Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)

In defense for the Prophet's Companions (1)

1- Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people] and peace be upon the noblest of all Messenger and Prophets: our Prophet Muhammad, upon his family, upon all his Companions.

The attack against the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was severe, and I made up my mind to write a series of articles to explain the status of the Companions whom are attacked by irreligious people.

Those Companions about whom Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Qur'an: "Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least. * That Allâh may reward the men of truth for their truth (i.e. for their patience at the accomplishment of that which they covenanted with Allâh), and punish the hypocrites, if He wills, or accept their repentance by turning to them (in Mercy). Verily, Allâh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surat Al Ahzab: 23 - 24].

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first Rightly-Guided Caliph, the successor of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), one of the ten men who was given glad tidings with Paradise, the one who accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) during the migration, and the best man after the Prophet (peace be upon him). Imam Abu Ash-Shaykh said in his book "Examples in the Prophetic Hadith": The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "O Abu Bakr, your example in the angels is like Mika'il who comes down with mercy, and your example in Prophets is like Abraham (peace be upon him) when his people belied him and did whatever they did with him. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surat Ibrahim: 36].

So, who is Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)?

His name was `Abdullah ibn Abu Quhafah, `Uthman ibn `Amir ibn `Amr ibn Ka`b ibn Sa`d ibn Taym, ibn Murrah ibn Ka`b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib, ibn Fihr. He was connected with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in Murrah ibn Ka`b where Murrah was the seventh grandfather of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). So, he was of a noble lineage such as the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he was from Taym ibn Murrah. His name in the Pre-Islamic Period was `Abdul-Ka`bah then the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave him the name of `Abdullah. [1]

* The second of the two: Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "The second of the two; when they (Muhammad peace be upon him and Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him) were in the cave, he (peace be upon him) said to his companion (Abu Bakr may Allah be pleased with him): Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us." [Surat At-Tawbah: 40]. Imam Al Bukhari said: Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I was in the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the cave, and on seeing the traces of the pagans, I said: "O Allah's Messenger! If one of them (pagans) lifts up his foot, he will see us." He said: "What do you think of two, the third of whom is Allah?"[2]

* The one who will be released from Hell-Fire: Imam At-Tirmidhy reported: "You are the `Atiq of Allah from the hell." Since that day, he was named `Atiq."[3]

* The master of elderly people in Paradise: Imam At-Tirmidhy reported: Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Abu Bakr and `Umar are the masters of elderly people in Paradise from the former and the later except the Prophets and Messengers. O Ali, do not tell them that." [4]

* Those to me like hearing and sight: Imam At-Tirmidhy said: `Abdullah ibn Hantab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that on seeing Abu Bakr and Umar, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "These two are the hearing and the sight."[5]

Abu Bakr embraces Islam:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) hasted to his close friend Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to tell about the honor of Allah to him in the image of charging him with the mission and prophethood, and to call him to believe in him as a Prophet. Thereupon, he embraced Islam without hesitation and uttered the testimony of faith, thereby he became the first one to believe in the Messenger of Allah from men because he was the closest friend to him before the mission and he knew well the morals of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Moreover, he knew the truthfulness of the Prophet (peace be upon him) which prevents him from lying against the people, so how about lying against Allah?! Therefore, as soon as the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him that Allah sent him as a Messenger, he believed him without hesitation.

* The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I have never called someone to Islam but he stumbles, hesitates, and thinks deeply except Abu Bakr who did not stumble or hesitate when I called him to Islam."

Dr. `Abbas Al Janaby said about Abu Bakr:

He was the second of the two to whom we stand out of honor.

Honoring him is an honor that cannot be reached.

He was the one who aided the chosen [the Prophet] and supported.

He believed him when people differed about him.

He would shake the earth if something bad happens to him.

He was ready to sacrifice his soul for his sake.

The cave stands a witness as well as the net.

Of the spider which was covering him lest it may be caught.

He was the one who would never declare the secret of his friend.

Whatever I describe he [Abu Bakr] is beyond all these descriptions.

Ask the Companions about the battle of Badr and others.

Ask those upon their ribs they crawled.

He was standing holding his sword above Al `Arish.

To whom victory was running to embrace.

He was the one whom was given a status from his lord.

It is the companionship which was written in the sheets (the Qur'an).

That was the one who shall not be touched by Hell-Fire.

And fear never sneaked into his heart.

All Companions were brothers and their first.

Was the one whose grave was honored by his body.

Yesterday, my eyes saw his image and I was.

shivering from the greatness of his face.

He passed by me saying: Do not fail sad.

about the words of a crazy or a pervert.

O my master, I said: The pledge of Allah is applicable on me.

That I shall take my right from every stupid that will insult you.

* `Umar (may was Allah be pleased with him) used to check the condition of Abu Bakr after the Fajr (Dawn) Salah, and he used to offer the Fajr Salah then get out of the Masjid to go to one of the suburbs of Medina everyday. He asked himself: What makes him go to that suburb everyday?

One day he followed him until he reached a far-away tent, and when Abu Bakr got out, `Umar entered to find an old blind woman with her two young children. `Umar said to her: O servant of Allah, who are you?

She said: I am an old blind woman in this tent I live with my two daughters whose father died and left us without support.

`Umar said: Who was that old man who came to visit you? She did not know that he was Abu Bakr. She said: He is an old man whom I do not know, and used to come everyday to sweep our tent, make breakfast for us, and milk our goats. Thereupon, `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wept and said: You have burdened caliphs after you Abu Bakr.

On the day when the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away:[6]

Abu Bakr and `Umar ibn Al Khattab went out to address the people. He said: Sit down `Umar. However, `Umar refused to sit down. The people approached them and left `Umar. Abu Bakr said: Whoever of you was worshipping Muhammad, let it be known that Muhammad (peace be upon him) has passed away, but whoever worships Allah should know that Allah is alive and never dies. Allah says: "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allâh; and Allâh will give reward to those who are grateful." [Surat Al `Imran: 144]. He said: By Allah, the people were like hearing this Ayah for the first time when Abu Bakr recited it. The people started to recite it until they all were reciting it. Sa`id ibn Al Musayyab told me that `Umar said: When I heard Abu Bakr reciting the Ayah, I calmed down and I could relax because my feet were not capable of bearing me. When I heard him, I fell down and realized that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has passed away.

Abu Bakr said about the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):

In the evening I found huge burdens that were befalling one me.

Like huge rocks that weaken my body.

I wish the Day of Recompense had been established at his death.

So that we could see no money or children.

I am not upset about anything in the world.

After I had seen the death of the Prophet.

The people knew that he was free of defects.

And in chastity, no one was like him.

How many calamities will trouble me after you?!

When I recall that I shall never see you again.

Myself may be ransomed for you.

How beautiful your name, manners, and body you were!

The succession of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as was mentioned in At-Targhib Wat-Tarhib of Imam Al Mundhiry (3 / 166 - 167]:

When Abu Bakr wanted to give succession to `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he sent to him saying:

"I call you to something that is tiring for the one who in charge, so fear Allah O `Umar. Obey Him by fearing Him because a pious person is protected by Allah. Whoever commands with the truth then acts according to falsehood or enjoins good then does a deniable act, his wish shall cease soon and his action shall be frustrated. If you are given power over them, stop shedding their blood, stop usurping their properties, and stop your tongue from slandering their honor, and there is no might nor strength save in Allah.

O Allah, grant us Your Love and the love of those who love you, and do not let us pass away except you are satisfied with them, O the Most Merciful.

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[1] Al Jawharah Fi Nasab An-Naby Wa Ashabihil-`Asharah (2: 105).

[2] Sahih Al Bukhari [6: 66].

[3] Sunan At-Tirmidhy, verified by Ahmad Shakir (5: 616).

[4] Sunan At-Tirmidhy, verified by Ahmad Shakir (5: 611).

[5] Sunan At-Tirmidhy, verified by Ahmad Shakir (5: 613).

[6] Sahih Al Bukhari [6: 14].