Abu Bakr did not outstrip you by virtue of much fasting or prayer, but rather because of something that had taken root in his heart.

—Bakr ibn ‘Abdullah al-Munazi

(Hakim al-Tirmidhi, al-Nawaadir)

What was in the heart of Abu Bakr was the love of Allah and sincerity to His servants.

—salaf

(Read on pg 46-47, Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, The Journey to Allah. Daar us-Sunnah Publishers. Birmingham: 2007.)