Abu Bakr

I know about the other sahaba and why they say La but I’m not sure why Shia say Abu Bakr LA. What did he do wrong? I’m just learning. I’m a revert.

Abu Bakr wasn't poor like Abu Dharr or Abu Hurayrah, but he was better than them. He wasn't perpetually tortured like Khabab and Bilal, or Sumayyah and Yasir, but he was better than them. He wasn't severely injured in battle like Talha or Abu Ubaydah or Khalid, but he was better than them. He wasn't martyred like Hamza or Umar or Uthman or Ali, but he was better than them!

So what was the secret that made Abu Bakr better than everyone?

Bakr ibn Abdullah Al-Muzani said, "Abu Bakr didn't precede them due to offering a lot of prayer and fasting, but because of something that settled in his heart."

It's the actions of the heart you see. That's what made his faith outweigh the faith of the entire ummah.

We learn that faith (iman) is actions of the heart combined with statement of the tongue and actions of the limbs, but we ignored the actions of the heart even though that is its essence and core.

Every act of worship has an essence and a physical manifestation.

So the manifestation of the prayer is the standing and bowing and prostration, but its essence is the khushu' (the humility, awe, reverence, concentration) of Allah.

The manifestation of fasting is to withhold from everything that breaks the fast from sunrise to sunset but it's essence is taqwa (consciousness) of Allah.

The manifestation of hajj is the tawaf and sa'ee and standing on Arafat and..and..and..but it's essence is honoring the symbols of Allah.

The manifestation of du'a is the raising of hands and praise and request but it's essence is the brokenness and need of Allah.

The manifestation of Dhikr is saying Allahu Akbar and AlHamdulillah, and La illaha ila Allah etc, but it's essence is the remembrance, reverence and love of Allah.

For on the day of Judgment it is the hearts that will be exposed, and only those who come with a serene heart, and a heart that is repentant who will be saved on that day.

Let us then remember to monitor our hearts as severely as we monitor our actions and remember that in this world we traverse distances with our feet, but in the hereafter distances are only traversed by our hearts.

Shaykh Alaa

I ask this because reading Wikipedia, it seems that all these events (the announcement of Ali's succession, the swearing of allegiance by followers to Ali, the proclaiming of Abu Bakr despite this and the events at Ali and Fatima's house) look like they are accepted by all Muslim traditions as having happened in some form.

How did Islamic tradition reconcile its reverence for both Ali and Abu Bakr?

[Rephrased this question according to helpful mod suggestions in order to be more neutral and respect the rules. I'm just trying to understand something that isn't making sense from what I've read about these events on (what I think are) neutral sources. I come from ignorance, not bias towards any interpretation.]

Edit: I have been getting short answers that make me think that I may have misunderstood the swearing of allegiance to Ali in the "event of Ghadir Khumm" as general acceptance that "Muhammad chose Ali as his successor"; I now see that this isn't necessarily right, and while some traditions interpret it that way, others see it differently. I would still love to read an answer that touches on the different interpretations of this event, but I ask that you ignore the assumption(s) I made in the title. Again, I come from ignorance, not bias.

I am currently doing Religious Studies of Islam and obviously it is Sunni-Biased. Saying that Abu Bakr was a best friend of the Prophet (PBUH)

I am asking here because I want a Shia (Follower of the Prophet Muhammad’s family) POV.

Thanks

So, lately I've been contemplating about Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr, the son of first Caliph and one of the closest companion of Imam Ali(As).

Just like any other companion of Imam Ali, Mohammad had to face severe hardships for being a Shia of Ali. After the passing of his father, He had the luxury to be raised by Imam Ali(As) and Imam Raised him as his own son and Imam would call him his son in Nahjul Balagha. Growing up, he realised that the first three Caliphs wronged the Imam Ali, and he only became active during the reign of uthman and constantly opposed him. Some sources confirm that he was part of Uthman's seige of castle but Insists on that he really wasn't the one who killed uthman.

Moving on, During the reign of Imam Ali(A.S). He faced many challenges as the Shia of Imam Ali but I think the hardest thing, The second hand embarrassment, The utmost confusion he must've had to face is in Battle of Jamal. His own sister Ayesha bringing a war against his Father like Figure, who's character he had grown fond of. Of course, Mohammad Ibn Abu Bakr sided with Imam Ali in this battle but If I was in Muhammad's shoes, I would've died of Embarrassment. I would never be able to look Imam Ali in the eyes, I would be so confused as what to do. However, Imam Ali's Kindness and understanding is always overwhelming, Imam never let the doings of his father or his sister get in the way of Loving Muhammad R.A and continued to treat him as he always would. Subhanallah.

That's it, thank you guys for reading. If you would like to add something to this, Go ahead and I don't mean any Disrespect to Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr(R.A), I'm just expressing my thoughts on how Difficult it is to be a Shia of Ali and I tried to imagine myself in the place of Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr, One of the Closest Companion Of Imam Ali(A.S).

I have an interesting perspective to share.

Instead of referring to them as “Sunni”, we could consider using the term “Shiat Abu Bakr”. Allow me to explain my thoughts:

The term "Ahl al Sunnah", which they currently identify with, is not rightfully appointed.

Clear evidence shows that the authentic Ahl al Sunnah are the followers of Ahl al Bait, commonly known as “Shiat Ali (as)”.

After the death of the Prophet, Islam was divided into two factions: Shiat Ali (as) and Shiat Abu Bakr.

Both factions uphold the Shahada, but only one holds on to the authentic Sunnah (i.e. Shiat Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)).

Let us leave the judgment of who truly represents Ahl al Sunnah to God.

Until then, may He guide us all on the right path.