verses were revealed in his favour. He also has an elevated rank in the court of the final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

His rank in the Prophetic court

As narrated by Sayyidunā Abū ʿUthmān رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, the honourable Companions عَـلَيْهِمُ الرِّضْوَانْ once asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Who is most beloved to you from the people?” The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “ʿĀishah (رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا).” Then they asked, “Who amongst men?”, to which he replied, “ʿĀishah’s father.”^[1] (Meaning, Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ).

In another narration, Sayyidunā ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbās رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا said: 

I saw the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم standing with ʿAli رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ when Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ arrived. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم moved forward, shook his hand, hugged him and kissed his face. He then said to ʿAli رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, “O Abū al-Ḥasan! The rank of Abū Bakr with me is like my rank with Allah.”^[2]

The grand welcome of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in Paradise

Sayyidunā ʿAbdullah bin ʿAbbās رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا also narrates that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

One person will enter Paradise in such a manner that its residents will call out and say, “Welcome! Welcome! Come here! Come here!” Sayyidunā Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ asked in amazement, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Will we also