Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ )

• Hz Abu Bakr Siddique (رضی اللہ عنہ)

Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) had a great personality. After the demise of Allah’s Prophet (ﷺ), he was made the first Caliph. Hz Abu Bakr Siddique( رضی اللہ عنہ ) was the best companion. Allah’s Prophet (ﷺ) made him his confidant and partner and also Prophet (ﷺ) loved Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) the most.

•  Name and Lineage

His name was Abdullah bin Quhafa bin Aamir bin Umar. His previous name was Abdul Ka’bah. His lineage joins with that of the Prophet (ﷺ) six generations before himself, in Murrah Ben Kaáb.

•  Parents

His father, Abu Quhafa Uthman bin ‘Amir, accepted Islam on the day of Makkah Conquest and his mother’s name was Salma and was also known as Umm-ul-Khair. His parents belonged to a clan called Banu Taim, a branch from the Quraish tribe. Blood money in murder cases was referred to Abu Bakr’s ( رضی اللہ عنہ) father who in turn assigned the job to his son.

• Birth

Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) was born in Makkah in 51 BH/ 573 CE (Christian Era), two years and some months after the birth of the Prophet (ﷺ). He was born after the Year of the Elephant-the year during which Abraha marched towards the Makkah with his army.

•  Kunyah

Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was his kunyah. Bakr literally means a young camel but it also refers to a very large tribe. He was named Bakr because of spending a lot of time with young camels.

 [Kunyah – It is a title by which one is ascribed to one’s son or daughter, or by which one is associated with some place, idea, theme or group of people.]

 Title

Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) was given many names or titles throughout his life and each one of them points to one or more of his superior qualities. Among those names are the following:

i) Al – Ateeq :

Al-Ateeq has various shades of meaning in Arabic. Prophet (ﷺ) once said to him,” You are the Ateeq (freed one) of Allah from the hellfire.” Certain historians also said that he was named Ateeq because he was known for his goodness for a very long time(here,this is based on Ateeq’s meaning of old or ancient).

                    Overall we can conclude that Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was named Al-Ateeq for he did have a noble countenance, was known for his good character for many years and he was Allah’s freed one from the Hellfire.

ii) As-Siddique :

As-Siddique, the most well-known of Abu Bakr’s ( رضی اللہ عنہ) titles,comes from the word Sidq, which means truthfulness. He was named As-Siddique by Prophet(ﷺ) because of his constant and unwavering belief in Prophet (ﷺ).

                     Aisha (رضی اللہ عنہ) said,”(The night) after the Prophet (ﷺ) went on his night journey to Masjid Al-Aqsa, the people began to talk about it (being in doubt about the possibility of the Prophet (ﷺ) being able to travel to and from Jerusalem in a single night). Some people apostatized (on that day), having previously believed in Prophet (ﷺ) and having had faith in him. A number of men went to Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) and said,”Will you not go to your companion?He claims that he went on a night-journey last night to Jerusalem!” He( رضی اللہ عنہ ) responded,”And did he indeed say that?” They said,”Yes”. He   ( رضی اللہ عنہ )said, “If he (ﷺ) said that, then he (ﷺ) spoke the truth”. They said, “And do you truly believe in him when he says that he travelled to Jerusalem last night and returned just before the beginning of this morning?” He ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) said, “Yes,I do indeed believe him about matters that are even more amazing than that: I believe him about news(i.e., revelation) that comes to him from the heavens in the early morning or in the afternoon”.

          And it is because of this incident that Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was named As-Siddique.

iii) As-Saahib :

In Surah Tauba, Verse 40, Allah has named Abu Bakr Siddique(رضی اللہ عنہ), Saahib (companion). Allah gave him that title because he was the Prophet’s companion in the cave during their migration to Al-Madeenah. Allah said:

اِلَّا تَـنۡصُرُوۡهُ فَقَدۡ نَصَرَهُ اللّٰهُ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَهُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا ثَانِىَ اثۡنَيۡنِ اِذۡ هُمَا فِى الۡغَارِ اِذۡ يَقُوۡلُ لِصَاحِبِهٖ لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَا​ ۚ فَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ سَكِيۡنَـتَهٗ عَلَيۡهِ وَاَ يَّدَهٗ بِجُنُوۡدٍ لَّمۡ تَرَوۡهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوا السُّفۡلٰى​ ؕ وَكَلِمَةُ اللّٰهِ هِىَ الۡعُلۡيَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌ‏ (٤٠)

“If you do not aid him [i.e., the Prophet (ﷺ)] – Allāh has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allāh is with us.” And Allāh sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers [i.e., angels] you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allāh4 – that is the highest. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.”

iv)Al-Atqaa :

Al-Atqaa means the pious and righteous one.In the following verse, Al-Atqaa refers primarily to Abu Bakr Siddique( رضی اللہ عنہ ):

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلۡأَتۡقَى

“And Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous) will be far removed from it(Hell).”(Qur’an 92:17)

v)Al-Awwaah :

There are at least two possible meanings of the word Al-Awwaah.It can mean someone who supplicates to Allah a great deal, and it can also mean someone who is merciful and soft-hearted. Ibraaheem An-Nakha’ee said, “Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was named Al-Awwaah because of his compassion and mercy(towards other people).”

vi)Khilafat-e-Rasool :

Abu Bakr Siddique( رضی اللہ عنہ ) was named so because after Prophet (ﷺ), he( رضی اللہ عنہ ) took the responsibility of the government.

Physical Appearance

Abu Bakr (رضی اللہ عنہ ) was white-skinned and skinny. His beard didn’t grow very long on his cheeks, and his back leaned forward to a certain degree. Because of his skinniness, his lower garment would not stay in place, but would instead barely remain in place at the level of his hips. His face was gaunt, while his forehead protruded outwards, his eye-sockets were deeply set in his face. And whereas his calves were skinny, his legs were muscular though lean. And after his hair turned white, he would dye it with henna an Al-Katm (a kind of shrub that was used for dyeing and that was very similar to henna).

Wives and Children

Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) had 4 wives and 6 children – 3 sons and 3 daughters. The following were his wives:

i) Qateelah bint ‘Abdul-‘Uzzah ibn As’ad ibn Jaabir ibn Maalik

Qateelah was the mother of two children of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) – ‘Abdullah( رضی اللہ عنہ ) and Asma (رضی اللہ عنہ ). Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) had divorced her during the pre-Islamic days of ignorance.

                Although Qateelah did not migrate to Al-Madeenah, she did go there to visit her daughter,Asma (رضی اللہ عنہ). She brought with her gifts, some cream and cooking fat, but Asma (رضی اللہ عنہ ) not only refused to accept them for her, but also refused to grant her entry into her home. Asma (رضی اللہ عنہ) felt conflicted on the inside: on the one hand, she was a Muslim and her mother was a polytheist; and on the other hand, her mother had given her birth, raised her, and showered a great deal of love upon her. As a polytheist, she was not deserving of Asma’s respect and love; but as a mother, she had every right to be loved and respected. Confused and uneasy about the matter, Asma (رضی اللہ عنہ) sent a message to ‘Aaisha (رضی اللہ عنہ), requesting her to ask the Prophet ﷺ about her situation. The Prophet ﷺ gave this reply:”She (i.e.,Asma) must grant her entry (into her home), and she must also accept her gift.” And around the same time, Allah revealed the Verse:

لَا يَنۡهٰٮكُمُ اللّٰهُ عَنِ الَّذِيۡنَ لَمۡ يُقَاتِلُوۡكُمۡ فِى الدِّيۡنِ وَلَمۡ يُخۡرِجُوۡكُمۡ مِّنۡ دِيَارِكُمۡ اَنۡ تَبَرُّوۡهُمۡ وَ تُقۡسِطُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهِمۡ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الۡمُقۡسِطِيۡنَ‏

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.” (Qur’an 60:8)

           This Verse confirmed for believers that Allah did not forbid them from being kind and generous in their dealings towards polytheist who had not persecuted them; furthermore, believers were informed that they should act justly with them, for indeed,”Allah loves those who deal with equity.”¹

ii) Umm Roomaan bint ‘Aamir ibn ‘Uwaimar (رضی اللہ عنہ)

Umm Roomaan was the mother of two children of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) – ‘Abdur-Rahmaan (رضی اللہ عنہ) and Aisha (رضی اللہ عنہ).

                          Umm Roomaan (رضی اللہ عنہ) was from the Banu Kinaanah ibn Khuzaimah tribe; her husband, Al-Haarith ibn Sakhbarah, died in Makkah, after which Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) married her. She was one of the early muslims: she pledged to follow the Prophet (ﷺ) at an early stage during his Da’wah, and she had the distinction of having migrated to Al-Madeenah. Having lived a fruitful and blessed life, Umm Roomaan (رضی اللہ عنہ) died in Al-Madeenah in the year 6H.

iii) Asmaa bint ‘Umais ibn Ma’bad ibn Al-Haarith (رضی اللہ عنہ)

Asmaa (رضی اللہ عنہ) gave birth to one of the sons of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) – Muhammad.

                 Asmaa’s (رضی اللہ عنہ) kunyah was Umm ‘ Abdullah, which perhaps refers to a child she had with Ja’far (رضی اللہ عنہ). One of the first Muslims to perform migration for the sake of Allah, Asmaa (رضی اللہ عنہ) embraced Islam at a very early stage of the Prophet’s Da’wah, even before the the Muslims turned the house of Al-Arqam to a secret meeting place. She pledged to follow the Messenger of Allah, and because of the persecution that she and her husband Ja’far ibn Abu Taalib (رضی اللہ عنہ) were afflicted with at the hands of the Quraish, they both migrated to Abyssinia. At the behest of the Prophet ﷺ, they stayed in Abyssinia for a number of years. Then, just before the conquest of Khaibar, the Prophet ﷺ sent word to them that they should return, and they performed migration for a second time – this time, from Abyssinia to Al-Madeenah. Shortly thereafter, Ja’far (رضی اللہ عنہ) was martyred on the Day of Mo’tah. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (رضی اللہ عنہ) then married her, and she later gave birth to one of his sons: Muhammad. Asmaa (رضی اللہ عنہ) made important contributions towards the preservation of the Prophet’s Sunnah: She memorised sayings of the Prophet ﷺ and then passed them on to others. Among the Companions (رضی اللہ عنہ), who related narrations from her were ‘Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ), Abu Moosa (رضی اللہ عنہ), ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (رضی اللہ عنہ), and Umm Al-Fadl (the wife of Al-‘Abbas) (رضی اللہ عنہ). One of things Asmaa (رضی اللہ عنہ) could be proud of was the fact that she had such noble in-laws, such as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Hamzah (رضی اللہ عنہ), and Al-‘Abbas³(رضی اللہ عنہ).

iv) Habeela bint Khaarijah ibn Zaid ibn Abu Zuhair (رضی اللہ عنہ)

Habeela (رضی اللہ عنہ) gave birth to the last of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ)’s daughters – Umm Kulthoom (رضی اللہ عنہ).

        Habeela (رضی اللہ عنہ) was a member of the Ansaar, and more specifically, she was a member of the Khazraj tribe. It was shortly after Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (رضی اللہ عنہ) died that Umm Kulthoom (رضی اللہ عنہ) was born. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (رضی اللہ عنہ) lived with Habeela (رضی اللہ عنہ) in As-Sunh, a district in Al-Madeenah that was inhabited by the Banu Al-Haarith clan of the Khazraj tribe.

•  Pre-Islamic days of Ignorance

The character of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (رضی اللہ عنہ) in the pre-Islamic days of Ignorance was same as that of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. His qualities were:

i)Friendly

ii)Maintained relationship

iii)Helper of the Poor.

iv)Helper of the widows and orphans.

v)Stood against the Cruel

vi)Helper of the oppressed.

vii)Head of Quraish.

viii)Good adviser of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

ix)Never drank alcohol.

x)Never prostrated before anyone except Allah.

xi)Good Businessman.

• personality

Sahih Bukhari:476

Narrated `Aisha:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ لَمْ أَعْقِلْ أَبَوَىَّ إِلاَّ وَهُمَا يَدِينَانِ الدِّينَ، وَلَمْ يَمُرَّ عَلَيْنَا يَوْمٌ إِلاَّ يَأْتِينَا فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم طَرَفَىِ النَّهَارِ بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيَّةً، ثُمَّ بَدَا لأَبِي بَكْرٍ فَابْتَنَى مَسْجِدًا بِفِنَاءِ دَارِهِ، فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ وَيَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ، فَيَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ نِسَاءُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، وَأَبْنَاؤُهُمْ يَعْجَبُونَ مِنْهُ وَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَجُلاً بَكَّاءً لاَ يَمْلِكُ عَيْنَيْهِ إِذَا قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ، فَأَفْزَعَ ذَلِكَ أَشْرَافَ قُرَيْشٍ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ‏.‏

(the wife of the Prophet) I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet (ﷺ) visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) thought of building a mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did so. He used to pray and recite the Qur’an in it. The pagan women and their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was a Softhearted person and could not help weeping while reciting the Qur’an. The chiefs of the Quraish pagans became afraid of that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the recitation of Qur’an).

After Acceptance of Islam

i) The First to Become Muslim

Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique (رضی اللہ عنہ) was among the one who became muslims in the early days of Islam and he believed in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

                 The Prophet ﷺ confined Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) about the new mission, saying:”I am the Messenger of Allah and His Prophet, Allah has sent me to inform His message, I call you to believe in Allah, the Truth, by God it is the Truth. O, Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ), I call you to believe in Allah only with no partners, and not to worship other than Allah, and to sustain in obedience for Allah”.Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) accepted it immediately without a slight hesitation, then he promised the Prophet to support him, and he did it. In this way, Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Al-Siddiq (رضی اللہ عنہ) was the first adult free man to respond to the Prophet’s call and to believe in the new mission.

ii) The Monotheist

Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique’s ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) father took him to worship the idol. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) asked the idol to eat the food that was kept there, but it didn’t eat. Then he (رضی اللہ عنہ) asked it to wear that clothes, but it didn’t do that. Then Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) threw stone on that idol and it fell down. And he (رضی اللہ عنہ) told his father that it cannot protect itself, how can it protect us. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique (رضی اللہ عنہ) never prostrated before anyone except Allah.

iii) The First Inviter of Islam

Some companions accepted Islam. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique( رضی اللہ عنہ) insisted the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that they would do Da’wah openly.The Messenger of Allah ﷺ refused to do so but he (رضی اللہ عنہ) didn’t obeyed him ﷺ and went to Haram and started to do Da’wah.

Kuffar-e-Makkah started beating Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) ( رضی اللہ عنہ). They beat him( رضی اللہ عنہ)so much that his face got swollen and he fainted. His( رضی اللہ عنہ) relatives took him to his house. When he came to his senses, his mother asked him,”How are you Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ)?”.Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) ( رضی اللہ عنہ) told,”Leave me, tell me how is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?” and said until he wouldn’t be informed about how is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he would neither eat nor drink anything. When his mother informed him that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is fine, he asked her to take him to Prophet ﷺ. With so many difficulties, he was taken to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed for him.

iv) The Companion of the Prophet ﷺ in Home and Migration

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ didn’t allow Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) to migrate with other companions of the Prophet ﷺ. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ)( رضی اللہ عنہ ) asked,”Can I join you?”. The Prophet ﷺ replied,” Yes, you will be with me.”

v) The One Who Led 17 prayers in Place of the Prophet ﷺ in The Life of the Prophet ﷺ

When the Prophet ﷺ was very sick and was too weak to lead the prayer in the mosque, then he ﷺ chose Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ)( رضی اللہ عنہ) to lead the prayer in place of him ﷺ.

vi) The First Caliph of Islam after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

The moment Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was made the Caliph

After the demise of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the companions of the Prophet ﷺ gathered together in the courtyard of Banu Saa’idah on the very same day. Everyone was concerned about who would take their responsibility. When Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) and Hz Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ) were informed, they reached the Courtyard of Banu Saa’idah. Hz Umar bin Khattab (رضی اللہ عنہ) told the companions of the Prophet ﷺ,” The one to whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was agreed in religion, can we make him the Caliph!!”

        Hz Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ) did bait on the hand of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) and other companions of the Prophet ﷺ also did so. And Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was made their Caliph.

The Sermon by Hz Abu Bakr Siddique( رضی اللہ عنہ) After He Was Made The Caliph

When Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was made the Caliph, a sermon was preached by him in which he said:

“O people I have been appointed over you, though I am not the best among you. If I do good, then help me; and if I act wrongly, then correct me. Truthfulness is trust and lying is treachery. The weak among you is to me strong until I return to him what is rightfully his, Allaah willing, and the strong among you is to me weak until I take from him the rights of others, Allaah willing. When people abandon Jihaad in the path of Allah, Allaah humiliates them, and when fornication spreads among the people, Allah punishes them. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. And if I disobey Allah and His Messenger, then I have no right to your obedience. Stand up now to pray, Allah have mercy on you.”

• The responsibilities of Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) as a Caliph

Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was Caliph for 2 years and 3 months during which he did some important works:

i) Sent out Usaamah’s army

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ in his life informed his companions that he would be sending out an army to fight the Romans in Al-Balqaa and Palestine.And for that he appointed the very young Usaamah bin Zaid ( رضی اللہ عنہ) to lead the army. It is reported that Usaamah’s army was completely ready on Saturday but after two days the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died.

       After the demise of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the enemies of Islam started planning to defeat the Muslims. So, Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ)

sent the army to fight the Romans so that the Romans could know about the strength of the Muslim army.

       When the army was about to leave, Hz Usaamah bin Zaid ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was sitting on the camel and Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ) was walking alongside, holding the camel. Hz Usaamah( رضی اللہ عنہ) said to Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ), “O Khaleefah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, by Allah, you will indeed ride or I will come down (and walk alongside you)”. He (رضی اللہ عنہ) said ,”By Allah, you will not descend. And by Allah, I will not ride. For what harm will it do to me to get my feet covered in dust as I walk in the way of Allah?”

The other companions of Prophet ﷺ prohibited Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) to send Usaamah’s army as the situation was changed. But Hz Abu Bakr (  رضی اللہ عنہ ) sent the army and said at any cost,I will not prohibit the army to go because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent it. Hz Usaamah’s army was sent and the strength of the enemies started decreasing and in that war, the Muslims won.

ii) Collection of the Quran

During the war the Hafiz e Quran was martyred. Hz Uthman said to Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ)“Haffaz are being martyred. So that the Quran does not get lost, why don’t you collect it?” Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) said that when the Messenger of Allah never did that, how can i do this? After Hz Umar insisted a lot, Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) asked Hz Zaid bin Sabit to collect the Quran.

The Messenger of Allah arranged the Quran in an order in his life but it was collected from different places and was given a form of book at the time of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique.

iii) Fight against the Apostates

After the demise of the Messenger of Allah, some tribes refused to give Zakat. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) tried to explain them and when they were not convinced, he said “Those who do not give Zakat are an apostate and he is ordered to fight with, like those who denied the prayer(namaz), he is kafir. Similarly, who denies zakat is also a kafir. He fought with the apostates and took them back to Islam.

Demise of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique

On 22 Jamadal Ukhra, 13 hijri, Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) died in Madina at the age of 63.

When he was ill, he wrote a letter on the appointment of the next Caliph.

He wrote:

In the name of Allah, the Most beneficent, the Most Merciful. This is the (final) command of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) ibn Quhaafah, which he writes as he is exiting this world, and entering the world of the hereafter…a time during which a disbeliever comes to believe, a wicked-doer comes to have faith, and a liar tells the truth: Verily, I appoint over you, Umar ibn Al-Khattab as my successor, so listen to him and obey him….If he acts justly, then that is what I think of him and that is what I know about him. But if he changes for the worse(i.e., he begins to act unjustly), then for each person is that which he has earned. Goodness is what I wanted, and I don’t know anything of the unseen world.

• Inheritance of Hz Abu Bakr Siddique (رضی اللہ عنہ)

Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) used to trade clothes but after being appointed as the Caliph, he left trading and to run household expenses, he used to take zakat from Baitul maal.

Aaisah reported that during the final stages of his illness, Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) said, “Go and see how much extra wealth I have acquired ever since I have been appointed as leader (of the Muslim Nation), and send that extra amount to the Caliph who will succeed me”. Aaishah said, “We did an inventory of his wealth, and we found that the only extra wealth he had was a Nubian slave who carried his children for him, and a camel that was used to water one of his gardens. And we sent those two to Umar, who upon receiving them, cried and then said, “May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr :verily, he has been toiling and has become fatigued a great deal ever since the death of the Prophet.”

• Bathing, Burying and the Funeral Prayer

The wife of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ), Asma bint Umais, gave him a bath. Hz Umar led his funeral prayer and buried him in a grave alongside the grave of the Prophet.

• Merits of Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique

i) Best Personality After The Messenger Of Allah – Hz Abu Bakr Siddique ( رضی اللہ عنہ)

Volume 5, Book 57, Number 14:

Narrated ‘Amr bin Al-As:

The Prophet deputed me to read the Army of Dhat-as-Salasil. I came to him and said, “Who is the most beloved person to you?” He said, ” ‘Aisha.” I asked, “Among the men?” He said, “Her father.” I said, “Who then?” He said, “Then ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.” He then named other men.

ii) The Messenger Of Allah Loved Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) The Most

Narrated Abu Ad-Darda:

While I was sitting with the Prophet, Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) came, lifting up one corner of his garment uncovering his knee. The Prophet said, “Your companion has had a quarrel.” Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) greeted (the Prophet ) and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! There was something (i.e. quarrel) between me and the Son of Al-Khattab. I talked to him harshly and then regretted that, and requested him to forgive me, but he refused. This is why I have come to you.” The Prophet said thrice, “O Abu Bakr! May Allah forgive you.” In the meanwhile, ‘Umar regretted (his refusal of Abu Bakr’s excuse) and went to Abu Bakr’s house and asked if Abu Bakr was there. They replied in the negative. So he came to the Prophet and greeted him, but signs of displeasure appeared on the face of the Prophet till Abu Bakr pitied (‘Umar), so he knelt and said twice, “O Allah’s Apostle! By Allah! I was more unjust to him (than he was to me).” The Prophet said, “Allah sent me (as a Prophet) to you (people) but you said (to me), ‘You are telling a lie,’ while Abu Bakr said, ‘He has told the truth,’ and consoled me with himself and his money.” He then said twice, “Won’t you then give up harming my companion?” After that nobody harmed Abu Bakr .

iii) The Companion of The Messenger of Allah in Home and Migration

Allah has made Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ), the companion of the Prophet in migration. During migration, Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) used to walk sometimes ahead, back, right or left of the Messenger of Allah to protect him.

Surah Tauba : 40

إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَـٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ  ٤٠

It does not matter˺ if you ˹believers˺ do not support him, for Allah did in fact support him when the disbelievers drove him out ˹of Mecca˺ and he was only one of two. While they both were in the cave, he reassured his companion,1 “Do not worry; Allah is certainly with us.” So Allah sent down His serenity upon the Prophet, supported him with forces you ˹believers˺ did not see, and made the word of the disbelievers lowest, while the Word of Allah is supreme. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.

iv) The Messenger of Allah Said That He Could Not Return Abu Bakr’s favour

Volume 5, Book 57, Number 6:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

Allah’s Apostle addressed the people saying, “Allah has given the option to a slave to choose this world or what is with Him. The slave has chosen what is with Allah.” Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) wept, and we were astonished at his weeping caused by what the Prophet mentioned as to a Slave ( of Allah) who had been offered a choice, (we learned later on) that Allah’s Apostle himself was the person who was given the choice, and that Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) knew best of all of us. Allah’s Apostle added, “The person who has favoured me most of all both with his company and wealth, is Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ). If I were to take a Khalil other than my Lord, I would have taken Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) as such, but (what relates us) is the Islamic brotherhood and friendliness. All the gates of the Mosque should be closed except the gate of Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ).”

v) Glad Tidings of Paradise In The World

Sahi Muslim : 1028

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Who fasted among you today? Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I did. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you followed a bier today? Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (Allah be pleased with him) replied: I did. He (the Prophet again) said: Who among you fed a poor man today? Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (Allah he pleased with him) replied: I did. He (again) said: Who among you visited an invalid today? Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) (Allah be pleased with him) said: I did. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly enter paradise.

Sahi Bukhari, Book 55, Hadith : 23

Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ashari

I performed ablution in my house and then went out and said, “Today I shall stick to Allah’s Apostle and stay with him all this day of mine (in his service).” I went to the Mosque and asked about the Prophet . They said, “He had gone in this direction.” So I followed his way, asking about him till he entered a place called Bir Aris. I sat at its gate that was made of date-palm leaves till the Prophet finished answering the call of nature and performed ablution. Then I went up to him to see him sitting at the well of Aris at the middle of its edge with his legs uncovered, hanging in the well. I greeted him and went back and sat at the gate. I said, “Today I will be the gatekeeper of the Prophet.” Abu Bakr  came and pushed the gate. I asked, “Who is it?” He said, “Abu Bakr.” I told him to wait, went in and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Abu Bakr asks for permission to enter.” He said, “Admit him and give him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise.” So I went out and said to Abu Bakr, “Come in, and Allah’s Apostle gives you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise” Abu Bakr entered and sat on the right side of Allah’s Apostle on the built edge of the well and hung his legs n the well as the Prophet did and uncovered his legs. I then returned and sat (at the gate). I had left my brother performing ablution and he intended to follow me. So I said (to myself). “If Allah wants good for so-and-so (i.e. my brother) He will bring him here.” Suddenly somebody moved the door. I asked, “Who is it?” He said, “‘Umar bin Al-Khattab.” I asked him to wait, went to Allah’s Apostle, greeted him and said, ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab asked permission to enter.” He said, “Admit him, and give him the glad tidings that he will be in Paradise.” I went to “Umar and said “Come in, and Allah’s Apostle, give you the glad tidings that you will be in Paradise.” So he entered and sat beside Allah’s Apostle on the built edge of the well on the left side and hung his legs in the well. I returned and sat (at the gate) and said, (to myself), “If Allah wants good for so-and-so, He will bring him here.” Somebody came and moved the door. I asked “Who is it?” He replied, “Uthman bin Affan.” I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet and informed him. He said, “Admit him, and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise, I asked him to wait and went to the Prophet and informed him. He said, “Admit him, and give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall him.” So I went up to him and said to him, “Come in; Allah’s Apostle gives you the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall you. “Uthman then came in and found that the built edge of the well was occupied, so he sat opposite to the Prophet on the other side. Said bin Al-musaiyab said, “I interpret this (narration) in terms of their graves.

Sahi Bukhari : 3666 , Sahi Muslim : 1027

Abu Huraira reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Anyone who spends a pair in the way of Allah will be called from all the gates of Paradise: O servant of Allah, this is good! The people of prayer will be called from the gate of prayer, the people of jihad will be called from the gate of jihad, the people of fasting will be called from the gate of al-Rayyan, and the people of charity will be called from the gate of charity.” Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) said, “One who is called from all those gates would need nothing. Will anyone be called from all those gates, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said, “Yes, and I hope you will be among them, O Abu Bakr.”

vi) The First in Doing Good Deeds

Sunan Al-Tirmidhi :3675

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), ordered us to give charity and at the time I had some wealth. I said to myself, “Today I will outdo Abu Bakr, if ever there were a day to outdo him.” I went with half of my wealth to the Prophet and he said, “What have you left for your family?” I said, “The same amount.” Then, Abu Bakr came with everything he had. The Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?” Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) said, “Allah and his messenger.” I said, “By Allah, I will never do better than Abu Bakr.”

Sahi Bukhari : 6679

Narrated Az-Zuhri:

I heard `Urwa bin Az-Zubair, Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab, ‘Alqama bin Waqqas and ‘Ubaidullah bin `Abdullah bin `Uqba relating from `Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) the narration of the people (i.e. the liars) who spread the slander against her and they said what they said, and how Allah revealed her innocence. Each of them related to me a portion of that narration. (They said that `Aisha said), ”Then Allah revealed the ten Verses starting with:–‘Verily! Those who spread the slander..’ (24.11-21) All these verses were proof of my innocence. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who used to provide for Mistah some financial aid because of his relation to him, said, “By Allah, I will never give anything (in charity) to Mistah, after what he has said about `Aisha” Then Allah revealed:– ‘And let not those among you who are good and are wealthy swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen….’ (24.22) On that, Abu Bakr said, “Yes, by Allah, I like that Allah should forgive me.” and then resumed giving Mistah the aid he used to give him and said, “By Allah! I will never withhold it from him.”

vii) Loved The Messenger Of Allah More Than His Life

Ar rahiqul Makhtum (In the chapter of Migration)

When the Messenger of Allah with Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique migrated to Madeena  from Makkah, people were unable to recognise who the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was. Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) also didn’t reveal the same. When all people gathered and it was confirmed that there was no enemy present then Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) protected the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from the sunlight with a cloth. Then people recognised the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The reason behind this was to protect the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from enemies and for that he didn’t care about his own life.

viii) Had Patience In the Toughest Times And Took Correct Decisions

a) Had Patience When The Messenger Of Allah Died

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 333:

Narrated ‘Aisha :

Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) came riding his horse from his dwelling place in As-Sunh. He got down from it, entered the Mosque and did not speak with anybody till he came to me and went directly to the Prophet (ﷺ), who was covered with a marked blanket. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) uncovered his face. He knelt down and kissed him and then started weeping and said, “My father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O Allah’s Prophet! Allah will not combine two deaths on you. You have died the death which was written for you.”

Narrated Abu Salama from Ibn Abbas

 Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) came out and ‘Umar , was addressing the people, and Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) told him to sit down but ‘Umar refused. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) again told him to sit down but ‘Umar again refused. Then Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) recited the Tashah-hud (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle) and the people attended to Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) and left ‘Umar. Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) said, “Amma ba’du, whoever amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, Allah is alive and will never die. Allah said: ‘Muhammad is no more than an Apostle and indeed (many) Apostles have passed away before him ..(up to the) grateful.’ ” (3.144) (The narrator added, “By Allah, it was as if the people never knew that Allah had revealed this verse before till Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) recited it and then whoever heard it, started reciting it “)

b) Fought Against The Apostates

Hz Abu Bakr ( رضی اللہ عنہ) Siddique decided to do Jihaad with the ones who refused to give Zakat. Everyone tried to stop him but he didn’t and fought against the apostates.  

REFERENCE:

BOOK: ASHRA-E-MUBASHARA

Compiled BY: SHEIKH ABDUL HAMEED MADANI (Roman Urdu)

 “ENGLISH TRANSLATED BY SISTER ALI SUBHANI”