Is there any virtue for Abu Bakr in the Incident of the Cave?

Tags: Ahle Sunnah, Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.), Sahaabah, Salafi,
Sunnah
Many so-called Muslims claim the superiority of Abu Bakr as he was the companion of the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) inside the cave on the night of migration. Among other points, they
conclude that this makes him an automatic choice as the caliph of the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.)!! (Take lesson, O people of wisdom!)
Reply
Accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is not a virtue unless it is on a divine command. Without
a divine command, it is like any other action and no special position or virtue can be claimed
for it. Particularly, for accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the cave, which as we shall see
was a source of ignominy and humiliation for Abu Bakr.
Argument of the skeptics
Let us first examine the argument advanced by the skeptics favoring Abu Bakr.
As proof they advance the 40th verse of Surah Taubah (9):
If you do not help him, Allah certainly will help him when those who disbelieved
expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave, when he
said to his companion: Grieve not, surely Allah is with us. So Allah sent down His
tranquility upon him and strengthened him with hosts which you did not see, and made
lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of Allah, that is the highest; and
Allah is Mighty, Wise.
These Muslims derive the following points from the verse:
1. Allah, the Merciful in the Quran has mentioned His messenger (s.a.w.a.) and also
mentioned Abu Bakr as the second of the two.
2. Allah in this verse has mentioned both (Messenger and Abu Bakr) together which
underlines their special relation
3. In the aforementioned verse, Allah mentioned Abu Bakr as the Prophets (s.a.w.a.)
companion which tells us Abu Bakrs status.
4. Allah has informed Abu Bakr through the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) which is stated as dont
grieve

5. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed Abu Bakr that Allah is with us and friend to both of
us
6. In this verse Allah has informed about the descent of His tranquility upon Abu Bakr,
because the Messenger (s.a.w.a.) has always been in tranquility, hence descent of
tranquility on Messenger (s.a.w.a.) has no meaning.
We will now advance a point by point rebuttal on each of these points. This will prove that
accompanying the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in the cave was not a virtue for Abu Bakr; rather, it
stripped him of all virtues and proved to be a source of disgrace for him.
Reply:
1. There is no merit in Abu Bakr being the second person, since this can mean that he is
either a believer or a disbeliever or a hypocrite and establishing his belief through this
is incorrect and baseless. So, togetherness and being the second one cant be used as
proof of superiority and eligibility for caliphate.
2. Mention of both the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Abu Bakr together in the same place
doesnt prove any merit for Abu Bakr because as stated in the first point being
together at the same place is not the proof of superiority. It is possible for a believer
and a disbeliever to assemble in the same place as the Holy Quran testifies:
But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you, on
the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties? (Surah Maaarij (70): Verses 36-37)
Even the Ark of Hazrat Nuh (a.s.) carried the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), Shaitaan and the quadrupeds
(four-footed animals), does this mean that Shaitaan and the quadrupeds turn into virtuous
companions of the Prophet Nuh (a.s.) by spending time with the Prophet inside the Ark for a
few hours?
Likewise Iblis worshipped Allah while standing in the ranks of angels.
Prophet Moosas (a.s.) companions were chastised for 40 years in the wilderness in his
company. Do they become virtuous by spending 40 years with Hazrat Moosa (a.s.)? And if
indeed they were virtuous, why the chastisement?
Wives of Hazrat Lut (a.s.) and Hazrat Nuh (a.s.) stayed in the same house as the Prophets
(a.s.) and still could not save themselves from the hellfire (Surah Tahreem (66): Verse 10)
Being in the same place does not become an automatic source of virtue. Hence, these socalled Muslims cannot claim any superiority for Abu Bakr in this regard.
Now if it is about being a companion, even then there is no superiority because the meaning
of the word is companion and nothing else. It is possible that a believer and disbeliever
travel together which is mentioned in the Holy Quran: