كِتَابُ فَضَائِلِ الصَّحَابَةِ
مَنَاقِبُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِي
عَنْهُ
بَابُ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِذْ
يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا﴾
حديث 1164
عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ،
قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي الْغَارِ، فَرَأَيْتُ آثَارَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ،
قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ! لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ رَفَعَ قَدَمَهُ رَآنَا!
قَالَ: (وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: اسْكُتْ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ)، مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ
اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا؟
Virtues of the
Prophet’s Companions
The Merits of Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him)
Chapter One: The Word of Allah, the Exalted: “When he said to his companion: Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.” (Qur’ān 9:40)
Ḥadīth 1164
It is narrated on the authority of Abū
Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I was in the cave with the Prophet ﷺ,
and I perceived the footsteps of the polytheists. I said: “O Messenger of Allah! If one of them were to lift his foot, he
would surely see us!” The prophet ﷺ
responded (and in another narration: “Be still,
O Abū Bakr”),“What think you of two, when Allah is the third of
them?”
Key
Lessons and Reflections
1. Tawakkul (Reliance upon
Allah): This narration enshrines the highest expression of tawakkul, whereby human vulnerability is
safeguarded by the assurance of divine companionship. The words of the Prophet ﷺ affirm that true security does not rest
upon material concealment or strategic calculation alone, but upon the
metaphysical reality of Allah’s protective presence.
2. Sharʿī Principle on Divine Support and Human Means: The
episode demonstrates that employing material means (akhḏ bi’l-asbāb) does not negate trust in Allah. The Prophet
ﷺ undertook the hijrah with caution and
preparation, yet when danger drew near, reliance upon Allah’s companionship
transcended worldly measures. This reflects the juristic balance between asbāb (causal means) and tawakkul.
3. The Status of Ṣuḥbah (Companionship): The Qur’ānic verse
immortalises Abū Bakr’s companionship, designating him explicitly as “the
companion” (ṣāḥib) of the Messenger ﷺ. This establishes a unique textual
evidence for his exalted station and priority among the Companions, a point of
consensus in Sunni legal and theological tradition.
4. Juristic Maxim on “Allah is with Us” - The Principle of Divine Maʿiyyah: The phrase “inna Allāha maʿanā” encapsulates the principle of maʿiyyah khāṣṣah (particularised divine companionship), which implies divine assistance, safeguarding, and guidance. This maxim underpins several legal and spiritual rulings, emphasising that the believer’s assurance derives not merely from physical measures but from the certitude of divine nearness.
5. Moral Instruction in Times of Fear: The Prophet ﷺ calmed Abū Bakr not through denial of imminent danger, but by elevating his perception from the immediate threat to the eternal reality of divine protection. This illustrates the Prophetic method of instilling fortitude through the union of faith and perspective.
