‘Bukhārī and Muslim both report from Sayyidunā Abū Mūsā Ash’arī رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was ill and the illness was affecting him strongly, so he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Order Abū Bakr to lead the Ṣalāĥ.’ Sayyidatunā ‘Āishaĥ رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said, ‘Yā Rasūlallāĥ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! He is soft-hearted; he will not be able to stand in your place to lead the Ṣalāĥ.’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘Order Abū Bakr to lead the Ṣalāĥ.’ She رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا again offered the same concern. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made the same order again with emphasis, so Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ led the Ṣalāĥ during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. This Ḥadīš is Mutawātir [mass transmitted] because it has been narrated by Sayyidatunā ‘Āishaĥ, Ibn-e-Mas’ūd, Ibn-e-‘Abbās, Ibn-e-‘Umar, ‘Abdullāĥ Ibn-e-Zam’aĥ, Abū Sa’īd, ‘Alī Ibn-e-Abī Ṭālib, Ḥafṣaĥ رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُم and others. The scholars say that this Ḥadīš is clear evidence that Sayyidunā Abū Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ is conclusively more highly ranked than all of the companions, and the most worthy and capable of Khilāfaĥ and leadership. (Tārīkh-ul-Khulafā, pp. 47-48)

Dear Islamic brothers! It is the sign of a true devotee that at every moment the essence of his life is the remembrance of his beloved. When those who are unaware of the taste of the love of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم are not able to understand the lifestyles of the devotees, they make fun of them and criticize them. Advising such people, and expressing the passion of true devotees with great feeling, a poet has said: