I would appreciate if you could provide the narration and reference where Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advised Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to ask for ‘aafiyah (protection and safety):
O Siddiq, keep asking for well-being and forgiveness
Answer
Sayyiduna Abu bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once stood up on the mimbar (pulpit) and cried. He then said that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also stood on the mimbar the first year after hijrah , cried and said:
Ask Allah for forgiveness and protection (‘afiyah), for verily after Iman, none is given anything better than ‘afiyah.
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3558)
Imam Tirmidhi has declared the above hadith as sound (hasan).
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar