Is the Superiority of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr as-

Siddîq rađiyAllāhu ánhu proven with Ijma’?

Mufti Zahid Hussain al-Qadri

Question:
What is the verdict of the Ulamā Ahl al-Sunnah in regards with the superiority of Sayyidunā Abū
Bakr as-Siddîq rađiyAllāhu ánhu is there Ijma’ on this issue or is just the verdict in regards to the
Jamhūr?

Answer:
There is an Ijma' of the Ahl al-Sunnah Wa al-Jama’ah on the fact that Sayyidunā Abū Bakr as-
Siddîq rađiyAllāhu ánhu is the most superior amongst the companions of our beloved Prophet
şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam. He, who believes that Sayyidunā Alī rađiyAllāhu ánhu or any other
companion is more superior above Sayyidunā Abū Bakr as-Siddîq rađiyAllāhu ánhu, is misguided
from the Ahl Al-Sunnah Wa al-Jama’ah. This is what Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu in his
various Fatwās and Sadr al-Sharī’āh in his Bahār-e-Sharī’at have established. Imām Ahmad Ridā
rađiyAllāhu ánhu has also written two pamphlets on this issue, Matla’ al-Qamarayn and al-Zulaal
al-Anqaa in which there are many references and quotes of our most authentic personalities from
the past.

A few quotes from Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu relevant to the question will be of much
benefit. He says,

According to research the word Qat’ī is used for two meanings. Firstly, when there is
absolutely no possibility of another meaning and nothing affects it, like
in Muhkam and Mutawātir. Secondly, there is no possibility of another meaning which is
produced through evidence although a possibility remains, like in Majāz and Takhsees.
The first type is known as Ilm al-Yaqīn and the person who rejects it is known as an
infidel. The second type is known as Ilm al-Tamaaniyyah and the person who rejects such
is known as an innovator and misguided. One can in no circumstance call a person who
rejects the second type an infidel.

Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu then explains that the superiority of Sayyidunā Abū Bakr is
proven through the second type mentioned above. He says,

We do not need to prove the superiority through the first type of Qat’ī evidence for we
do not call the Tafdhīlī’s, infidels. We seek refuge in Allah from calling such. However,
their misguidance is established through the other meaning of Qat’ī which only an
unaware person would refute. This is because much evidence (Nusūs) has come to prove
this and the Ahadīth have reached al-Tawātur al-Ma’nwīy, therefore, weak and unstable
possibilities which are not produced through evidence have no effect in Qat’ī of this
meaning. The scholars of Usūl have clearly explained this.

Furthermore, Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu explains,

Without doubt, weak, in reality has absolutely no contradiction with authentic, therefore
weak contradiction will neither cause loss to us neither will it benefit he who refutes us.

The great Imām also clears the misunderstanding that most people fall victim to whilst dwelling
into this issue,
 Contradiction is one thing and mere affirmation or negation is another thing. One will
realise this when he reads the following Ahadīth, do not give superiority to a Prophet
over another Prophet, do not give me superiority over Yunus Ibn Matta, Adam is the
most superior amongst the Prophets and Ibrahīm is the best of all creation. Will anyone
accept these as a contradiction to the superiority of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
upon Him and upon them all).

Hence the answer to the fact that there are narrations from the Sahāba that another is more
superior than Abū Bakr rađiyAllāhu ánhu.

Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu also explains that the reconciliation between the statements
of the scholars is simple after understanding what has been mentioned before. Those scholars
who mentioned this issue as Qat’ī meant the second type of Qat’ī and those who mentioned it as
Zannī meant the highest type of Zannī which is the same as the second type of Qat’ī. From this
we understand that those who mentioned there is no Ijma’ on this issue, simply meant that there
is no Qat’ī Ijma’, (in the meaning of the first type of Qat’ī) on this issue.

Verily this issue is not from amongst the Usūl of our religion. However, if one says, because this
issue is not from the Usūl of our religion and not Qat’ī, therefore, we are free to choose whether
to accept it or not, the Imām says,

Tell them to leave all the necessary (Wājib) aspects of the religion and then observe what
kind of a wrath the Sharī’ā’ brings upon them. When it has become known and clearly
proven by the statements of our predecessors, it is necessary for one to accept it.

Verily when scholars apparently differ we must reconcile and accept those that are the pillars of
our religion, especially those who mentioned this issue as being Qat’ī. Imām Ahmad Ridā
rađiyAllāhu ánhu writes,

Amongst them is he who has mentioned this issue most, the lion of Allah, whose blessed
face Allah has glorified. It is established through Tawātur that he would give superiority
to the Shaykhayn (Abū Bakr and Umar rađiyAllāhu ánhuma) above himself and the whole
of the Ummah. Further he removed all ambiguity from this issue in the narration of
Dārqutanī where he said, anyone who gives superiority for me above Abū Bakr or Umar
rađiyAllāhu ánhuma, verily I shall punish him the punishment of an accuser. Imām
Zahabī says the narration is Sahīh. Is it possible that Sayyidunā Alī rađiyAllāhu ánhu
would carry out such statement if it was not Qat’ī and had contradiction? Whereas it is he
who narrates from the Prophet (peace be upon him), wave punishments as much as
possible for the Muslims. Amongst them is also Sayyidunā Maymūn Ibn Mahrān who is
amongst the Fuqahā of the Tābi’een. He was asked if Abū Bakr and Umar were more
superior or Alī. His hair rose in fear and his veins began to expand up to the extent that
his knife fell from his hand and he said, I had never thought that I’d live to see the day
when people begin to give superiority for another above Abū Bakr and Umar. From
amongst them is Imām Mālik Ibn Anas when he was asked who is most superior after
the Messenger of Allah şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam, he replied, Abū Bakr and Umar, then
he said, is there any doubt in that? Also, amongst them is the great Imām Abū Hanīfa.
He was asked about the signs of the Ahl al-Sunnah. He replied that the sign of the Ahl
al-Sunnah is that one believes Abū Bakr and Umar as most superior after the Messenger
of Allah şallAllāhu álayhi wa sallam.( How can it be a sign if one who believed otherwise
would also remain amongst the Ahl al-Sunnah?). Also, amongst them is the great Imām
 Muhammad Ibn Idrīs al-Shâfi’î who recorded the Ijma’ of the Sahāba and the Tābi’een on
this issue. Among them is also the Imām of Ahl al-Sunnah Wa al-Jama’ah Imam Abu al-
Hasan al-Ash’arī, Imām Hujjah al-Islam al-Ghazalī, Imām Ibn Hajar al-Asqalanī, Imām
Ahmad al-Qastalānī, Imām Abd al-Bāqī al-Zarqāni and Imām Mulla Alī al-Qāri and many
others rađiyAllāhu ánhum. Al-Sayyid al-Shareef Abu al-Husayn al-Nūrī narrated from his
Sheikh and Murshid Aale Rasūl Ahmadī, he said that I heard from Shah Abd al-Azīz al-
Dehlwī, he used to say that the superiority of the Shaykhayn (Abū Bakr and Umar) is Qat’ī
or similar to Qat’ī.

Finally, Imām Ahmad Ridā rađiyAllāhu ánhu finishes by saying,

The superiority of the Shaykhayn is Qat’ī in its second meaning and it is similar to Qat’ī in
its first meaning. Now it has become clear that if one says regarding those who say there
is an Ijma’ on this issue, that even they are established on Zann then he is correct as long
as he means Zann Bi Al-Ma’na Al-A’am or Qat’i Bi Al-Ma’na Al-Akhas and this will not
cause any loss to us neither will it benefit the rejecter. If he meant vice versa then he is
wrong and he has no strength to prove his point for the many and many evidences that
have been established against him.

The above are not but extracts from the Khatamah (Conclusion) from one of Imām Ahmad
Ridā’s rađiyAllāhu ánhu pamphlets on this issue. If one wishes then he shall seek refuge towards
them for surely they are full of enlightened evidence from the Qur’ān, Hadīth and the statements
of our predecessors and what I have mentioned above is not but a drop from its ocean and
surely Allāh knows best.

Zahid Hussain al-Qadrī

(Beggar at the doorstep of scholars)