He said, “Yes! I also testify day and night to the heavenly reports of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, which is certainly more astonishing and astounding than this matter.” It was after this incident that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ became renowned as al-Ṣiddīq.^[1]

O devotees of the Companions and Prophetic Household! You heard how the first Companion to testify to the MiꜤrāj was Islam’s first Caliph Sayyidunā Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. It should be remembered that after the Prophets and Messengers, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is the most superior from among the people. His virtues are countless.

He was the first from among the men to believe in the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He remained in the Prophet’s company in travel and residency. He had the honour of migrating with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم , and he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reached the stage where he sacrificed his wealth, life, children and city—in short, everything—for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . It is for this reason that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ attained a lofty rank and became worthy of countless divine blessings.

The excellence of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ

When the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم   entered Paradise on the Night of MiꜤrāj, he saw a palace that was adorned with silk curtains. So, he asked Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, “O Jibril! For whom is this?”

Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied, “It is for Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddiq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ.”^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد