I've heard a speaker say that Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه is superior and that is in a specific sense. I disagree. My understanding of afdaliyyah: 1. Closeness to Allah ta'ala 2. Expanse of reward Sayyiduna Abu Bakr isn't superior in a specific aspect only. Afdaliyyah means he is superior overall. There are other sahabah who hold superiority over him in specific aspects, e.g. Sayyidah Fatimah رضي اللہ عنھا in lineage; but overall superiority is only for Abu Bakr Siddiq. It is others who are superior in a specific sense, not Abu Bakr Siddiq. When it is asked absolutely, without specifying any aspect: who is the greatest? It is only Abu Bakr Siddiq. Specific sense implies partial superiority, so the wording has to be avoided.
