Continuing the discussion on the hadith: “Indeed, the lawful is clear, and the forbidden is clear…”

The Shaykh : And in this hadith is evidence of the extreme scrupulousness of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), for he is worthy of this, as he was the first caliph of this Ummah after its Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). For this reason, the people of the Sunnah and the community say: “That Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) is the best of this Ummah because he was the first caliph, and because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, addressing the people during his illness:

Indeed, the most generous of people to me in their wealth and their persons is Abu Bakr. And if I were to take a friend from among my Ummah, I would take Abu Bakr, but the friendship of Islam and its affection are [exceptional].

إنّ أمنّ النّاس عليّ في ماله وفي نفسه أبو بكر ، ولو كنت متّخذًا من أمّتي خليلاً لاتّخذت أبا بكر، ولكن خلّة الإسلام ومودّته

”, and the texts on this matter are numerous and mass-transmitted. Even the Commander of the Faithful, Ali ibn Abi Talib, the one who spoke of truth, equity, and justice, used to say on the pulpit of Kufa, and this is mass-transmitted from him: “The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, then Umar”. This is what he said (may Allah be pleased with him). He also said: “If a man is brought to me who prefers me over Abu Bakr and Umar, I will flog him with the flogging for false accusation”, meaning the flogging for slander and lying. This is part of his true humility (may Allah be pleased with him) and his speaking of the truth. In it is a clear refutation of the Rafidah who prefer Ali over Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). Indeed, some of them prefer Ali over the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), saying that Ali is better than Muhammad and more deserving of the message, but Gabriel betrayed the trust and turned the message away from Ali to Muhammad. There is no doubt that they are in manifest error, refuge is sought in Allah. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for them. The conclusion is that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) possessed this great scrupulousness: after eating the forbidden, he went to expel it from his stomach so that he would not be nourished by it. And success is from Allah.