Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) was the first person to embrace Islam. When he was appointed as a Khalifa, many people among the needy and the helpless, started weeping. When they were asked the reason, they replied that Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) used to visit their homes and serve them. He used to cook and clean their houses, too. The beneficiaries thought that now they would not be able to benefit from his services as he had become Khalifa, their leader. But he announced that he would continue those noble services even after being declared as a khalifa. He always stood up first to help, whenever there was a need.

Once Umar ibn Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) spotted Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) going somewhere at night. He narrated:

I grew suspicious and followed him. He entered into a hut. I thought he might have married a second wife. Then he came out and went to another small house. I thought he might have married a third wife, too. Then he came out and entered another house and it went on like this for several times. I waited patiently till it was morning. I took note of all the houses that he had visited. In the first house, I saw a blind old lady . I greeted her and inquired about her visitor. She replied, “ I don’t know who he is, but he sweeps my house, washes my utensils and milks my goat. This has been a regular routine for a long time”.

Umar bin Al khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) then visited the other house. There, he saw a physically challenged person, who gave a similar statement about Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him). Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) cried and rebuked  himself for spying on Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him).

Abu Bakr was the best follower of our Prophet ﷺ . The first testimony of Muhammad’s ﷺ  noble Akhlaq (character) was provided was by his own wife, Khadijah:

“By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Sahih Bukhari: 3

His Companions carried on his legacy.