Abu Bakr As Siddiq

Abd Allah ibn Abi Quhafa (Arabic: عَبْد ٱللَّٰه بْن أَبِي قُحَافَة, romanized: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Quḥāfa; c. 573 – August 634), commonly known by his kunya Abu Bakr (Arabic: أَبُو بَكْر, romanized: Abū Bakr), was the first caliph, ruling from 632 until his death in 634. As a senior companion of Muhammad and, through his daughter Aisha, also his father-in-law, Abu Bakr is referred to with the honorific title al-Siddiq. 

Born to Abu Quhafa and Umm al-Khayr of the Banu Taym, Abu Bakr was amongst the earliest converts to Islam and propagated the faith via dawah, as a result of which many later companions converted. He was known to have freed slaves, including Bilal ibn Rabah. He suffered persecution by the Mushrikites and later accompanied Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him on his migration to Medina. As a member of Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him haras, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him participated in Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him expeditions against the Mushrikites. He was appointed amir al-hajj by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and served as the latter’s deputy. In the absence of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him led the prayers and expeditions.

Following Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him death in 632, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him succeeded the leadership of the Muslim community as the first caliph, being elected at Saqifa. His election was contested by a number of rebellious tribal leaders. During his reign, he overcame a number of uprisings, collectively known as the Ridda Wars, as a result of which he was able to consolidate and expand the rule of the Muslim state over the entire Arabian Peninsula. He also commanded the initial incursions into the neighbouring Sassanian and Byzantine empires, which in the years following his death, would eventually result in the Muslim conquests of Persia and the Levant. Apart from politics, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him is also credited for the compilation of the Quran, of which he had a personal caliphal codex. Prior to dying in August 634, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him nominated Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him (r. 634–644) as his successor. Along with Prophet Muhammad رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him is buried in the Green Dome at the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, the second holiest site in Islam. He died of illness after a reign of 2 years, 2 months and 14 days, the only Rashidun caliph to die of natural causes.

Though Abu Bakr’s reign was short, it included successful invasions of the two most powerful empires of the time, a remarkable achievement in its own right. He set in motion a historical trajectory that in a few decades would lead to one of the largest empires in history. His victory over the local rebel Arab forces is a significant part of Islamic history. In Sunni Islam, Abu Bakr is considered the first of the rightly-guided caliphs and the greatest after the prophets. Shia tradition considers Abu Bakr an usurper of the caliphate and an enemy of the ahl al-bayt.

Background

Abu Bakr was born in Makkah two years after the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). His parents belong to a clan called Banu Taim, a branch of the Quraish tribe. As a boy, he was brought up in an environment characterised by the excellence of chivalry, generosity, and manliness.

In pre-Islamic times, this clan was assigned a function that made it well established within the Makkan society.

Blood money in murder cases was referred to Abu Bakr’s father who in turn assigned the job to his son.

Before converting to Islam, Abu Bakr was well known for his excellent manners, wide knowledge and perfect wisdom. He was consulted on important matters and his decision was always final. He was even considered the greatest authority of his day on matters related to relations among clans and tribes.

After converting to Islam, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him named him Abdullah (Servant of God) instead of his previous name Abdul Ka’bah (servant of Ka’bah). He was popularly known among people as Abu Bakr followed by a quality that most Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him confirmed was given to him by Allah through the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. That quality was ‘As-Siddiq’ (the most truthful). He was also given another quality by the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him which was ‘Al-Ateeq’ (the liberated) from Hell-fire.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was successful merchant and was highly respected for his fair dealings. While a young man, he lived a chaste and sound life and kept away from all wasteful activities that his peers were indulging themselves in. He resisted all temptations of wine and women. All society knew about his high morals and fine treatment of slaves. He, moreover, could distinguish between right and wrong, especially when it relate to beliefs and customs.

Abu Bakr in Makkah

Conversion to Islam

Abu Bakr lived in the same neighborhood where the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him lived. In the beginning about twenty-five years of their lives, there were no contact between Abu Bakr and the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. However, it was clear that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Abu Bakr became close friends after a while. They were nearly of the same age, their natures were uniform, both of them abhorred the corrupt beliefs and practices of the Quraish and both of them kept themselves away from the evil habits of the day. Hence, Abu Bakr became the most trusted man and the confidant of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him.

The First Adult Muslim Male

After the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was ordered to preach the Oneness of Allah to people, the prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him invited Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to adopt the new faith. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him did not avoid him or ask him to give him time to think it over. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him said:

“Whenever I invited anyone to accept Islam, he argued with me and rejected my words at the outset except the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr). He accepted it immediately and stayed steadfast in it.”

(Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 30 pg. 44; Also see: Sirah Ibn Hisham with Ar-Rawdul Unf, vol. 1 pg. 431)

At the beginning of the call, Abu Bakr was on a trade journey in Yemen. On his return to Makkah, some chiefs of Quraish came to see him. They told him that Muhammad ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him had declared himself to be the Prophet. They were waiting for his return to help them find ways to stop the call. Instead of plotting with them against the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him hurried to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, asked him about the Divine Message and immediately accepted the Faith as soon as he met the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him did not have any doubts about the themes presented by the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. He directly believe the claims of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him of angel (Gabriel) bringing down revelation to him from Allah. He knew from the very beginning that worshipping idols had been an act of silliness. On the other hand, he recognised the truthfulness, honesty, nobility and piety of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. Hence, he, from the first instance, supported his message because it satisfied the demands of his reason and soul.

Migration to Al-Madinah

No doubt that the way the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him preached his message for thirteen years in Makkah had no parallel in history. His courage and determination in the face of bitter opposition will always be a source of inspiration to those who work in the cause of truth and justice. Be began, single handedly with no visible means of protection, to meet the attacks of the barbarous tribes of Arabia. It was a really difficult mission to change those people, who were notorious for their worship of idols and criminal acts, into clean and civilised human beings.

Side by Side with the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him

The assistance provided by Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him in helping the cause and protecting weak converts created a strong bond between him and the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. This bond was further confirmed by their departure together to Al-Madinah.

Change of Direction

As the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him felt desperate to change the society of Makkah, he decided to address those who came from afar to participate in fairs outside the city. On many occasions, the response was negative in the beginning. But soon the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him happened to see a group of visitors from Yathrib. They listened to his message on the very first occasion and in the course of a couple of years a number of them accepted the Islamic Faith.

Protection Attained

The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him caught this chance to provide his followers with a place of security. He already had held a pledge of protection with the chiefs of Yathrib. Hence, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him permitted his Companions to start migrating to Yathrib. He himself was preparing to leave the city to the new place where he could find peace to preach the message. His companions began migrating to Yathrib in batches and groups until most of them left the city under the cover of darkness leaving behind their houses and property.

First in Everything

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him himself expressed his wish on many occasions to leave Yathrib but the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was always asking him to wait for a while. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him said to him:

“Do not do so now. Maybe Allah will send a companion to be with you when you migrate.”

These words gave Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him a strong feeling that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him would be his companion in his journey to Al-Madinah. At the same time, he was afraid lest Quraish would come to know that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was planning to leave Makkah.

Four months had now passed since the first batches of Muslims had left Makkah and there only a few people who for one reason or another could not leave the city including the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr and Ali bin Abi Talib.

The Plot to Murder the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him

Quraish felt the danger of permitting Muslims to escape their control. Hence, they finally decided to put an end to the Prophet’s life. They agreed to have about forty young men from each tribe to stand by the house of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him one night and tear his body with their swords.

Orders to Migrate to Al-Madinah

The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, however, was informed by Allah about the plot and was instructed to migrate. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him in turn told his close friend, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, to be ready for the sacred voyage. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him had already bought two camels to use in his journey to Al-Madinah. He had fed the two camels well in preparation for the long journey.

Leaving the Homeland

Before dawn, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him ordered his cousin, Ali رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, to cover himself with his blanket and sleep in his bed. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him left, passing in front of the youth surrounding his house. He reached the house of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him who kept awake and ready to join the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. They both made for the cave of Thaur about five miles south of Makkah. Both the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him stayed in the cave while Makkans were searching everywhere to find them after they had discovered that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him had escaped them. Quraish horsemen came very close to the cave and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him felt his body shivering for fear of being seen by pursuers. However the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him whispered in his ear:

Do not Grieve, Allah is with us.”

The pursuers came very close to the mouth of the cave and would have caught the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his companion had they gone into that cave. Thanks to Allah, they left in dismay and the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion escaped definite death. They were very sure that Allah protected them.

Sacrifices for the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him feared for the Prophet’s life more than he feared for his own life. As soon both men arrived at the cave, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him asked the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him to stay outside. He went inside to check the cave. He knew that if the Quraish had got hold of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, it would have been the end of Islam.

In the Cave

Both men spent three days in the cave until the Quraish’s search cooled down. They were served every night with food by Abu Bakr’s daughter, Asma رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Allah be pleased with her, brought news of the search efforts by Abu Bakr’s son, Abdur Rahman رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him.

The Reward

Quraish were not able to catch the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion. Therefore, they fixed a reward of one hundred camels for whoever could catch the two migrants. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, a guide and a servant left the cave and headed to Al-Madinah on varying paths to confuse the pagans.

Attempts to Catch the Two Migrants

On the way to Al-Madinah, a bounty hunter named Suraqah bin Malik followed the migrants. Suraqah heard news of the reward set by Quraish for the heads of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him. The man got very near to them and was about to get hold of them. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him told the Prophet رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him that someone had been following their steps. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him calmly prayed to Allah to save them. No sooner did the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him finish his prayers than the horseman was thrown down from the back of his horse. He tried again to catch the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion, but once more his horse’s feet went deep in the sand and could not move a step forward. Once more, the horseman did his best to come near the group of travelers, but his horse fell down and he was thrown off its back. Now he knew that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion were out of his catch and that they were true in their Faith. He shouted to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion asking them to forgive him and promised them to go back and even mislead other reward seekers. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him prayed to Allah to forgive him.

Signs of Prophethood

As the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion felt safe, they sought some rest and food. They stopped at a tent known to Arabs on the way to Al-Madinah. There lived a woman named Umm Ma’bad with her sheep. She was selling milk and food to travelers. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him asked her to sell them some milk. She complained that she had no milk to sell. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him saw a very weak sheep beside the tent. He asked the woman permission to milk it. She did not object although she was sure the animal could not give any drop of milk. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him prayed to Allah, touched the sheep’s udder and began milking it. To the woman’s surprise, he milked a full pot. He took some sips of milk, gave the pot to Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and the other two men to drink. All of them got enough milk and left the rest for the woman.

The People of Al-Madinah Welcome the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him

News of the departure of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion from Makkah reached Al-Madinah. They were expected to arrive on a certain day. All the people were waiting at the outskirts of the town for their arrival. On the day of the arrival, men, women and children were waiting under the heat of the sun until it was high noon. They were about to leave back to their homes but a Jew called them from the top of a palm tree telling them to wait. He told them that the migrants for whom they were waiting appeared in the horizon. The inhabitants of Al-Madinah and early migrants felt happy for the safe arrival of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companion. They welcomed the group with cheers of joy and praises to Allah.

طَلَعَ الْبَدْرُ عَلَيْنَا   مِنْ ثَنِيَّاتِ الْوَدَاعْ
وَجَبَ الشُّكْرُ عَلَيْنَا    مَا دَعَا لِلّٰهِ دَاعْ
Tala ‘al badru ‘alaynaa, min thaniyyaatil wadaa’
Wajabash shukru ‘alaynaa, maa da’aa liLlaahi daa’
The full moon rose over us, from the Valley of Wada
(ancient place where people would bid farewell to travellers)
Gratitude is incumbent upon us, so long as the caller calls

أَيُّهَا الْمَبْعُوثُ فِينَا   جِئْتَ بِالْأَمْرِ الْمُطَاعْ
جِئْتَ شَرَّفْتَ الْمَدِينَةْ   مَرْحَباً يَا خَيْرَ دَاعْ
-Ayyuhal mab’oothu finaa, ji-ta bil-amril mutaa’
Ji-ta sharraftal Madinah, marHaban yaa khayra daa’
You who were sent amongst us, coming with a command to be obeyed
You have honoured the city, so welcome, best of callers!

Abu Bakr in Al-Madinah

Solidarity and Brotherhood

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him settled with the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and other migrants in Al-Madinah. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him soon organised Islamic brotherhood among Supporters and Migrants (Ansar and Muhajiroon). Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was made the brother-in-faith of Kharijah bin Zaid رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him of the tribe of Khazraj. He, like other migrants, started his life in Al-Madinah preparing for the establishment of the new Islamic State. He helped his brothers in Islam in building the mosque and even earned his living by working for wages on the farms of Al-Madinah.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him had already accepted the Prophet’s ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him proposal to marry his daughter, ‘Aishah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Allah be pleased with her, after the death of the Prophet’s wife Khadija رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Allah be pleased with her. As conditions in Makkah were not good to complete the marriage, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him waited until they were safe and secure in Al-Madinah. As soon as they arrived in AlMadinah, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him married ‘Aishah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Allah be pleased with her. This marriage added to the strong relation between the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him.

Building the Islamic State

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him always kept close to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him to help in matters of strengthening the new center of Islam and the influence of Muslim brotherhood.

Covenants with the Jews

During this period, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and other Muslims did their best to foster relations with the Jews. Jews were settling in the suburbs of Al-Madinah. The Prophet held with them a pact of mutual support. However, the Jews did not respect their covenants on several occasions. Threats from other tribes, especially from Quraish in Makkah, were increasing. Day after day, Muslims felt the need to strengthen their forces in order to stand fast against the forces of evil.

Challenges to the Message of Islam

Muslims settled in Al-Madinah under the protection of the Ansar. But Quraish forced and threatened the polytheists of Al-Madinah to provide help to them against Muslims. Upon this Allah allowed Muslims to fight the Quraish in self-defense. Muslims began patrolling outside AlMadinah for security purposes. They received the news of a Quraish caravan nearby. They went towards it to check it. Abu Sufyan, the loader of the caravan, got the news of Muslims coming towards them, fearing their attack, he changed his direction and managed to escape. He also sent a warning massage to Quraish that their trade caravan was in danger. But when felt safe, he sent another man to deliver good news to Quraish about the caravan. However, Abu Jahl, a leader of Quraish and a bitter enemy of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and Islam, insisted on putting an end to any future threat from Muslims. He convinced other chiefs to march to Al-Madinah to destroy Muslims and Islam.

Preparations for Combat

Quraish deployed a strong army and marched to AlMadinah. Muslims, on the other hand, did not have enough provisions for the coming battle. However, they were determined to stop the aggressors.

The Battle of Badr

The Defeated

The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, with the help of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and other Muslim leaders, gathered an army one-third the number of the Quraish army. Both armies met at a place called Badr. There the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was provided with a shelter and guarded by Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to manage the battle. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was standing behind the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him while he was praying to Allah to grant Muslims victory over the disbelievers. Many times did the Prophet’s cloak fall off his shoulders and Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him picked it up. He was close to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him when he was praying:

“O Allah! If this small band is defeated, no one on earth will worship you.”

As the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him received reassurance from above, he commanded Muslims to start action. Throughout the battle, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him remained by the side of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. He was again and again encouraging the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him by words like: “O Prophet of Allah! Why fear? Allah has promised you victory and support. He certainly will fulfil His Word.”

Witness to Allah’s Help

No sooner did the battle become fierce that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him told Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him that the help of Allah had come. He said to him: “Here is Gabriel riding a horse with its reins in hand and dust on its teeth.” The volunteers of Islam won the much needed and much deserved victory. They took seventy soldiers of the Quraish army as captives. Some of these captives were eminent and even closely related to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. These were the same people who had oppressed Muslims as much as they could and made their life in Makkah impossible. They expected that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him would take revenge on them. Therefore, they wanted to talk to Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him. Abu Bakr promised to help them. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him accepted the counsel of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and agreed to take ransom from some of the captives and release those who could not pay.

The New Challenges

The victory of Badr opened a new page in the history of Islam and Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him began planning future actions. The Jews and the surrounding tribes were not happy with this victory. Grudge and anger made them join hands against Muslims. In the face of such dangers, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was always consulting Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and other Companions from both migrants and supporters to create a sense of unity among all Muslims. The Jews did not hesitate to announce their jealousy and plans to defeat the cause of Muslims. They began harassing Muslims through plots to weaken them. One Jewish clan named Banu Qaynuqa’ went very far in harming Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him had no choice but to make them leave their land to keep their plots away from Muslims.

The Battle of Uhud

Quraish, did not give up the idea of taking revenge for their defeat at the Battle of Badr. They collected a well-equipped army and marched near to Mount Uhud in the vicinity of Al-Madinah. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and some other Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him played a major part in preventing Quraish from achieving any gain from the partial defeat of Muslims. He and his brothers in Islam stood fast and protected the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was second to none in fighting Quraish and protecting the life of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him in this battle.

Battle of the Trench

As Quraish were not satisfied with the results of the Uhud Battle, they plotted with the Jews and other tribes of Arabia called the ‘confederates’ to fight their last and deadly battle against Muslims. With an army numbering ten thousand soldiers, they marched to Al-Madinah to loot through the city and put an end to Islam and Muslims. The Jews, on the other hand, sent secret messages to Quraish that they would stand by their side against Muslims.

Muslims were not well prepared for this battle. They were well aware that if the Quraish army were allowed to occupy the town of Al-Madinah, they would destroy the whole message of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and other Companions discussed the best way to stop the attack. Finally, a Companion named Salman al-Farsi رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, originally from Persia, proposed to dig a trench around weak points of Al-Madinah to deter the attackers. The last attempt by the Quraish to kill Islam in its cradle was successfully foiled by this military trick which Quraish and Arabs had not known before.

The Hudaibiyah

Peace Agreement

After the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and other Companions wished to visit Makkah. Fourteen hundred Muslims, barely armed, marched to Makkah. They were stopped by Quraish at a place called Hudaibiyah close to Makkah. Finally a peace agreement was held between Muslims and Quraish stating that Muslims should go back that year and come back next year for three days only. The Prophet supported by Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, accepted the agreement. The next year, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was ordered by the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him to lead Muslims on their trip to make pilgrimage.

The Conquest of Makkah

Quraish did not keep its word according to the Hudaibiyah Peace Agreement. They attacked a tribe that held alliance with the Muslims and killed some of them. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Companions were now released from the obligations of the agreement. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, as promised by Allah, marched to Makkah at the head of an army of ten thousand soldiers. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him announced that the people of Makkah would be safe and secure if they did not challenge the advancing army. Anyone who kept inside his house or resorted to the Ka’bah would not be taken as a foe. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and Muslims conquered Makkah peacefully. There, the Prophet it declared clearly and loudly that all past enemies are free and none should harm them.

The Farewell Pilgrimage

Soon after conquering Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him decided to perform pilgrimage. One hundred thousand Muslims accompanied the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him to the blessed land to perform pilgrimage. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was beside the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him when he stood at Arafat announcing that the religion of Islam was now complete and perfect. Abu Bakr was so happy to hear these words from the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him However, at the same time, he felt very sad for he had known that the end of the Prophet’s life came close.

The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him Falls ill

A short period after performing pilgrimage, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him fell ill. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was very afraid to lose company with the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him During his illness, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him came into the mosque, ascended the pulpit and said: “Allah offered to His servant (the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him) the privilege of choosing this world or the Hereafter. The servant chose the Hereafter to be close to Allah.” Abu Bakr understood what the Prophet’s statement implied. He began weeping bitterly. He asked: “O Prophet of Allah! Our lives and children are sacrifices for you. How would we live after you?” During his address, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him ordered all doors leading to the mosque to be closed except the door of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him He added pointing to Abu Bakr : “I found no one better than Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him as a Companion. However my relation with Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him is that of a close friend, Islamic brotherhood until Allah resurrects us together.”

The Leader of Prayers

During the Prophet’s illness, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was leading the prayers. In the Fajr (dawn) prayer, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him came in the mosque supported by two of his Companions. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was leading that prayer. The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him were so happy to see the Prophet. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him gave way for the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him to lead the prayer. However, the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him ordered Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to continue leading the prayer, sat to Abu Bakr’s side and offered prayer. As the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him completed his prayer, he came back to his house where he felt very sick. After a while his blessed soul ascended to Heavens.

A A Wise and Balanced Muslim

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, unlike other Muslims who were shocked by the news, entered to where the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him was lying, kissed his face and said: “My father and mother be sacrificed for you. You are good in both states, alive and dead.”

Some Companions threatened anyone who would say that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him had died. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him came out stressing the fact that no one would live forever even the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, all the Companions understood the reality and accepted the fact. So, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him controlled the situation and brought the people out of confusion. He saved the Muslim community from total disruption.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him did not forget in this grave situation that Allah told the Prophet in the Qur’an:

“Verily you will die, and verily, they (too) will die.” (39:30)

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him Selected as Caliph

Immediately after the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him passed away, his prominent Companions met to choose a successor. At a place called Saqifa, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was distinguished to be the man rightly suitable for the position. After lengthy discussions, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him held the hand of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him and announced him as the Caliph (ruler). All people, both migrants and supporters supported electing Abu Bakr as a Caliph. On the next day, most people came to the mosque to pledge obedience to Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him.

The Sermon of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him ascended the pulpit and expressed his sorrow for the Prophet’s departure from this world. He added:

“O people! I swear by Allah that I never wanted to be a Caliph or wished to be so. It is a big task that you put on my shoulders. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him When I disobey Him and His Prophet, do not obey me.”

By these words, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him set the rules for his government. He gave the people the right to dismiss him from power if he committed anything contrary to the principles of Islam.

The Trouble Ahead

Some Arab tribes defied the state and thought of returning to paganism. Some of them announced that they were no longer obliged to be Muslims after the death of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him while others said that they were not ready to pay Zakat. Such movements were mainly at places in Arabia where Islam had not struck deep roots in the soil. Several impostors appeared claiming to have received revelation from Allah.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, the new Caliph, had to face all these challenges and restore order. He was advised by some Companions, especially ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, to be lenient. However, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was well aware of the dangers that were threatening Islam and the Muslim State. He was decisive to put an end to such rebels. He prepared several armies to fight apostates. Finally, he controlled all of the rebels and brought them back to Islam.

The most important challenge was Musailimah AlKadhab (the Liar), in Najd. He gathered a huge army to fight the Muslims and for a while he was resisting attempts to conquer his fortresses. However, he was finally conquered by an army led by Khalid ibn al-Walid.

So, the decisions of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to fight the apostates and restore order and peace were very wise. He would have been satisfied to keep Al-Madinah and hence go back to the days when Islam first established itself in that town.

An Expedition to be Completed

Days before the death of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him, an army was mobilised to go north to fight the Romans who were preparing to attack the Muslims. However, this expedition was suspended because of the death of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him always carried out the commands of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. Therefore, he ordered Usamah bin Zaid رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to lead the army as was originally commanded by the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. In spite of the fact that dangers were immense at home and although many Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him preferred to abandon the expedition, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was keen to carry out the orders of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. He told those who objected to the expedition:

“Who am I to stop the army that the Prophet had ordered to proceed. Even if I was snatched by animals, I will send this army.”

He gave his orders to the army to proceed and advised them to be true Muslims:

“Do not kill a child, an aged man or a woman. Do not cut trees or slay livestock except for your real needs. Do not bring harm to any monks. Now march forward in the Name of Allah.”

The expedition had placed fear in the hearts of Romans and apostates alike. They saw that, in spite of the death of the Prophet it, the Islamic State was still strong enough to send such a big army.

Conquests Under Abu Bakr’s Rule

As Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was finished with the apostates in Arabia and brought them back to Islam, he directed his intentions to deter the Romans and Persians who already began making problems for the Islamic State. Both powers were creating trouble on the Muslim borders. They had played a definitive role in making other tribes revolt against the new government.

Conquests of Iraq

Under the leadership of Khalid bin Al-Waleed, the famous Muslim commander, an army was mobilised to march to Iraq as a help to Muthana bin Harithah Al-Shaibani. Arabs in the southern part of Iraq were badly treated by Persian landlords. Muslims came to this land to save them from the oppression of the Persians.

The Persians mobilised a huge army. Both armies engaged in a fierce battle. To the surprise of the Persians, their leader, Hurmuz, was killed on the spot. They immediately began fleeing the battlefield. The Muslim soldiers chased after them in a hot pursuit until they reached the River Euphrates.

Several other battles took place before the Muslims conquered all of Iraq. They followed the orders of their Caliph to be merciful to the people of Iraq. This way of treatment made most people of Iraq and Madian embrace Islam. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him felt that all such victories were due to Allah’s help and not due to his or his soldiers’ power. He thanked Allah for his favour upon the Muslims, allowing them to gain control over one of the two major empires of the time.

Expedition to Syria and Palestine

The main objective behind such expeditions was selfdefense. The Caliph wanted to strengthen his borders in order to prevent any attack from the side of the Romans. The Romans had already supported the apostates and were not happy to see the rebels fall one after the other.

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him mobilised a strong army and advised the soldiers to be just to people whom they conquer and to be sincere to their pledges. He was sure that the army would come back victorious.

He remembered when the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him prayed to Allah at Badr for the small force of the Muslims to be victorious. Some of those men who fought at Badr joined this army to Syria.

They stopped at a place called Yarmouk. The leader, Abu ‘Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, saw how they were out numbered by the Romans. He discussed the matter with his chiefs. They all agreed to inform Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him of the conditions. Abu Bakr ordered Khalid bin Al-Waleed to leave the Iraqi front and speed up to Yarmouk. Under the leadership of Commander Khalid, the army fought a big battle and defeated the Romans once and for all.

The Virtue of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him

The Merciful

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was known to be a very tender hearted man. He was very merciful to others even enemies. He showered love on all community members. He did not show favour to one over others. Surely he loved his children but the cause of Islam was dearer to him.

The Liberator

From the first day he accepted Islam, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him put all his resources under the service of the new religion. He bought the slaves who accepted Islam and freed them. He was charitable to all members of the society.

Full Dedication and Sacrifice

When the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him instructed his Companions to prepare for the Tabuk expedition, he urged them to donate as much as they could out of their property. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him brought every things he had to the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him. The Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him asked him how much he left for his family. He replied that he left them the satisfaction of Allah and His Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him.

No one among the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him excelled Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him in terms of support of Islam. He usually gave the larger portion of his money for the Cause of Islam.

Rule is a Responsibility

Assuming rule did not change the man. Immediately after taking over, he left his house to the market to sell some clothes for his living. ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him saw him doing so. He immediately took him to the public treasurer and set him an annual salary to cover his needs.

It is reported that his wife asked him once to increase his share of sugar because she wanted to make some pudding. He told her that he could not do so. Therefore, she tried to save some quantity out of the monthly lot to fulfil her desire. When she had fulfilled that desire, she brought him the pudding. He immediately told the treasurer that his lot of sugar should be reduced because the quantity spared was not needed.

Collection of the Noble Qur’an

As a result of wars waged against the apostates, many prominent Companions of the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him were killed. Among these people there were seventy persons who had memorised the Noble Qur’an. ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him feared that the text of the Qur’an would be lost if such deaths continued. He asked Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to order for the collection of the Qur’an.

Abu Bakr did not like to do something that the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him did not himself do. However, ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him convinced Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him that such a job should be done; otherwise, the Qur’an would be lost over time. Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him accepted ‘Umar’s justifications and ordered Zaid bin Thabit to collect the text of the Qur’an.

Nomination of the Succeeding Caliph

Nearing his death, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him wanted to leave this worldly life free from obligations toward the nation. He discussed the issue of succession with many companions. He suggested ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him to be the successor Caliph and they all agreed that it was a good choice. Hence he wrote a testament in which he named ‘Umar رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him as the next Caliph. In this very testament he advised the coming Caliph to take care of the nation and fear Allah when deciding on any matter related to the state.

Before Leaving

Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him felt that he was close to leaving this world. He called his daughter ‘Aishah the Prophets wife. He asked her to calculate how much he had taken from the public treasury as post allowance. She told him that the total sum was six thousand dirhams. He ordered her to return the sum to the public treasury. Some reports say that he had left nothing for his children and relatives.

Joining the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him in the Eternal Life

Toward the end of his rule, Abu Bakr was stricken by fever. He fell ill for several days before leaving this earthly abode. He had now fulfilled all his obligations and longed to join the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him in the hereafter. He passed away like any other human being.

On his deathbed, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him was seen several times weeping. He did not cry because of fear of death but because he might have neglected things that he was entrusted to do. After several days, Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him passed away. The nation was very sad to lose the great Rightly Guided Caliph who fulfilled all of his obligations before Allah and toward Muslims. Abu Bakr was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ Peace and Blessings be upon him in the room of ‘Aishah رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا Allah be pleased with her.

May Allah bestow His mercy on Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him for the services he gave to Islam and Muslims. Till today he is considered an example of dedication and sacrifice for Islam.

When you get older, you should follow the example of Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ Allah be pleased with him, especially at times of hardships. You should also follow his example when you need to take a decision in difficult situations. You should not bargain for your faith.