No virtue for Abu Bakr in the Incident of the Cave

Many so-called Muslims claim the superiority of Abu Bakr as he was the companion of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) inside the cave on the night of migration. Among other points, they conclude that this makes him an automatic choice as the caliph of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)!! (Take lesson, O people of wisdom!)

Reply

Accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is not a virtue unless it is on a divine command. Without a divine command, it is like any other action and no special position or virtue can be claimed for it. Particularly, for accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the cave, which as we shall see was a source of ignominy and humiliation for Abu Bakr.

Argument of the skeptics

Let us first examine the argument advanced by the skeptics favoring Abu Bakr.

As proof they advance the 40^th verse of Surah Taubah (9):             

‘If you do not help him, Allah certainly will help him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.’

These Muslims derive the following points from the verse:

1. Allah, the Merciful in the Quran has mentioned His messenger (s.a.w.a.) and also mentioned Abu Bakr as the “second of the two”.
2. Allah in this verse has mentioned both (Messenger and Abu Bakr) together which underlines their special relation
3. In the aforementioned verse, Allah mentioned Abu Bakr as the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) companion which tells us Abu Bakr’s status.
4. Allah has informed Abu Bakr through the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) which is stated as ‘don’t grieve’

DEBATE OF FUZZAL BIN HASAN WITH ABU HANIFA ABOUT ABUBAKR

Once Fazaal bin Hassan (Companion of Imam Jaffar e Sadiq as ) was walking through the streets of kufa with his friend.

He saw that Imam Abu Hanifa was surrounded of some people and those people were asking some religious questions from him.

Fazaal Bin Hassan said to his friend:

‘Today i will not let him (Abu Hanifa) go without unveiling him.’

Friend of fazaal Bin Hassan said:

‘But he is very intelligent man in religious point of view.’

Fazaal Bin hassan Said:

‘Now you will u see how intelligent he is .’

And then Fazaal bin Hassan approached to Abu Hanifa said to him:

“O! Abu Hanifa, there is my brother who use to say that after Rasoolullah, Hazrat  Ali  is best among the people. But I say that there is Abu Bakr and then Umar”

What do you say in this regard?

Imam Abu Hanifa thought for some moments and then replied:

“For the superiority of these two (Abu Bakr and Umar) this is sufficient that they got burial sites next to Rasoolullah. Don’t you know?”

Fazaal Bin Hassan said:

‘Yes I know , when I said this point to my brother he said:

“Either, the place where they (Abu Bakr and Umar) are buried was the property of Rasoolullah . Hence, it not legal for anyone to bury someone on that place without the permission.”

Or.

“It was property Of Abu Bakr and Umar they gave it to Rasoolullah. So again it is illegal for them to interfere in the gift which they gave to Rasoolullah.”

Abu Hanifa again thought for some moments and then replied:

It was property of Rasoolullah. But both Abu Bakr and Umar are buried in the shares of their daughters (Ayesha and  Hafsa) . Because that place was the property of Wives of Rasoolullah after his Wisal (death). This is why Abu bakr and Umar are buried there.

Fazaal bin Hassan Said:

Yes I know I also told him that thing but my brother said :

Rasoolullah left nine wives after his death. So every wife had equal right over that place.

AND SECONDLY IF THE WIVES OF RASOOLULLAH CAN INHERIT THAT PLACE FROM HIM,

THEN WHY ABU BAKR REFUSED TO GIVE FADAK TO JANABE SAYYIDA AND SAID THAT PROPERTY LEFT BY PROPHETS GOES IN CHARITY?

After listening this Abu Hanifa said to his men.

Kick him out of here he is Shia.

( EHTIJAJ TABARSI pg: 207)