How can Abu Bakr and Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both—be elderly in Paradise, when all the people of Paradise will be youthful, and it has been reported that they will be the masters of the elderly of the people of Paradise?
Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad narrated from Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Abu Bakr and Umar are the masters of the elderly people of Paradise from the first and the last, except for the prophets and messengers. Do not inform them, O Ali."
Scholars differed on the meaning of this , offering several interpretations:
First: That this refers to their state in this world at the time of the hadith, otherwise there are no elderly in Paradise. Second: That they are the masters of those Muslims who died as elderly and entered Paradise. Third: That what is meant by "kahil" (elderly/mature) here is the forbearing, intelligent person, meaning that Allah will admit them to Paradise as forbearing and intelligent.
Al-Munawi said in Fayd al-Qadir that the intended meaning is those who were elderly at the time of death. However, the more correct view is that "kahil" here refers to the forbearing, leading, intelligent, and reliable person. It is said: "So-and-so is the kahil of the people of such-and-such," meaning their pillar and master.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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