Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq (RA)-1-

by **samirisaoui** Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:09 am

Introduction
“No one has been a better companion to me than Abu Bakr”
said the messenger of God (May the Peace and Blessings upon him). What a great position! Indeed Abu Bakr earned it. All his life he stood by the Prophet (PBUH). He was a wealthy man and when the Prophet (PBUH) started receiving revelations and the Muslims faced hardship, Abu Bakr’s wealth became an unlimited ATM which enabled the Muslims to withdraw from at will. In any conflict Abu Bakr was in the front rows to fight the enemies of God and His message. Abu Bakr’s only concern was to serve God, His messenger, and the believers. And for this he was elected as the first successor or [Caliph] of the Prophet and he was also placed to his final rest at the side the Prophet (PBUH).
Abu Bakr was two years younger than the Prophet. From early years, Abu Bakr was known for a good and upright nature. He was honest and truthful. He came from a noble family. These things won him respect among the people. His goodness also won him the friendship of young Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The two became fast friends in early boyhood. The friendship was to prove lifelong and history-making.
When he grew up, Abu Bakr became a rich merchant. But he used to be very kind-hearted. When he saw someone in trouble, his heart melted. He did his best to help him. He was so honest in his dealings that people kept their money with him. Above all, Abu Bakr had a sincere heart and a firm will. Nothing could stop him from doing what he thought was the right thing to do.
These great qualities were soon to serve the noblest cause known to the world. Abu Bakr was to become the strongest supporter of the Redeemer of mankind (PBUH). He was to become the first among the Companions of the Last Prophet of God.
The First of the Best
Abu Bakr was always very close to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He knew him better than any other man. He knew how honest and upright his friend had always been. So he was the first among men to believe in the Prophet’s mission. He was the first adult male to accept Islam. After the first revelation, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) told him what had happened at Mount Hira. He told him that God had made him His Messenger. Abu Bakr did not stop to think. He at once became a Muslim. Once the Holy Prophet himself remarked, “I called people to Islam. Everybody thought over it, at least for a while. But this was not the case with Abu Bakr. The moment I put Islam before him, he accepted it without any hesitation.”
Abu Bakr did more than that. As soon as he became a Muslim, he began to preach Islam to others. He had many friends who knew that Abu Bakr was sincere and truthful. They knew he would never support a wrong cause or falsehood. He called them to Islam and they became Muslims. Among them were great noble men like Uthman ibn Affan, Zubair ibn Awam, Talha ibn Ubaydaillah, Abdur Rahman bin Auf and Saad bin Waqqas. These men later became the foundations of Islam among mankind.
The message of Islam made the people of Mecca very angry. The idols were their gods. The holy Prophet openly reproached them for worshipping these gods. He declared they could do neither any good nor harm. Among the chiefs of Mecca was one Abu Jahl. He became the greatest enemy of the holy Prophet. He was always on the lookout to hurt him or even kill him, if he could. Abu Bakr kept an eye on this man, lest he should do a grave harm to Islam.
One day the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was praying in the Ka’ba. He was totally lost in his concentration. Abu Jahl and some other chiefs of Mecca were sitting in the courtyard of the Kaaba. “I must finish with Muhammad today,” said Abu Jahl. So saying, he took a long piece of cloth. He put it around the holy Prophet’s neck. Then he twisted it hard. He was going to strangle the Messenger of God to death. The other chiefs looked on and laughed.
Abu Bakr happened to see this from a distance. He at once ran to the help of the Prophet (PBUH). He pushed Abu Jahl aside and took off the cloth from around the holy Prophet’s neck. Thereupon Abu Jahl and other enemies of Islam came down upon Abu Bakr. They beat him up very bad.
Indeed, the beating was so severe that Abu Bakr fell down senseless. He was carried home. He could not regain his senses till after several hours. And when he did come to himself, the first question he asked was, “Is the Prophet OK?” Abu Bakr did not care for his own suffering. He was glad that he was able to save the Prophet’s life. Abu Bakr knew full well that if any harm came to the Prophet, the only hope of mankind would be gone. This made him risk everything he held dear, for the safety of the Prophet and for the spread of his message.
Liberation of Slaves
As years went by, the people of Mecca became more and more hard upon the Muslims. They made life difficult for them. Muslim slaves who had non-Muslim masters were the worst sufferers. They were subjected to unimaginable tortures and many were killed.
Abu Bakr’s wealth came to the rescue of many helpless Muslim slaves. He bought them from their inhumane masters and set them free. Bilal, the african, was one of such slaves. He was the slave of Omayya bin Khalaf. Omayya was a heartless man. He would strip Bilal of all clothes, make him lie on the burning sand at mid-day and then lash him mercilessly. Despite this torture Bilal would go on saying, “God is one! God is one!” One day Abu Bakr happened to pass by. He was greatly moved by the sight. “Why are you so cruel to this helpless man?” he asked Omayya. “If you feel for him, why don’t you buy him?” retorted Omayya. So Abu Bakr at once bought Bilal at a heavy price and set him free. Bilal afterwards became the well-known caller to prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque.
The Title of “Siddiq”
In the tenth year of his mission, the angel Gabriel came with the word that God Almighty wanted the holy Prophet to come all the way up to the highest heaven. The Prophet (PBUH) undertook a journey, in which he met many of the Prophets, saw the bliss of Paradise and the torment of Hell and received the decree of the five obligatory prayers directly from the Most High.
In the morning, after the ascension had taken place, the holy Prophet (PBUH) talked to people about the Mi’raj. This drew the jeers of his enemies.
“Look!” they howled out, “What nonsense he talks! Surely, now his followers too will laugh at him. Who is going to believe in such a midsummer night dream?”
The talk was going on when Abu Bakr came up. “Do you know, Abu Bakr, what news your friend has for you in the morning?” said one of the mean. “He says he was on the highest heaven last night, having a talk with God Almighty. Would you believe it?”
“I am convinced that he is receiving revelations from Heaven and therefore I would believe anything that the Messenger of God says,” replied Abu Bakr.
When the holy Prophet (PBUH) learnt of this, he at once said, “Abu Bakr is the `Siddiq’.” `Siddiq’ is a person so sincere of heart that he is always truthful and never doubts the Truth. In this case the truth is the message of God. Abu Bakr earned this title because of his faith was too strong to be shaken by anything. He stayed this way until he died.
Migration to Medina
When the Makkans were intent on putting out, once and for all, the light of Islam, God commanded the holy Prophet to move to Medina. In the burning heat of the midday sun, there was a knock at Abu Bakr’s door. He ran to the door and found the Messenger of God standing outside. “I must leave for Medina tonight,” said he.
“Will I also have the honor of going with you?” asked Abu Bakr eagerly.
“Of course,” came the reply. “Set about getting things ready.”
Abu Bakr was beside himself with joy. “I have been looking forward to this day for months,” he exclaimed. “I have specifically kept two camels to carry us to Medina.”
The Makkans were searching for the holy Prophet like mad hounds. Once they came right to the mouth of the cave where they were hiding. Abu Bakr grew pale with fright. He feared, not for himself, but for the Prophet. However, the holy Prophet remained perfectly calm.
“Don’t worry,” he said to Abu Bakr, “certainly God is with us.” This story is in the (Qur’an 9:40)

Of all the companions, Abu Bakr had the honor of being with the Prophet during the most critical days of his life. Abu Bakr knew full well what this honor meant. And he did full justice to the trust put in him.
Participation in Battles
Abu Bakr took part in all the battles in defense of the Muslims from the constant Pagan and Jewish plots and onslaughts. All his life, he fought bravely under the banner of Islam. At Uhud and Hunain, some of the men showed weakness. They forgot to do their duty. But Abu Bakr’s faith never wavered. He always stood like a rock by the side of the Prophet.
When peace talks at Hudaibiya were going on, Abu Bakr sat by the side of the Prophet. During conversation, the spokesman of the Quraish ever now and then gave a jerk to the beard of the Prophet, after the Arab fashion. This was too much for Abu Bakr. He took out his sword and looked angrily at the man. “If that hand touches the beard of the Prophet again,” he warned, “it will not be allowed to go back.”
This amazed the Makkan agents. “What a change in Abu Bakr!” they whispered to one another. “He was known for soft-heartedness. How strong and firm he is now become! He is no longer the same Abu Bakr.”
Tabuk was the last expedition of the holy Prophet when he was commanded to fight the Roman army for their murdering the courier the Prophet sent them. He was keen to make it a great success. He asked people to help the expedition with whatever they could. This time Abu Bakr beat all past records. He took all his money and household articles and heaped them at the Prophet’s feet.
“Have you left back anything for your wife and children?” asked the holy Prophet.
“God and His Messenger are enough for them,” replied Abu Bakr calmly. Those standing around were stunned. It was impossible to outdo Abu Bakr in the field of service to Islam.
The holy Prophet felt much pleased at this answer. He made Abu Bakr the standard-bearer of the expedition.
Abu Bakr’s closeness to the Prophet (PBUH) and his boundless devotion to Islam won him universal respect. Not only was he the first man to accept Islam, he was also the foremost among Muslims to uphold the cause of Islam.
Mecca fell in the eight year of Hijra. Kaaba was, for the first time, in the hands of Muslims. It had to be cleaned of the traces of idol-worship and the silly practices of pagan days. Hitherto pagan Arabs had done absurd things at the time of Hajj. They went around the House of Allah naked. They did many other foolish and unclean things. All this had to be stopped.
The first Hajj under Islam fell in the ninth year of Hijra. The holy Prophet was too busy at Medina to lead the Hajj himself. So he sent Abu Bakr as his agent. He was to lead the Hajj in place of the Prophet. Ali was also sent with Abu Bakr. Abu Bakr read the Khutba (Sermon) of Hajj. Then Ali stood up and read out to the people the commandments of God concerning the idol worshippers. From that year on, they were forbidden to go to the Kaaba.
Ever since he came to Medina, the holy Prophet himself led prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque. During his last illness, the holy Prophet could no longer lead prayers. He grew too weak to go to the mosque. He had to appoint someone to act in his place. This honor also fell to the lot of Abu Bakr and he led the last 17 prayers which took place before the death of the Prophet (PBUH).
Abu Bakr shows deep maturity and wisdom
The Holy Prophet occupied a unique place among his people. He was everything to them. From warring ignorant pagans, he had made them a nation of peaceful, God-fearing people. They were “dead” as the Qur’an puts it and the holy Prophet had “raised them to life.” So they rightly came to look upon him as the giver of life. Life without him seemed to be an empty thing.
The news of the Prophet’s (PBUH) death came as a stunning shock to everyone. How could it be? He had been ill for some days, they all knew. But death was unbelievable. That simply could not be. Huge crowds gathered in the mosque. No one knew what to do. There was utter confusion. Umar was so overcome with emotion that he drew his sword and declared, “If anyone says that the Messenger of God is dead. I will cut off his head!”. Uthman, the son in law of the Prophet and great companion, couldn’t speak when approached. Ali the other son in law of the Prophet and great Muslim went and locked himself in his house and didn’t leave or answer the door when people came to him.
Things were in this state when Abu Bakr entered the mosque. Earlier that morning, he had gone a few miles outside of Medina, but had come back on hearing the sad news. He took his stand in a corner of the courtyard and called out to the people. All eyes were turned towards him. Then he began his famous address:
“O people! If anyone among you worshipped Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad is dead. But those who worship God, let him know that He lives eternally and will never die. Let all of us recall the words of the Qur’an. It says, `Muhammad is only a Messenger of God, There have been Messengers who lived and died before him. If he dies or is killed, would you turn back from Islam?”(Qur’an 3:144)
These words of Abu Bakr worked magic. In no time the confusion was gone. The words of the Qur’an swept of all doubts from people’s minds. They got ready to face facts.
Election of Abu Bakr as Caliph (Leader of the Muslims after the Prophet)
The first problem before the people was the election of a new leader. There had to be a head of the State of things could not work. The need was too urgent to allow delay. Delay might have meant disorder and the undoing of all that the Messenger of God had done. The prophet of God had died but the head of the state had to live on.
The two big groups among Muslims were the Muhajirin (refugees from Mecca) and the Ansar (helpers or the people of Medina). The Ansar gathered together at Thaqifa Bani Saida, their meeting place, near the house of Sa’d bin Abada. The talk naturally centered around the election of a Caliph. Saad, the Ansar leader, stood up and said that the Caliph must be from among them. Many voices seconded him. One man, however, stood up and said, “But how about the Muhajirin? They have perhaps a better claim.” “Then let there be two caliphs,” suggested someone, “one from among the Ansar and the other from among the Muhajirin.”
Someone told Abu Bakr what was going on at this gathering. He saw the need to act quickly or confusion might set in again. So taking with him a group of Muhajirin he went to Thaqif Bani Saida. He addressed the gathering and said, “Both the Muhajirin and the Ansar have done great services to Islam. But the former were the first to accept Islam. They were always very close to the Messenger of God. So, O Ansar, let the Caliph be from among them.”
To this a man from the Khazraj tribe replied, “If you don’t want a Caliph from among us, let there be two Caliphs, one an Ansari and the other a Muhajir.”
“That won’t work,” said Abu Obaida bin Jarrah. “O Ansar, you are the people who made Islam strong now, don’t do anything that may undo your work.”
Hearing this, another man said, “O Ansar, if we did anything for Islam, we did it to please God and His Messenger. We did not thereby oblige anybody. This should not be made a plea to win office. Listen, the holy Prophet belonged to the Quraish tribe. The Quraish have a greater right to fill his place. By God, I do not think it right to quarrel with them over this matter. Fear God, and do not oppose them.”
This speech of a man from among them silenced the Ansar. They agreed to have a Muhajir as the Caliph. So Abu Bakr said, “Friends, I think either Umar or Abu Ubaida should be the Caliph. Chose one of these two gentlemen.”
Hearing this both Umar and Abu Ubaida jumped to their feet, and exclaimed, “O Siddiq, how can that be? How can anyone else fill this office as long as you are among us? You are the top man among the Muhajirin. You were the companion of the holy Prophet in the Cave. You led prayers in his place, during his last illness. Prayer is the foremost thing in Islam. With all these qualifications, you are the fittest person to be the successor of the holy Prophet. Hold out your hand that we many pledge loyalty to you.”
But Abu Bakr did not stretch out his hand. Omar saw that delay might lead to the reopening of the whole question. That could easily create difficulties. So he himself took Abu Bakr’s hand and pledged loyalty to him. Others followed his example. Men from all sides rushed to pledge loyalty to the successor of the Prophet. Abu Bakr became Caliph by the general consent of the people.
The First Address
On the following day, Abu Bakr went to the Prophet’s mosque Here people took the general oath of loyalty. When this was over, Abu Bakr mounted the pulpit as the Caliph of Islam. Then he spoke to the gathering as follows:
“O people, I have been elected your leader, although I am not better than anyone from among you. If I do any good, give me your support. If I go wrong, set me right. Listen close, truth and honesty is our trust and responsibility and lying is treachery and disloyalty to Islam and the Muslims. To me, the weak (financially) among you are powerful in my eyes, especially when I give them their due, God willing. And to me, the powerful among you are weak, especially when I take from them and give to the others. God willing”
“If people give up striving for the cause of God, then God sends down disgrace on them. If a people become immorality and evil becomes common among a people, then God sends down tribulations upon them.”
“You must obey me as long as I obey God and His Messenger. If I disobey God and His Messenger, then you must not obey me.”
Such was the Magna Carta granted by the first Caliph of Islam to his people, on the first day of his rule, without their asking. Abu Bakr showed by his example that in Islam government means government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Usama’s Expedition
Some weeks before his death, the holy Prophet has nominated Usama to lead an expedition against the Roman army of Syria. He was to avenge the death of his father, Zaid, the freed slave of the holy Prophet. Zaid was killed by the Syrians in the battle of Muta. The preparations of the expedition were under way when the holy Prophet (PBUH) fell seriously ill and passed away. That held up Usama’s expedition for some weeks. As soon as Abu Bakr became Caliph, the first thing he thought of was the sending out of the expedition.
The death of the holy Prophet (PBUH) led some people to think that Islam was going to end with him. Many tribes had entered the fold of Islam only a short time before. They were by no means firm in the new faith. Many of them, now, showed signs leaving the fold of Islam. Abu Bakr was facing a difficult situation. Some rejected certain acts of worship and others claimed that the chief of their tribe had also become a Prophet. Chaos started to arise.
But Abu Bakr wanted to carry out the commands of the Prophet at all costs. He was determined to send out the expedition planned by the Messenger of God. Some of the companions said that he had better drop the idea for the time being. Trouble was brewing all around, they said. It was unwise to send troops out when they were urgently needed at home. But Abu Bakr would not listen to them. “How can I fold up the flag,” he asked, “which the holy Prophet (PBUH) himself spread out? It is simply unthinkable.”
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