Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) envied Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for this honour which Allah Ta‘ala had granted him. Once, during the khilaafah of Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) began discussing the personality of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in the presence of Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was so overwhelmed with emotion that he wept profusely saying, “How I wish that my entire life’s endeavor and sacrifice were exchanged for just one day and night of the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). The night of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) for which I am prepared to bargain my entire life is the night he travelled with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to the cave of Thowr during the journey of hijrah.”

The day which Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) referred to was the occasion after the demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) when various tribes turned renegade, some tribes did not wish to discharge the obligation of zakaat any longer and there was fear of the Roman army attacking the Muslims. On that day all the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) were in turmoil and did not know what to do. They were sceptical about waging war against the Roman army as well as addressing these challenges. It was Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who stood as firm as a mountain and led the ummah, until the Roman army was defeated and the various tribes returned to the fold of Islam. Indeed, it was Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who saved Islam on that day.

In one narration, it is reported that Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “That night of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) (which he spent with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in the cave of Thowr during the hijrah) is greater than Umar and the entire family of Umar.”

(Al-Bidaayah-wan-Nihaayah 3/192)