When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked him what he had kept for his family, he replied, “I have kept for them the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala and His Rasul (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)!”

A detailed account of this incident has been given in my book, “The Stories of the Sahaabah, together with many other stories of the same subject. Those stories will reveal to the reader that the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) could not be matched in their self-sacrifice, sympathy towards others and generosity in spending for the cause of Allah Ta‘ala.

If we were to possess these virtues, to some extent, which the Sahabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) possessed, then people would become most impressed by us! However, with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), such incidents were a matter of daily occurrence.

As for Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in particular, then what could be clearer and more evident in showing his generosity than the fact that Allah Ta‘ala has praised him in the Qur’aan Majeed? Allah Ta‘ala says: And the most god-fearing will be kept away from it (the flaming fire of Jahannum), the one who gives his wealth (in charity for the cause of Allah) so that he may attain purity. There is no favour that he needs to repay anyone (for which he is spending that wealth,) but he spends solely to acquire the pleasure of his Lord, the Most-High. (Surah Layl: 17-20)

(These verses show the very high standard of selfless devotion to Allah Ta‘ala attained by Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). The reason is that it is quite commendable to do good to someone in return for a favour he has done, but it cannot compare in virtue to doing a favour to someone who has not done any favour to one, and one does not owe him anything.)

Allaamah ibnul Jowzi (rahimahullah) has mentioned that there is consensus among the Ulama that these verses were revealed in regard to Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “No person’s wealth benefited me more than the wealth of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).”

Hearing this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wept and said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Do I and my wealth belong to anyone besides you?”

This statement of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has been reported by many different Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). In the narration of Hazrat Sa’eed bin Musayyib (rahimahullah), the following addition is also mentioned, “Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would deal in the wealth of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) as though it was his own wealth.”

Fazaa’il-e-Sadaqaat