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The closeness of Abu Bakr to the Prophet

Question

I am a Shia and have this doubt about Ahlul-Sunnah, and no Sunni Mufti is agreeing to answer a few questions I have, such as: amongst the companions Abu Bakr is viewed as the most superior on account of his closeness to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. If this is indeed the case then why did the Prophet not select him to be his brother when he divided the companions in to pairs on the Day of Brotherhood? Rather, the Prophet chose Ali, may Allaah be pleased with him, saying "You are my brother in this world and the next", so on what basis is Abu Bakr closer?
See the History of the Caliphs who took the right way, by Jalaladeen Suyuti, English translation by Abdassamad Clarke p177, (Taha publishers).

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The excellence of Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him over all other Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them is something on which the Muhaajiroon (Emigrants) and the Ansaar (Helpers) agreed in a consensus. Ibn 'Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated, “During the reign of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, we did not equate anyone to Abu Bakr, then to 'Umar then to 'Uthmaan  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them and then we did not distinguish between the remaining Companions [we considered the rest as equal in rank]." [Al-Bukhari]

Moreover, Al-Bayhaqi may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him reported that Ash-Shaafi'i may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said, “None of the Companions or their righteous followers differed with regard to the preference of Abu Bakr and 'Umar over all other Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them; nonetheless some of them differed in relation to 'Ali and 'Uthmaan as to who was better than the other.

Indeed there are many texts and evidences that prove the excellence and preference of Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him over all other Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them in excellence and as a caliph; we are going to mention some of them.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If I were to take an intimate friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as one, but he is my brother and my companion.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] It is also confirmed that 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “Who is the dearest person to you?'' He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: "‘Aa'ishah." ‘Amr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him asked, "And among men?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Her father.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Furthermore, 'Aa'ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her narrated, “When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was ill during his death sickness, when it was time for the prayer and the call to the prayer was made, He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Order Abu Bakr to lead the Muslims in prayers.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As for the narration that you mentioned in the question, it is reported by At-Tirmithi may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him: “You are my brother in this world and in the Hereafter.” Some scholars may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  them classified the narrators of this narration to be weak. Even if we presume that this narration is authentic, the most that could be said about it is that it proves the excellence of 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him; this is a matter that no one doubts. Indeed, there are many texts about his excellence and virtues.

However, there is nothing in the above narration, that suggests that ‘Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him is better than Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him and this is not a defect or imperfection in Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him. If this were the case, it would be said, why didn't 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him accompany the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, migrated to Madeenah, and why did the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, not say, “I would have taken 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him as a close friend Instead of Abu Bakr”, and so forth.

Therefore, the excellence and preference of Abu Bakr and 'Umar, over other Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them is evident, and Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him is the best of all other Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them without exception. This is indeed what 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him himself believed in and said. 'Abdullaah ibn Salamah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him narrated, “I heard 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him saying, ‘The best of the people after the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him and the best of the people after Abu Bakr is 'Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them." [Ibn Maajah]

Allaah Knows best.

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