Part 19

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their guide. Allah also sent two pigeons that built a nest and it seemed to the onlooker that they had been there for a long time. All these things were miracles and were more than just resisting the enemy with soldiers.

When the disbelievers stood outside the cave and their talk was heard by the Prophet and his companion, Abu Bakr said, "O Messenger of Allah! If any of them should look under his feet, he would see us.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, 'O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two (persons) the third of whom is Allah?'"*’ When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the sadness of Abu Bakr and his fear for the Messenger and none for himself, he consoled him and said what Allah says,

which means, "Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us." (At-Tawbah, 9:40)

Abu Bakr accompanied the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) throughout his lifetime and when the Messenger died, he became his successor and used to be called the caliph of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and when Abu Bakr died, his successors used to be called the Emir of the believers.

They stayed in the cave for three days, then they left it, and continued their journey until Suraqah bin Malik followed them and when he was about to catch them, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) invoked Allah against him, and his horse stumbled. When he realized that he would never be able to arrest them he offered them money to let him go in peace. He

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offered money to someone who had refused the keys of the treasures of the earth; he offered food to the one who is satisfied. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “My Lord gives me food and drink during my sleep."* Abu Bakr was the second to embrace Islam, to sacrifice himself, to live an ascetic lifestyle, to accompany him, to take over the caliphate, and they were both of like age, and both he and the prophet (peace be upon him) died due to the effects of poison.

Those who embraced Islam through him were among the ten and they are ‘Uthman, Talhah, Az-Zubair, ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf, and Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas. During the time that he embraced Islam, he had forty thousand dirhams, which he spent seeking the pleasure of Allah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "| never benefited from any money as | benefited from the money of Abu Bakr."*’ He is better than the believing man of Fir'awn (Pharaoh), as he hid his Islam while Abu Bakr declared it openly. He is better than the believing man of Al Yasin, as he fought in the cause of Allah for one hour while Abu Bakr did for several years. Although Abu Bakr was a poor man, he loved to spend his money for the sake of Allah, following the verse in which Allah says,

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which means, "Who is he that will lend to Alah a goodly loan." (Al-Baqarah, 2:245)

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114 * AL-FAWA'ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings

which means, "And A/-Muttaqdn (the pious and righteous - see V.2:2) will be far removed from it (Hell). He who spends his weaith for increase in self-purification." (Al-Lail, 92:17-18)

The Qur'an and history mention his virtues and the Muhajirin (emigrants) and the Ansar (supporters) agreed that he should be the successor of the Prophet (peace be upon him). So you who hated him listen to his merits. Did they not hear what Allah says about him,

which means, "The second of two, when they (Muhammad and Abu Bakr) were in the cave." (At-Tawbah, 9:40)

Abu Bakr answered the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was Called to islam, and he neither denied nor hesitated. His adherence to Islam never wavered.

e Who was the companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his youth? Who was the first among his companions to embrace Islam? Who was the one who gave legal opinion in his presence and was the fastest to answer? Who was the first to perform prayer with him? Who was the last to lead him in performing prayer? Who was the next after him to die and be laid next to him? The answer to all these questions, is Abu Bakr. He was very understanding and attentive during the days of apostasy and obtained legal opinion from the Qur'an and Sunnah.

e He protected the Messenger with everything at his disposal. He accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) during his life and death. How could anyone deny his virtues? To do so would be to try to cover the sun in the middle of the day. He is the best among the Companions, and whoever loves him is a believer.

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Oh Rawafid! Our love for him is based on the truth. We followed 'Aly when he said about him, "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was content with you in our religion, so why can’t we be content with him in our lives?" By Allah! O ‘Aly, you took our revenge from ArRawéfid. We believe in and acknowledge his favors. Whoever was from Rawéafid, is not from us.

Warning: Great Pearls of Wisdom

Beware of the one who is an enemy to the people of the Qur'an and Sunnah, and do not let them infect you with enmity or you will be the loser.

Beware of two enemies, which were the cause of the doom of many creatures: he who keeps away from Allah and acts on his suspicions, and he who is fascinated by this worldly life and the power he has obtained.

Whoever was granted some kind of special power and readiness, will find his pleasure in using it in this worldly life. Whoever was granted the power to have sexual intercourse, will find his pleasure in utilizing this power, whoever was granted the power to get angry, will! find pleasure in using his anger to get what he wants, whoever was granted the power of eating and drinking, will find pleasure in using his power, whoever was granted the power to gain knowledge, will find pleasure in using this power, and whoever was granted the power to love Allah and turn to Him, he will find his pleasure in using this power to gain closeness to Allah. Pleasures other than those will be less significant and rare.

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Warning: Lessons and Warnings

e O You unarmed, having no good deeds in your account with Allah, beware of the sight of a pious man for he can see your defects from behind a veil. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Beware of the insight of a believer."

5* Recoded by At-Tirmidhy, book of interpretation of Qur'an, no.3127.

* Bil'am bin Ba'dra' wiom Allah revealed the following verse in him, "And recite (O Muhammad SAW) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), but he threw them away, so Shaitan (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray. (Al-A’raf, 7:175)

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which means, "Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives." (At-Tawbah, 9:111)

Allah will never purchase any good (deed) that has not been refined by faith for without it, the good deed cannot enter the world of the pious worshippers of Allah. Hand your good deeds over to the buyer (Allah) before they are ruined through doing bad deeds. In this case the buyer will not accept them. The buyer knew what defects were present in this good deed before buying it, so hand it to Him and be assured that He will never return it.

The value of the good person is estimated according to the buyer (Allah), and the price that will be paid for it (Paradise) is also allotted by Him. If the buyer is Great, then the price is significant, and whatever is sold will be considered precious.

O you who evaluate matters, do you know the value of yourself? The universe was created for your sake.

O you who were fed the milk of piety and changed by the will of Allah, all things are like a tree while you are the fruit; a picture and you are the meaning; a shell and you are the pearl, and buttermilk and you are the butter.

Allah says to His servant, "Whenever you want Me, ask Me to come. Send for Me from yourself and you will find Me near you and do not ask Me to come through another servant, as | am more near to you than the other."

If you knew the true value of yourself, you will never allow yourself to be humiliated by committing sins. Satan

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refused to bow to you when it refused to bow to your father Adam, so how come you reconciled with it and left us? If there is any love in your heart, its effect would appear on your body.