I am not The Best of You (4/4)

When he became caliph, and when Allah opened for them (the Muslims) what might enable him to live in luxury and comfort, he took (as remuneration for his job) from the treasury no more than the minimum requirements of living, and no more than what was given to any of the houses of the Muslims, having the same number of members as his household.

In this context, he asked himself why he should take more than he deserved. Was he better than the others to assign to himself more than what they would get? He answered himself that he was not better than anyone. Then, let him live at the same standard of living of the ordinary citizen in his nation and society, although when he was living depending upon his private trade and wealth, the standard of his living was fitting for his income, which was expressive of his abundant richness and great luxury.

When he was appointed as caliph, he cancel1ed everything, which might give him any kind of privilege (over others) at any cost. On the other hand, he brought back the favour of those who selected him as caliph, by putting himself on the same level as theirs, and doing his best for their sake.

However, the greatness of Abu Bakr, followed in this connection by ‘Umar, the Distinguisher of Truth from False, was more clearly manifest in the fact that both of them abided by such an unprecedented way of life, while they were sitting on the throne of caliphate; and where did they do so? They did so in а nation, which was new, in all the senses of the word, with its conquests and victories in all directions of the world.

The ruler of а nation as such must have had, to some extent, an amount of vanity and а (desire for) enjoyment of (the luxuries of) life, whatever abstinent and pious he might have been.

But, nothing as such happened. On the contrary, Abu Bakr lived with his sincere tears, repeating his famous statement: "Would that I’ve been а bitten tree!" so did ‘Umar with his sincere tears, repeating his well-known statement: "Would that the mother of ‘Umar never gave birth to him!"

Both of them distributed among the people the spoils taken from Khosrau and Caesar, although they used to walk, while each was wearing his garment, which had а lot of patches. When Abu Bakr died (as we mentioned earlier), he left no more than а camel, а milking vessel, and а garment, and be insisted (according to his will) that they should be given back to the treasury.

О inhabitants of this planet, on which we live! Do you have anyone who might be equal (in value and characteristics) to those pure ideals? Behold! It is the school of the Holy Qur’an. Behold! It is the school of Muhammad (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) (which created such good ideals).

The present statement "I’m not the best of you" illustrates to us the true nature of this unique character of Abu Bakr. Since he embraced Islam, and before he was appointed as caliph, he situated himself at the same level of the people. Now, let's pay attention to Rabie'ah AI-Aslami, the companion of The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him):

"There was а discussion between me and Abu Bakr, who said to me something which I disliked. Then, he regretted and said: "О Rabie'ah! Reply to me with something like it in implementation of the law of equality." I said: "I would not do so." He said: "You should take your right from me; otherwise, I would complain you to Allah's Messenger (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him)." I said: "I would not do."

He went to The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him), and I followed him. Then, some people from (the tribe of) Aslam came and said: "Allah's mercy be upon Abu Bakr! Why does he invoke The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) against you, since he said to you what he had said?" I said to them:

"Keep silent! He is Abu Bakr, about whom Allah said: "He was the second of two persons in the cave", I beware you, for he might turn and see you supporting me against him, and then he would become angry, with the result that The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) would become angry for his sake, and consequently, Allah Almighty would become angry for their sake, which may lead to the destruction of (the tribe of) Rabie'ah."

I went behind Abu Bakr until he entered upon The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) and told him what had happened. The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) raised his head towards me and said: "О Rabie'аh! What do you have to do with As-Siddiq?" I said: "О Messenger of Allah! He said to me something, which I disliked. Then, he requested me to reply to him with the like of it. But I rejected to do." The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) said: "You have done well, О Rabie'ah! do not return it to him, but say: Might Allah forgive you, О Abu Bakr!" I said: "Might Allah forgive you, О Abu Bakr!" Then, Abu Bakr turned away weeping."

Now, let's consider the matter. It was just а single word, which skipped unintentionally from him of course; it was not to be of the obscene language, because his good morals were not to allow him to do so. Moreover, He was reported to have said nothing as such, even during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance.

It is true that it was not а harsh word, though it caused pain to Rabie'ah. But, Abu Bakr was shaken because of it, for which he insisted on applying the law of equality to him, even though he occupied, by then, the second position in Islam after The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him).

But, why did he not do what he had done, since he saw the first man (The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) in Islam) having the same situation, and following the same method? Once, he struck а man in his chest while he was straightening the rows of fighters in one of the holy battles. As soon as he had seen that this strike pained him, he (The Prophet) uncovered his chest, and asked the man to give him а similar strike.

Abu Ad-Darda narrated to us а story like this when he said: "I was sitting in the company of The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him), when Abu Bakr came, catching hold of the end of his garment until his knees were visible. He said: "О Messenger of Allah! There was а quarrel between me and ‘Umar Ibn AI-Khattab. (Feeling that perhaps I caused him to be angry) I regretted, and hastened to meet him, in order to beg his pardon, but he rejected." The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) said to him: "Might Allah forgive you, О Abu Bakr!"  

On the other hand, ‘Umar regretted and went to the house of Abu Bakr, (to apologize to him), but he did not find him. He then went to The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) and said: "О Messenger of Allah! No doubt, I was more unjust (to Abu Bakr than he was to me)."

Upon that, The Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessing and peace be upon him) said: "Verily, Allah has sent me (as а Messenger) to you, and all of you said: "He (The Prophet) is а liar", except for Abu Bakr who said: "No doubt, you have told the truth". Furthermore, he supported me with himself and his property. So, should you keep my companion (Abu Bakr far from your hurt) for my sake?"

Whenever а fleeting word skipped from him to ‘Umar or to Rabie'ah, he would not say to himself: "There is no harm, and Allah would forgive it for Abu Bakr, the man of glorious situations, and great sacrifices".

That’s because the blessing of success and high qualities, granted to him by Allah, never motivated him to become arrogant, so much as it prompted him to be thankful, and urged not to be modest and gratuitous.

That was the essence of his relationship with all of the people before and after his caliphate, i.e. he was not better of them so much as he was just one of them, having no superiority over them but by virtue of his outstanding merits and high greatness.