Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.)
Early Life and Background
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq bin Utbah bin Abi Quhafah (R.A.), born in 573 CE in Mecca was the great companion of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the first Khalifa of Islam. His birth name, in fact, was Abdullah bin Uthman although ‘Abu Bakr,’ which literally translates ‘Father of the Young Camel’ was a very popular prefix to one’s name in Arab society. He had a connection to the Quraysh tribe which dominated in Mecca and his family was nobel and respected among the Quraysh.
As for Abu Bakr (R.A.), he was gentle, honest and generous man even before he embraced Islam. He was a businessman from whom Lord Elliot rent some of his estates and who was wealthy and honest in conducting business. He himself was always ready to give away his money, and people knew him as a very generous man.
Right from his childhood people testified to the fact that Abu Bakr (R.A.) was wise and prudent. The rationality of his outstanding temperament and his ability to distinguish right from wrong had a serious impact on his existence prior to accepting the mandate of Prophet Mohammed’s religion. He was feared among his fellow tribe members and people ran to him for advice whether in business or other social matters. Many of his peers in the pre-Islamic period of Arabia, Abu Bakr (R.A.) never use to offer his worship to idols and equally never believed that there was more than one god. This monotheistic leaning was of great importance in his instant conversion to Islam when it was explained to him by the Prophet Acceptance of Islam
Abu Bakr (R.A.) offered the Shahadah, and embraced Islam in the very initial stages of Islam. When the prophet of Allah, Muhammad (PBUH) started receiving the revelations from Allah through the Angel Gabriel he preached Islam only to his close relatives and friends. When the Prophet started to call people to Islam, Abu Bakr (R.A.) embraced it the call by embracing Islam without any doubt. It is believed that he is the first male free person to embrace Islam, after Khadijah (R.A) the Prophet’s wife.
Undying adherence to the given message of Islam proved his religious conviction and obedience to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In this respect, we have to take into account not only dedication of Abu Bakr, but also his standing in Quraysh. His conversion to Islam played a crucial role in initiating the change in people’s hearts most of whom were upper echelons of Mecca society. Some of the early men who embraced Islam are Uthman bin Affan, Talha bin Ubaidullah, Zubair bin Al-Awam embraced Islam through Abu Bakr (R.A.).
Position as the Prophet’s (PBUH) Friend
The opinions expressed in it do not belong to the author, but reflect the knowledge of the history of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companion Abu Bakr (R.A.). He also greatly helped in the establishing and defending the young Islamic community; at times using his riches to defend early Muslims from oppression. He bought the emancipation of several oppressed Muslim slaves; one of whom was Bilal ibn Rabah (R.A.), the Prophet’s muezzin.
The early stages of his life as a faithful companion of The Prophet (PBUH) can be described with the major event in his life that took place in the Hijrah from Makkah to Madinah. The Quraysh made up their mind to murder the Prophet and the conditions in Mecca for the Muslims were transforming into dangerous. When the Prophet (PBUH) start to plan on migrating from Makkah to Madinah, it was Abu Bakr al Siddiq (R.A) who was chosen to be his companion during this most important journey. The Hijrah is the point from which the Islamic calendar begins also it was one of the key events in the history of Islam.
As the migrant he demonstrated his loyalty, affection and proper concern towards the safety of the prophet. He always led the Prophet (PBUH) the way, making sure that there was nobody who could harm him and while at other times, he followed behind the Prophet (PBUH) for the same purpose. They insisted that he was always alert and ready to give up the ghost to defend the Prophet. The one who threw a dust cloud over their trail when they fled to the cave of Thawr to avoid the Quraysh was Abu Bakr (R.A.). This incident is mentioned in the Quran in Surah At-Tawbah (9:40 refers to God’s protection of them during Migration.
The Early Years in Medina
Abu Bakr (R.A.) was highly beneficial to the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslim people even after the Hijrah. Muhammad and the Muslims moved to Medina where they found the support, and sharing highest position with the Prophet, Abu Bakr was always consulted. He was wise, most humble and pious of all people; and everybody knew this; he was given several important responsibilities to perform. He fought in most of the early Islamic engagements such as the two battles of Badr, Uhud and the Battle of the Trench.
In the Battle that took place in Badr, Abd al-Rahman the son of Abu Bakr, who had not accepted the call to Islam was in the side of Quraysh. Later, Abd al-Rahman boasted that he once had the chance to kill his father and decided not to do it. Abu Bakr (R.A.) stood up to the challenge, saying had he met the son, he wouldn’t spare him and would kill him for Allah and His Messenger. It was to demonstrate that this man, Abu Bakr, was fully devoted to the cause of Islam without regard to his family.
Abu Bakr (R.A.) was also very generous, and compassionate and lest his wealth to defend and work for Islam. Once or twice, he would donate all his money for the welfare of Muslims and for the Jihad. One such incident is into the Tabuk expedition where the Prophet (PBUH) requested the companions to provide money for the army. Being self-made the Prophet told Abu Bakr to sell those properties and distribute the proceeds among the poor and needy, But when Abu Bakr offered all his possessions to the cause, when the Prophet asked him what he left for his family he replied, “I have left Allah’s cause and His Prophet.”
Abu Bakr’s Title: Al-Siddiq
The title “Al Siddiq” – The Truthful was given to Abu Bakr (R. A.) because of his repentant belief in the truth of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). This title was most prominently highlighted when Muslims celebrated Isra and Mi’raj, the night journey and ascent of the Prophet to the skies. When people of Quraysh tease prophet Muhammad that he must be lying about his journey from Mecca to Bait al Maqdis to Jerusalem to the seventh sky one night, Abu Bakr (R.A) was the first to stand for the Prophet and supported the truth. He once declared that, “If he says so, then it is right.” His instant victory in the affair of migration and also acceptance of the Prophet’s miraculous journey also establishes him as one of those who had total and unquestioned belief in the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Final Days of the Prophet (PBUH) and Appointment as Caliph
While the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was on his death bed, the company of Abu Bakr (R.A.) was always with him. During the last disease of the Prophet, people asked Abu Bakr (R.A.) to offer the prayers for the Muslims which reflects his stance in the Muslim society. It was considered the preparation for his becoming the first caliph after the prophet’s death.
The Muslims were disoriented and mourned when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) passed on in 632 CE. The companions convened to talk about the political position of the Muslims ummah and after consultation the decision was made to appoint Abu Bakr (R.A.) as the first caliph of Islam. He was elected unanimously because everyone considered him most suitable and fit to succeed the Prophet (PBUH) among the Muslims.
In his inaugural speech as caliph, Abu Bakr (R.A.) delivered a profound message, saying:
Yea I have been given a power to govern you but am not the best of you. If you want to keep me active and productive as a student, clearly direct me and guide me when I am doing right, correct me when I am wrong. Speaking the truth is a virtue or a responsibility while telling a lie is betrayal. Among you, the weak is strong in my opinion as far as I have not established his rights if Allah wills and the strong among you to me is weak as far as I have not taken what is due from him, if Allah wills.
This speech was characterizing his humbleness in personality and his belief in fairness and equity in leadership.
The Ridda Wars
There were some challenges which explain some of the difficulties, which encountered Caliph Abu Bakr (R.A.) particularly during his four-year rule, and these include the Ridda Wars or the Wars of Apostasy. The tribes in Arabia apostatized or stopped paying the zakat after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These tribes had argued that they followed the Prophet (PBUH) and consequently, upon his demise, their loyalty could not be held on the religion of Islam.
That is why Abu Bakr (R.A.) stood against these apostate movements and announced that whoever regrets the payment of zakat or leaves Islam, will be fought. His commitment to stop the division of the Muslim community and keep Islam as the leading religion in Arabian peninsula was the reason and the suppressed of these rebellions. The results of the Ridda Wars strengthening of the Caliphate and preservation of the unity of the Islamic state were achieved.
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