Allah Almighty has stated:

وَ سَیُجَنَّبُهَا الْاَتْقَىۙ(۱۷) الَّذِیْ یُؤْتِیْ مَالَهٗ یَتَزَكّٰىۚ(۱۸) وَ مَا لِاَحَدٍ عِنْدَهٗ مِنْ نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزٰۤىۙ(۱۹) اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْاَعْلٰىۚ(۲۰) وَ لَسَوْفَ یَرْضٰى۠(۲۱)

And very soon he will be kept far away from it (i.e. Hell) the one who is most pious. Who gives his wealth in order to become pure. And no one has done a (worldly) favour to him, for which recompense may be given in return. He desires only the contentment of his Lord Who is the Most High. And indeed, soon he will be very pleased.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Layl, verses 17-21)

Cause of revelation

When Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُpurchased for a high price and set him free Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, the disbelievers were amazed as to why he did such a thing. They said: ‘Why did Abu Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُdo this? Maybe Bilal has a favour over him, that is why he purchased him for such an expensive price and freed him.’ Then this verse was revealed, and explained how the action of Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwas solely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty, not as a return for any favour and nor did Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُetc. have a favour upon him.^[1]

Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُbought other slaves besides Sayyiduna Bilal رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُand freed them because of their Islam, i.e. their belief, such as Sayyiduna Aamir Bin Fuhayrah, Sayyidatuna Umm ‘Umays and Sayyidatuna Zahrah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْھُم.

Consensus of the Exegetes

Imam Ali Bin Muhammad Khaazin رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهstates: According to all the commentators of the Quran, the most righteous of all, who is mentioned in this verse is in reference to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. (This verse was revealed to illustrate the rank of Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ).^[2]

The radiant excellences of the greatest of creation after the Prophets, Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, are shining brightly in these blessed verses. Some illumination emanating from these excellences are as follows:

First virtue

In this world, Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwill not commit any sin. This is because there have been many God-conscious people who have lived and never once committed a sin. In other words, the higher degree of those who fear Allah Almighty, consists of people who have never committed a sin. So how can it be possible for the one who fears Allah Almighty the most, to commit transgressions? Those who have studied the life of Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُknow this virtue is clearly apparent in him, that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُnever commited any sin. Rather, he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُis only seen excelling and maintaining predominance in performing good deeds.

Second virtue

Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwill be kept far away from Hell, just as it is mentioned in the verse: وَ سَیُجَنَّبُهَا Translation: ‘very soon he will be kept far away from it (i.e. Hell)’. Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُis from amongst those unique personalities, about whom it has been stated that they shall not even hear the slightest sound of Hellfire, as mentioned in the Holy Quran:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ سَبَقَتْ لَهُمْ مِّنَّا الْحُسْنٰۤىۙ-اُولٰٓىٕكَ عَنْهَا مُبْعَدُوْنَۙ(۱۰۱) لَا یَسْمَعُوْنَ حَسِیْسَهَاۚ-وَ هُمْ فِیْ مَا اشْتَهَتْ اَنْفُسُهُمْ خٰلِدُوْنَۚ(۱۰۲) لَا یَحْزُنُهُمُ الْفَزَعُ الْاَكْبَرُ وَ تَتَلَقّٰىهُمُ الْمَلٰٓىٕكَةُؕ-هٰذَا یَوْمُكُمُ الَّذِیْ كُنْتُمْ تُوْعَدُوْنَ(۱۰۳)

Indeed, those to whom Our promise of goodness (i.e. Paradise) has been made, they have been kept far away from Hell. And they will not hear its faintest sound, and they will forever abide in (bounties) which their hearts desire. The greatest fear will not aggrieve them, and the angels will welcome them; (saying) that 'This is that Day of yours which you were promised.'

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 17, Surah Al-Anbiya, verses 101-103)

Third virtue

Being kept distant from Hell, is itself a glad tiding that one is a person of Paradise because for some of those who have equal good and bad deeds, there is the station of A’raf, which is between Paradise and Hell. But, for the devout who have been told that they are safe from Hell, the destination for them is Paradise. It is stated in the Holy Quran:

فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَ اُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَؕ-

So, the one who is saved from the Fire and is admitted into Paradise, he is successful.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Aale ‘Imraan, verse 185)

Specifically, Taqwa is to protect oneself from your greatest desires, and the one who is successful in this, they have received explicit glad tidings of Paradise. Thus, it is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

وَ اَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ وَ نَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوٰىۙ(۴۰) فَاِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِیَ الْمَاْوٰىؕ(۴۱)

And as for the one who feared standing in the Majestic Court of his Lord and restricted his soul from (illicit) desire. So indeed, only Paradise is (his) abode.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Nazi’aat, verses 40, 41)

In fact, Jannah has been prepared for the pious, as is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

وَ سَارِعُوْۤا اِلٰى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَ جَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمٰوٰتُ وَ الْاَرْضُۙ-اُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِیْنَۙ(۱۳۳)

And run towards the forgiveness of your Lord, and towards such a Paradise in whose width all the heavens and the earth can be contained; (especially) kept ready for the pious.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 4, Surah Aale ‘Imraan, verse 133)

Fourth virtue

The most God fearing and righteous from the nation of the Master of the Messengers صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, is Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. There is consensus that the word ‘الْاَ تْقَی’refers to him.

Fifth virtue

From this verse, we can deduce that he رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُis the greatest and most superior in the Ummah. This is because Allah Himself has declared him the most God fearing. It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَتْقٰىكُمْؕ-

Indeed, the most honourable amongst you, according to Allah, is the one who is most pious amongst you.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 26, Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 13)

The place of taqwa is the heart, just as the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمhas stated:

‘وَالْاِيمَانُ فِی الْقَلْبِ، ثُمَّ يُشِيرُ بِيَدِہٖ اِلَى صَدْرِ ہٖ وَيَقُولُ: ‌اَلتَّقْوَى ھَاھُنَا، ‌اَلتَّقْوَى ھَاھُنَا’

Translation: Taqwa is a hidden thing linked to the heart. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّمthen gestured towards his chest and said twice: Taqwa is here.^[1]

When the place of taqwa is the heart, listen to the beautiful state of the heart of Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. Imam Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهby way of a Hadith Marfoo’, and Hakeem Tirmizi relates the saying of Abu Bakr Bin Abdullah al-Muzani:

ما فضلكم ابو بكر ‌بكثرة ‌صيام ولا صلاة ولكن بسر وقر فی صدره

Abu Bakr has not excelled beyond you people because of an abundance of prayer and fasting. Rather, he has excelled because of the thing that is instilled in his heart (meaning strength of faith, recognition of Allah, consciousness and fear of Him).^[2] There is consensus of the Ahl al-Sunnah that the most superior of all the honourable Companions, is Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. Hence, it is written in Aqaaid Nasafiya:

افضل البشر بعد نبينا ابو بكر الصديق ثم عمر الفاروق ثم عثمان ذوالنورين ثم علي رضي الـلّٰـه عنهم وخلافتهم على هذا الترتيب ايضا

After the Prophets, the most superior is Abu Bakr, then Umar al-Farooq then Uthman Zun-Noorayn, and then Ali al-Murtada رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم. Their Khilafat was also in this particular order.^[3]

Sixth virtue

The charity and goodness of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُis accepted, of the highest nature and given with the utmost sincerity. Allah Almighty stated regarding the wealth Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar spent in His way, that his objective was not showing off or ostentation, rather یَتَزَکّٰی‘’meaning ‘so that he may attain purity’. Allah Almighty does not let the actions of those with virtuous intentions go to waste. Thus, He states:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا یُضِیْعُ اَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِیْنَۙ(۱۲۰)

Indeed, Allah does not waste the reward of the virtuous.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 11, Surah Al-Taubah, verse 120)

Then, upon the spending of Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, glad tidings were given that Allah Almighty is pleased by it. He states:

وَ لَسَوْفَ یَرْضٰى۠(۲۱)

And indeed, soon he will be very pleased.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Layl, verse 21)

Thus, Allah Himself has testified to the sincerity of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. He states:

اِلَّا ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْاَعْلٰىۚ(۲۰)

He desires only the contentment of his Lord Who is the Most High.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Layl, verse 20)

The wonderful resemblance of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwith the Generous Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم!

While giving the glad tiding of pleasing Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُin particular, Allah Almighty said: ‘وَلَسَوْفَ یَرْضٰی’ And indeed, soon he will be very pleased.

In other words, indeed soon Abu Bakr رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُwill be pleased by that blessing and generosity that Allah will grant him in Paradise. (Khaazin, vol. 4, p. 385) In this glad tiding, there is a beautiful comparison that Allah Almighty said to His Beloved صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

وَ لَسَوْفَ یُعْطِیْكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضٰىؕ(۵)

And indeed, it is close that your Lord will give you so much that you will be pleased.

[Kanz-ul-Iman (translation of Quran)] (Part 30, Surah Al-Duha, verse 5)

and for Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, He stated: ‘وَلَسَوْفَ یَرْضٰی’ And indeed, soon he will be very pleased. The style of speech in both instances is alike. سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه

Reference: https://www.dawateislami.net/magazine/en/commentary-of-quran/abubakar-siddiq