Status in the Eyes of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)
The incident regarding the disagreement over who should be the Khilafa between the Ansar and the Muhajireen, which took place immediately after the Holy Prophet’s (sa) demise has been mentioned in Sahih Bukhari. I have previously quoted this whilst narrating the accounts of another companion; however, it is also important to narrate this with reference to Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra).
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Ansar gathered at the house of Hazrat Sa‘d (ra) bin Ubadah and suggested that one leader should be appointed from among the Ansar and another leader from among the Muhajireen. Subsequently, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) bin Jarrah went to see them. Hazrat Umar (ra) was just about to say something; however, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stopped him. Hazrat Umar (ra) states, “The only reason I wished to say something at the time was because I had already prepared a speech which I was very happy with and feared that perhaps Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) would not be able to say something as impactful. However, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) delivered his speech in such an excellent and eloquent manner which was far better than any other speech.”
In his speech, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) stated, “We, the Muhajireen, are the Amirs [leaders] and you, the Ansar, are the viziers.”
Upon this, Hazrat Habab bin Munzir (ra) stated, “Certainly not! By God, we will never allow for this to happen. There shall be one leader from among you and one from among us.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, “No, we are the Amirs and you are the viziers, for the Quraish, according to their lineage and status, have always occupied a higher status amongst the Arabs and it has been this way since ancient times.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then proposed the names of Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) bin Jarrah and said that they could choose any one of them as their Khalifa and take his Bai‘at. Hazrat Umar (ra) responded, “No, we will only take your Bai‘at (i.e. referring to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)) because you are our leader. You are the best among us and the most beloved of the Holy Prophet (sa) out of us all.” After saying this, Hazrat Umar (ra) held the hand of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and performed the Bai‘at. Thereafter, everyone else also followed and performed the Bai‘at at the hands of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab al-Nabi, Bab Qaul al-Nabi, Bab Law Kunta Muttakhidhan Khalilan, Hadith 3668)
In any case, this was the status of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (ra) in the eyes of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) whereby he proposed his name for Khilafat. Similarly, it was mentioned earlier that Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, “If Abu Ubaidah (ra) was alive, I would have appointed him as the next Khalifa, because according to the saying of the Holy Prophet (sa), he was the custodian [ameen] of this Ummah.”