Saying this, she departed, but her words left a deep impression upon my heart. From that moment, I began to ponder and reflect over what she had said.

Since I had a good relationship with Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), I went and sat with him. Noticing that I was in deep thought, he asked, “What are you pondering over?” I replied by giving him a verbatim account of what my aunt had said.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed, “O ‘Uthmaan! By the grace of Allah, you are an intelligent and foresighted man. You are able to discern and distinguish between truth and falsehood. A person like you is not confused between truth and falsehood. What are these idols that our people worship? Are these idols not blind and deaf, unable to hear and see, and unable to cause harm and benefit to anyone?” I replied, “By Allah! They are definitely as you describe!” Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “By Allah! Your aunt spoke the truth! Muhammed bin ‘Abdullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the messenger of Allah. Allah Ta‘ala sent him with His message to the entire creation. If you feel it appropriate, you may sit in his blessed presence and listen to his message.”

(to be continued insha Allah)

(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/166)