I am not Тhe Best of You (1/4)

How did this excellent great man live as а ruler, and how did he act as caliph? It was he, who born as а chief (among his people) and lived as а chief. It was he, from whom no merit escaped, and in whom no good quality was missing.

It was he, who rescued Islam from a certain danger, and restored to it its life and stability. It was he, under whose feet, the thrones of both Khourau and Caesar started to fall down, and at whose hands, the ancient world entirely began to collapse.

Did the (office of) caliphate change his true disposition and his conduct of life? Did he forget his humility and his merits in the crowd of his victories? Did he live as а caliph (and seated himself in а place) above the people or did he live as an ordinary one amongst them? Let's then stand in his hospitality in order to be acquainted with all of that; and let's start with the first moments of his caliphate.

Here is the, shyly taking his steps towards the pulpit of The Messenger of Allah (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him), i.e. this pulpit, on which The Messenger of Allah (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) very often addressed the Muslims, calling them to guidance and to (believe in) the right and true religion.

Here is Abu Bakr, ascending а single grade (of the pulpit) after its real master had disappeared from it (by his death). He ascended only two grades, where he sat down. Indeed, he did not allow for himself to ascend all the grades (of the pulpit), for he did not allow himself to sit in the same place where The Messenger of Allah (Allah’s blessing and peace be upon him) used to sit.

Here is he, receiving the gathering people, reciting to them his pledge:

"О people! I've been appointed as ruler over you, though I’m not the best of you. If I did well (to you), then you should support me, and if I did evil (to you), then, you should guide me to what is right. Behold! The weak person amongst you would be considered as strong in my sight until I bring back to him his right (usurped by others). Behold! The strong person among you would be considered as weak in my sight until I take from him the right of others, which he usurped. You should obey me as long as I comply with (the orders and instructions of) Allah and His Messenger. But, if I deviated (from that), then you would (have the right) not to obey me."

Although there are lots of pledges and treaties, as recorded in the history, addressed by so many rulers in the beginning of their ruling, we did not, and would not find such wisdom and balance of justice (as involved in this pledge of Abu Bakr).

But, what is greater and more wonderful was that the man of such а pledge never deviated from it even for а moment, nor did he become far from its terms (even as little as) а hairbreadth.

But, Abu Bakr, with this marvelous statement of his, placed the responsibilities of the honest ruler within the framework of truthfulness and commitment, and highlighted the real nature of every valid and fitting government. "I’ve been appointed as ruler over you, though I’m not the best of you." By Allah! how wonderful beginning it was!

Indeed, he wanted to remove from the hearts of people any illusion, which might lead them to overestimate the ruler. He intended to assure to them that the matter of ruling was neither а prestige nor а privilege (which might put the ruler in а superior position over all the people). But it should be а general service (for all the people), implying, in most of its levels, all sorts of responsibilities and difficulties.

In this enlightening statement, he decided that the ruling was а function other than а (process of) superiority (over others), а (matter of) cooperation, other than а (means of) haughtiness. He also decided that the ruler was only an individual in the nation, and not that the nation (should be in the possession of) а single individual.

''I’ve been appointed as ruler over you, though I’m not the best of you." It is true that he was not the best of them only because he was а ruler. But, he was the best of them because he was а great wise as well as he was the Truly Believer, who had of truthfulness, faith, honesty, and right guidance what made him the second of two (persons, the first of whom was The Messenger of Allah).

Who might be worthier than him (of stating) those words? Who might be more right and deserving than Abu Bakr to have such а situation? It was а situation of the ruler who perceived very well that he would be great so far as the people of his nation were great, that he would be free so far as the people of his nation were free, that he would be strong so far as the people of his nation were strong as well, and that he would be safe so far as the people of his nation were safe too.

The only way of achieving that, in his sight, was that the people should occupy their fitting positions, and be well-aware of the fact that they were the only guarantee for all expected goodness, security and peace of both the nations and its ruler.

"I’ve been appointed as ruler over you, though I’m not the best of you. If I did well (to you), then you should support me, and if I did evil (to you), then, you should guide me to what is right." This was the function of the people in the sight of Abu Bakr, according to which, their essential relation to their ruler should be clear, i.e. to help him undertake his responsibilities. But, this would be achieved only if the people stood as clear-sighted partners and not as merely blind followers of him: i.e. to support him if he did well, and to guide him to the right if he did evil.

Then, Abu Bakr moved in his speech and pledge to the supremacy of law, which he made clear, affirming his insistence on (sticking to) it:

"Behold! The weak person amongst you would be considered as strong in my sight until I bring back to him his right (usurped by others). Behold! The strong person among you would be considered as weak in my sight until I take from him the right of others, which he usurped. You should obey me as long as I comply with (the orders and instructions of) Allah and His Messenger. But, if I deviated (from that), then you would (have the right) not to obey me."

How truthful and wonderful he was! He was а man of such good characteristics and merits among this believing community, who began his caliphate by calling the people persistently to take their places (as real partners in the process of ruling) beside him. They should have the same rights (he had), and fulfill the same responsibilities (he would fulfill).

Yes. He was so much great when he informed the people that he was not the best of them, and that he was always in need of their favours, opinions, self-confidence and constancy of truth.

However, he accepted the office of caliphate, for which he had no longing or desire; and were it not for the serious consequences of those decisive days (following the death of The Prophet), he would have taken shelter in а far comer, and escaped from that, to which the people used to rush, and for which they used to compete one another.

He had told the truth when he said: "By Allah! I was not eager to have the office of caliphate, even for а day or а night, nor did I ask Allah for it, either secretly or publicly." Yes. He never had longing for it. Were it not for his thinking that by leaving it, he would give up the responsibilities enjoined upon him by his religion and faith; he surely would have fled away from it.

(Continued)