Introduction
Ali was a sincere adviser to Abu Bakr during his caliphate. There are many signs of his sincerity to Abu Bakr, to Islam and to the Muslims, and of his keenness to protect the position of the caliphs and to uphold Muslim unity.
The war against the apostates
Ibn ‘Umar’s report
One clear sign is his advice when he heard that Abu Bakr was determined to go to fight the apostates in Dhul-Qissah and to lead the military campaign against them himself. ‘Ali recognised the danger that this posed to the survival of Islam.’ Ibn ‘Umar narrated that ‘Ali said [to Abu Bakr]:
“I shall say to you what the Messenger of Allah said on the day of Uhud: ‘Keep your sword sheathed, and do not cause us grief by your loss.’ Go back to Madinah, for by Allah, if we were to lose you, Islam would never prosper after that.”
Abu Bakr then went back. If ‘Ali had been discontented with Abu Bakr’s caliphate and had given his oath of allegiance reluctantly this would have been a golden opportunity for him to take advantage of. He could have let Abu Bakr do what he wanted in the hope that he would be harmed, and then he would have been rid of him and would have had no obstacles in his way.
Al-Ya‘qubi’s report
The Shī‘ī historian al-Ya‘qubi in his Ta’rīkh mentions the caliphate of Abu Bakr stating that: “Abu Bakr wanted to launch a campaign against the Byzantines, so he consulted a number of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah , but they had different views. Then he consulted Ali ibn Abi Talib who suggested that he should do it, saying: ‘If you do it, you will prevail.’ Abu Bakr said: ‘You have cheered me up.’ So Abu Bakr stood up to address the people and commanded them to prepare themselves for a campaign against the Byzantines.
Al-Ya‘qubi also mentions that during the wars of apostasy, Abu Bakr ordered that Madinah be placed under guard, and he appointed troops to protect its gates and watch out for approaching armies. He appointed Ali, az-Zubayr, Talhah and Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood in charge of these guards. Ali played an active and supportive role throughout Abū Bakr’s caliphate. For example, Ali fought against Musaylimah in Yamamah (Juwayni- Irshaad).
Ali held that Abū Bakr was superior to him
There are many reports from Ali indicating that he preferred and gave precedence to Abu Bakr (a). For example: Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah said: “I said to my father: ‘Which of the people is best after the Messenger of Allah ?’ He said: ‘Abu Bakr.’ I said: ‘Then who?’ He said: “Umar.’ I was afraid that he would say ‘Uthman next, so I said: ‘Then you?’ He said: ‘I am just one of the Muslims’ (Bukhari).
‘Ali testified to the great reward of ‘Abu Bakr with regard to collecting the Qur’an into one volume. It was narrated that ‘Abū Khayr said; “I heard Ali say: ‘The greatest of the people in reward with regard to the mushhaf is Abu Bakr as-Sideeq; he was the first one who collected it between two covers.”
‘Ali also said:
“Shall I not tell you of the best of this Ummah after its Prophet? Abu Bakr. Then he said: “Shall I not tell you of the best of this Ummah after Abu Bakr ? ‘Umar.
Musnad Aḥmad S̩ah̩īh̩
The ahl al-bayt loved Abu Bakr
The ahl al-bayt honoured Abū Bakr by naming their sons, Abū Bakr. The first was ‘Alī who called one of his sons Abū Bakr. This son was born after the caliphate of Abū Bakr. It is inconceivable that ‘Alī would name his son after someone who had usurped his authority and deprived his wife of her inheritance. After ‘Alī, both Ḥassan and Ḥusayn named their sons Abū Bakr.
Conclusion
Ibn Taymiyah said: There are so many reports that they reached the level of mutawatir, and they state that Amir al- Mu’mineen Ali ibn Abi Talib said: ‘The best of this Ummah after its Prophet is Abu Bakr, then ‘Umar.” This was narrated from him through many chains of narration. It was said that there were eighty such chains. It was also narrated from him that he said: “I will not be brought anyone who gives me precedence over Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, but that I will carry out the hadd punishment of the fabricator on him. (Minhaj as-Sunnah: 26.)
Summarised from Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq: His Life and Times. by Ali M. Sallabi and additional sources.
