It is narrated from Hazrat Salim that I asked Ibn al-Hanafiyyah: "Was Hazrat Abu Bakr the first among the people to accept Islam?" He replied: "No!" I asked: "Then on what basis did Hazrat Abu Bakr attain such a high status and surpass all others, to the extent that no one except Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq is even mentioned?" He replied: "When Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq accepted Islam, he was the most virtuous among those who accepted Islam, until he met his Lord."