelter, and suddenly I came across a rock, and found a little shade there. So I cleaned the place and spread a bed for the Prophet in the shade and said to him, 'Lie down, O Allah's Apostle.' So the Prophet lay down and I went out, looking around to see if there was any person pursuing us. Suddenly I saw a shepherd driving his sheep towards the rock, seeking what we had already sought from it. I asked him, 'To whom do you belong, O boy?' He said, 'I belong to a man from Quraish.' He named the man and I recognized him. I asked him, 'Is there any milk with your sheep?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'Will you then milk (some) for us?' He said, 'Yes.' Then I asked him to tie the legs of one of the sheep and clean its udder, and then ordered him to clean his hands from dust. Then the shepherd cleaned his hands by striking his hands against one another. After doing so, he milked a small amount of milk. I used to keep for Allah's Apostle a leather water-container, the mouth of which was covered with a piece of cloth. I poured water on the milk container till its lower part was cold. Then I took the milk to the Prophet whom I found awake. I said to him, 'Drink, O Allah's Apostle.' So he drank till I became pleased. Then I said, 'It is time for us to move, O Allahs Apostle!' He said, 'Yes.' So we set out while the people (i.e. Quraish pagans) were searching for us, but none found us except Suraiqa bin Malik bin Jushum who was riding his horse. I said, 'These are our pursuers who have found us. O Allah's Apostle!' He said, 'Do not grieve, for Allah is with us."

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ رَجَاءٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ اشْتَرَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ مِنْ عَازِبٍ رَحْلاً بِثَلاَثَةَ عَشَرَ دِرْهَمًا فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعَازِبٍ مُرِ الْبَرَاءَ فَلْيَحْمِلْ إِلَىَّ رَحْلِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَازِبٌ لاَ حَتَّى تُحَدِّثَنَا كَيْفَ صَنَعْتَ أَنْتَ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ خَرَجْتُمَا مِنْ مَكَّةَ وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ يَطْلُبُونَكُمْ قَالَ ارْتَحَلْنَا مِنْ مَكَّةَ، فَأَحْيَيْنَا أَوْ سَرَيْنَا لَيْلَتَنَا وَيَوْمَنَا حَتَّى أَظْهَرْنَا وَقَامَ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ، فَرَمَيْتُ بِبَصَرِي هَلْ أَرَى مِنْ ظِلٍّ فَآوِيَ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِذَا صَخْرَةٌ أَتَيْتُهَا فَنَظَرْتُ بَقِيَّةَ ظِلٍّ لَهَا فَسَوَّيْتُهُ، ثُمَّ فَرَشْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيهِ، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ اضْطَجِعْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَاضْطَجَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْتُ أَنْظُرُ مَا حَوْلِي، هَلْ أَرَى مِنَ الطَّلَبِ أَحَدًا فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَاعِي غَنَمٍ يَسُوقُ غَنَمَهُ إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ يُرِيدُ مِنْهَا الَّذِي أَرَدْنَا، فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَنْ أَنْتَ يَا غُلاَمُ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ سَمَّاهُ فَعَرَفْتُهُ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ فِي غَنَمِكَ مِنْ لَبَنٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قُلْتُ فَهَلْ أَنْتَ حَالِبٌ لَبَنًا قَالَ نَعَمْ‏.‏ فَأَمَرْتُهُ فَاعْتَقَلَ شَاةً مِنْ غَنَمِهِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرْتُهُ أَنْ يَنْفُضَ ضَرْعَهَا مِنَ الْغُبَارِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرْتُهُ أَنْ يَنْفُضَ كَفَّيْهِ، فَقَالَ هَكَذَا ضَرَبَ إِحْدَى كَفَّيْهِ بِالأُخْرَى فَحَلَبَ لِي كُثْبَةً مِنْ لَبَنٍ، وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِدَاوَةً عَلَى فَمِهَا خِرْقَةٌ، فَصَبَبْتُ عَلَى اللَّبَنِ حَتَّى بَرَدَ أَسْفَلُهُ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ بِهِ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَوَافَقْتُهُ قَدِ اسْتَيْقَظَ، فَقُلْتُ اشْرَبْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَشَرِبَ حَتَّى رَضِيتُ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ قَدْ آنَ الرَّحِيلُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ بَلَى ‏"‏‏.‏ فَارْتَحَلْنَا وَالْقَوْمُ يَطْلُبُونَا، فَلَمْ يُدْرِكْنَا أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ غَيْرُ سُرَاقَةَ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ جُعْشُمٍ عَلَى فَرَسٍ لَهُ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ هَذَا الطَّلَبُ قَدْ لَحِقَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا

Narrated By Abu Bakr : I said to the Prophet while I was in the Cave. "If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us." He said, "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?"

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سِنَانٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا فِي الْغَارِ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ لأَبْصَرَنَا‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا ظَنُّكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا

Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri : Allah's Apostle addressed the people saying, "Allah has given option to a slave to choose this world or what is with Him. The slave has chosen what is with Allah." Abu Bakr wept, and we were astonished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned as to a Slave (of Allah) who had been offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Allah's Apostle himself was the person who was given the choice, and that Abu Bakr knew best of all of us. Allah's Apostle added, "The person who has favoured me most of all both with his company and wealth, is Abu Bakr. If I were to take a Khalil other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr as such, but (what relates us) is the Islamic brotherhood and friendliness. All the gates of the Mosque should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr."

حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا فُلَيْحٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمٌ أَبُو النَّضْرِ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَيَّرَ عَبْدًا بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُ فَاخْتَارَ ذَلِكَ الْعَبْدُ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَعَجِبْنَا لِبُكَائِهِ أَنْ يُخْبِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ عَبْدٍ خُيِّرَ‏.‏ فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ الْمُخَيَّرُ وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَعْلَمَنَا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ مِنْ أَمَنِّ النَّاسِ عَلَىَّ فِي صُحْبَتِهِ وَمَالِهِ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا خَلِيلاً غَيْرَ رَبِّي لاَتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، وَلَكِنْ أُخُوَّةُ الإِسْلاَمِ وَمَوَدَّتُهُ، لاَ يَبْقَيَنَّ فِي الْمَسْجِد ِباب إِلاَّ سُدَّ، إِلاَّ باب أَبِي بَكْرٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated By Ibn 'Umar : We used to compare the people as to who was better during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle. We used to regard Abu Bakr as the best, then 'Umar, and then 'Uthman.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كُنَّا نُخَيِّرُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنُخَيِّرُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ، ثُمَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، ثُمَّ عُثْمَانَ بْنَ عَفَّانَ رضى الله عنهم‏.‏

Narrated By Ibn 'Abbas : The Prophet said, "If I were to take a Khalil, I would have taken Abu Bakr, but he is my brother and my companion (in Islam)."

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ وَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أُمَّتِي خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُ، أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَلَكِنْ أَخِي وَصَاحِبِي

Narrated By 'Abdullah bin Abi Mulaika : The people of Kufa sent a letter to Ibn Az-Zubair, asking about (the inheritance of) (paternal) grandfather. He replied that the right of the inheritance of (paternal) grandfather is the same as that of father if the father is dead) and added, "Allah's Apostle said, ' If I were to take a Khalil from this nation, I would have taken him (i.e. Abu Bakr)."

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ كَتَبَ أَهْلُ الْكُوفَةِ إِلَى ابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فِي الْجَدِّ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الَّذِي قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ خَلِيلاً لاَتَّخَذْتُهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ أَنْزَلَهُ أَبًا يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ‏.

Narrated By Jubair bin Mutim : A woman came to the Prophet who ordered her to return to him again. She said, "What if I came and did not find you?" as if she wanted to say, "If I found you dead?" The Prophet said, "If you should not find me, go to Abu Bakr."

حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ جِئْتُ وَلَمْ أَجِدْكَ كَأَنَّهَا تَقُولُ الْمَوْتَ‏.‏ قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ‏"‏ إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدِينِي فَأْتِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ ‏"‏‏.‏