Those who spend their wealth night and day, secretly and openly, they will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor shall they grieve. (2-274)
The 2-best people after Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessing of ALLAH be Upon Him) in his time are Abu Bakr As-Sidiq and Umar ibn-Al Khattab. Prophet Muhammad would often be seen with Abu Bakr (RZA) and Umar ibn-Al Khattab (RZA) together.
Between the Prophet and Abu Bakr, the latter was “The Second of the Two”. And between Abu Bakr and Umar, Umar was “second of the two” when Abu Bakr became the Caliph.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) often came to the mosque flanked by Abu Bakr (RZA) on one side, and Umar (RZA) on the other.
They were like two wings of Islam thus they both have their own virtues. Let us know a little about each of them. May ALLAH be please with them. Ameen
Abu Bakr As-Sideeq (May ALLAH be pleased with Him)
The best person to tread on earth after all the prophets is Abu Bakr (RZA). He was the first person to enter Islam, and was given the title of Siddeeq which means a person who recognized the truth and adheres to it such that he is in state of constant truthfulness
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said the sun has never risen or set on anyone, after the prophets, that is better than Abu Bakr, and that he will be the first to enter Paradise in his nation. Subhan ALLAH.
Umar Ibn-Al Khattab (May ALLAH be pleased with Him)
Umar (RZA) on the other hand is the last on the list of blessed 10 in order of their entering the fold of Islam.
Though he had a vehement hatred of Muhammad and the religion of Islam, he became the 40th person to enter Islam, as a result of the answer of Prophet’s Prayer to ALLAH swt for strengthening Islam.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made the Dua, “Strengthen Islam by either Abul Hakam (Abu Jahal) or Umar Bin Khattb, of the 2 who is lovable to you” and his prayer was answered in favour of Omar Rza.
And thus Islam was strengthened. Abdullah ibn Masud (RZA) said, “If the Islam of Umar was an opening , his migration was a victory and his leadership a mercy. I swear by Allah that we were unable to pray at the Ka’aba until Umar became Muslim.”
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) at one occasion said: “When Satan saw Umar walking down the street, he would turn the other way” thus the worst thing that happened to Satan was Umar ibn-Khattab (RZA).
Prophet of ALLAH (PBUH) in another narration said “Allah did not send a prophet except that his nation had a speaker and if there was one of my nation it would be Umar.” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah how does he speak?” He said, “Angels speak upon his tongue.”
They are first 2 Caliphs and holds significant place in Islam. They both are among the blessed 10 who were given the good news of being the inheritors of Paradise. Their wisdom is unfathomable, and their deeds are un-matchable.
ALLAH the exalted in Surah Hadid said: “Race one with another in hastening towards Forgiveness from your Lord (Allah), and towards Paradise….” [57:21]
And the Messenger of ALLAH Muhammad (may peace and blessing of ALLAH be upon him) encouraged Muslims to compete with one another in good deeds to attain ALLAH’s pleasure.
Thus, the Sahabas (companions of Prophet – may ALLAH be please with them) would always be at forefront in doing good deeds but one among them would always surpass everyone else by a distance that no other companion could ever catch up. Any guesses? Yes he is the one who would be the first to enter paradise from this Ummah – Abu Bakr As- Sideeq (RZA) because of his virtues and for him being among the first in doing any good deed whether it is charity or accepting Islam, or reliance on ALLAH or any other good deed. You name it and you’ll find mention of Abu Bakr.
This can best be described from the Narration below:
Prophet of ALLAH once asked: Who amongst you is fasting today? Abu Bakr said: I am. He (again) said: Who amongst you followed a funeral procession today? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (the Prophet) again said: Who amongst you served food to the needy? Abu Bakr said: I did. He (again) said: Who amongst you has today visited the sick? Abu Bakr said: I did. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter paradise.
Hazrat Ali (RZA) once said, Abu Bakr (RZA) would leave everyone behind. As a matter of fact, everyone tried to beat him in this healthy competition however Abu Bakr As-Sidiq (RZA) did good deeds not for any competition but for the pleasure of ALLAH alone, even if he is on own alone, he would do so, this was his natural way.
Thus, Umar ibn Khattaab (RZA) like others used to hasten towards good deeds to compete Abu-Bakr (RZA), but he never won.
So, Umar wanted to beat Abu Bakr in this competition. This is the time when Prophet decided to lead an expedition to Tabuk, and He invited donations from the companions to finance this expedition. Umar at that time has considerable wealth with him. He said to himself “this is the time I can out do Abu Bakr in doing good.”
Umar went to home and brought his donation, when asked by Prophet “what have you left behind?; he replied “the same amount”. Meaning I brought half and left behind the remining half.
Then came Abu bakr (RZA) with his contribution, the same question was posed to him by Prophet “what have you left behind for your family?” His reply made Umar Speechless. Abu Bakr replied to Prophet He brought everything for the donation and left ALLAH and his Prophet (PBUH) behind.
At this point, Umar said in his words “By Allah, I will never do better than Abu Bakr.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3675
Such was Abu Bkar As-Sideeq and such was Umar ibn Al-Khattab, they both can be best described for their virtues & significance from the narration of Ammar ibn Yasir (RZA) as follows:
Prophet of ALLAH (SAW) said, “O Ammar, Jibril came to me and I asked, “O Jibril narrate to me the virtues of Umar ibn Al-Khattab in the heavens.” He said, “O Muhammad, if I was to narrate the virtues of Umar from the time that Nuh remained with his people, nine hundred and fifty years, I would not exhaust the virtues of Umar. Yet Umar is one of the good actions of Abu Bakr.”
Abu Y’alla, Al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat and Al-Kabir.
May ALLAH make us take heed from the lives of Sahaba and may ALLAH almighty guide us and help us in competing with one another not in the wordly matters but for the here-after to attain his pleasure and earn his paradise which he has promised for those who race towards doing good (Surah Hadid)
