Abu Bakr Al Siddiq(RA)

Who are the four Kholafa'a Al Rashideen?

Today we are going to speak about the first Khalifa, that is Abu Bakr Alsiddiq(RA)

His real name was not Abu Bakr! It was Abdullah Bin Abi Quhafa. However, the most famous title that was given to him was 'Al Siddiq', which is derived from 'Al sidq'; (Truth).

Abu Bakr was soft, compassionate and very sociable. He was a season traveler and a successful businessman. He had been around and had met so many people. He knew the leaders of the tribes and was very famous, in fact people were more familiar with the face of Abu Bakr than they were with the face of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

Abu Bakr was a specialist in Genealogy, he knew the names of the tribes their origins; where they were from and their ancestry.

Here is a physical description of Abu Bakr, he was medium to short in height, very slim and slender. In fact extremely slim, you could see the bones on his cheeks and his eyes were deep in the socket. He was very fair skinned.

He was a very social person, very approachable and likable. People loved his company because of his very compassionate nature and kindness.Everything about him was good but he had a hot temper, however he would calm down very quickly and seek forgiveness and apologise.

Abu Bakr (RA) was unique, they say that most of the Sahaba hesitated before they accepted Islam, they would think about it first, research it, or ask people about it but not Abu Bakr (RA). He was the only Sahabi who accepted Islam with no hesitation. Abu Bakr was 38 years old when he became Muslim,and when he accepted Islam he gave all his money for the sake of Allah.

Rasul Allah peace be upon him and Abu Bakr had a special relationship, they were very close friends even before Islam and became even closer after Islam. Abu Bakr was not only a friend, he was a companion, an adviser, a financial supporter, a body guard and confident to Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him.

His personality was amazing and surprising, whenever you pulled out a list of good deeds, you would find the name of Abu Bakr on the top. His name would be the first name.. He was the first Muslim, he was the first Khalifa, the first and only one to be with the Prophet in Hijra -migration- , the first in'Imaan' (faith). Rasulullah peace be upon him said: “If the Eemaan of Abu Bakr was weighed against the Eemaan of the people of the earth, the Eemaan of Abu Bakr would outweigh the others.”

[ Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in ‘al-Jamia’ lashu’ab al-Eemaan’ (1:18) and its narrators are trustworthy.]

Once the Prophet (s.a.w.) asked the congregation right after the Fajr prayers: “Who began this day fasting?” Abu Bakr said: “I did.” The Prophet said: “Who participated in a funeral procession today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. The Prophet said: “Who fed a needy person today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. He said: “Who visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr said: “I did”. Then the Prophet said: “These things cannot all meet in a single person but that he will enter Paradise.” [Muslim]

Umar ibn Al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered us to give charity and at the time I possessed some wealth. I said to myself, “If there is a day I can do better than Abu Bakr, then this is the one.” So I went with half of my wealth to the Messenger of Allah and he said, “What have you left for your family?” I said, “The same amount.” Then Abu Bakr came with everything he had. The Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr, what have you left for your family?” He said, “Allah and His messenger.” I said, “By Allah, I will never do better than Abu Bakr.”Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3675. Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to At-Tirmidhi

The Prophet peace be upon him had once said: "Whoever has done me a favor in this 'Dunya' (life), I have repaid their favour. As for Abu Bakr; Allah will repay him on the day of judgement"

The love Abu Bakr had for the prophet was one of a kind. He would accompany the prophet in all the battles and in the narration, it was mentioned, during the battles Abu Bakr would sometimes run in front of the prophet, or to his right side, or to his left and sometimes to the back. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said: "What are you doing Abu Bakr?" Abu Bakr replied: " Oh messenger of Allah when I think somebody might attack you from the front, then I look around and say maybe someone would attack you from the back so I run to the back". This was Abu Bakr's love for the Prophet peace be upon him.

In another narration it was mentioned that Abu Bakr and the Prophet were going to a cave and Abu Bakr went ahead of the Prophet to clean up the cave for before the Prophet arrived and he saw a number of holes, so he took off his garment and ripped it up into small pieces, and covered the holes with the pieces of his garment, but there was one hole that he could not cover because he ran out of pieces of cloth. He then asked the Prophet to come in and after a while the Prophet peace be upon him wanted to rest so Abu Bakr (RA) said place your head upon my thigh and with the other foot he covered the hole so that he would block any insects from coming out. However, while the prophet was resting on Abu Bakr's thigh there was a snake in the hole that Abu Bakr blocked with his foot and that snake bit the foot of Abu Bakr (RA) and he felt an excruciating pain but he did not move and did not wake Prophet Mohammad up! However, he could not bear the pain so his tears were rolling down his cheek, and they fell on the cheek of the Prophet.Prophet Muhammad then woke up and saw the pain that Abu Bakr was going through and he said to Abu Bakr: Why didn't you wake me up? and Abu Bakr replied: " O messenger of Allah I didn’t want to. Subhana Allah!

If we look at the life of Abu Bakr we do not have knowledge of his whole life, but there are five incidents that tell us who Abu Bakr was!

The first one is his Islam, as soon as the message was presented to him he said: "أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله و أشهد أن محمد رسول الله" - I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah - He did not give it a second thought.

 The second one is in Al Isra'awa Al Mi'raj:

The steadfastness of Abu Bakr’s character and faith in Islam was demonstrated when the Prophet made a night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then ascended to Heaven and returned. People had come to Abu Bakr to mock about the Prophet’s journey, asserting that these events could not have taken place within one night.

Abu Bakr was steadfast and he understood that with Allah, anything is possible. His faith was strong and unshaken. He reaffirmed the Prophet’s statements and said that “If he (the Prophet peace be upon him) said so, then he has told the truth. I have believed him in what is more distant (to reason) that that, of divine information.”It was this incident that gave him the nickname As-Siddiq (the truthful).

The third standing point was during the death of the Prophet peace be upon him. Abu Bakr was the only one among the Companions who had the wisdom to handle this situation before it escalated into a nationwide hysteria and crisis. He spoke to no one until he went directly to Aisha’s RA room, where the lifeless body of the Messenger lay. He uncovered the face of the Prophet, leaned over, kissed him and said: “Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, (O Allah’s Apostle), you are good in life and in death. By Allah in Whose Hands my life is, Allah will never make you taste death twice.”

He then went out, asked Umar to be seated and addressed the assembly: “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped Allah, then Allah is alive and shall never die.” He then recited “(O Muhammad) Verily you will die, and they also will die.” (Qur’an39:30) “Muhammad is no more than an Apostle; and indeed many Apostles have passed away, before him, If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah and Allah will give reward to those Who are grateful.” (Qur’an3:144)

Ibn Abbas said: “By Allah, it was as if the people had never heard the Qur’anic verse until Abu Bakr recited it as a reminder. So the people began reciting it until there was not a person who did not recite it.”

Hence, Abu Bakr’s wise intervention calmed unease and tension, and helped people in the transition to the next phase of Islam, where they were to live the Message without their beloved leader and Messenger peace upon him at the helm.

The forth standing point:

Before the Prophet died he ordered an army to go fight with the Romans, the first confrontation with the Roman Empire the Muslim army was 2000 soldiers and they were facing an army of 200,000; In one narration it was mentioned that it was 400,000 and he gave them the following instructions: I want you to lead this army and to step with your horses over the land where your father was killed, but the messenger of Allah passed away before the army left. Then Abu Bakr (RA) became khalifah and the tribes surrounding Madina apostate so the sahaba were coming to Abu Bakr (RA) and telling him that this army that is supposed to go fight the Romans keep it in Madina to protect Madina because this is our priority, this is where the companions are and the family of Muhammad peace be upon him is, and it is our responsibility to protect them. Abu Bakr then said: " Do you want me to reverse an order that was given by the Prophet peace be upon him? It was Muhammad peace be upon him who sent this army out! and even if everyone in Madina is killed and I am the only one alive, I am still going to send this army out!"

THE CALIPHATE RULE

The Khilafa of (ruling) Abu Bakr's (RA) was very short, just little over two years.

Hence Islam entered a new era after the death of the Prophet peace be upon him. The appointment of Abu Bakr as the first Caliph was already hinted by the Prophet peace be upon him, who, on his illness prior to his death, had appointed Abu Bakr to lead the people in congregational prayer. We will not go into the political details of his appointment, but instead set out his achievements in securing the integrity and unity of the Muslim Ummah during his short rule below.

Abu Bakr first Speech

The continued humility of Abu Bakr, now the leader of a powerful people, is demonstrated in his inaugural speech:

“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”.

A treasury was created in his time and a stipend of food and money were given from the Treasury to the Caliph. Abu Bakr was insistent that the Treasury only give what would suffice for him and his dependants reasonably and fairly. He used to still live frugally and was very careful not to eat anything where there was suspicion and was not extravagant. He was concerned that extravagance would lead to illegal ways of living.

He once said, “Every human body which grew up from an ill-gotten property, would be more entitled to enter the fire of Hell, so I am afraid that a portion of my body might grow up from this unlawful morsel.”

So much so, that before he died he called Aisha RA, his daughter, to look at his wealth and whatever increased in his wealth after being appointed Caliph was to be returned to the Treasury.

Umar cried when he saw what was left of Abu Bakr’s assets after Aisha RA returned the wealth to the Treasury. Abu Bakr’s assets only consisted of a camel, a milking vessel and a garment. A complete change from when he first entered Islam where he was a wealthy man – at the peak of his wealth. Abu Bakr had spent everything he had for Allah.

How He Lived:

Abu Bakr was so concerned of going astray that he would continuously supplicate to Allah: “O Allah, the turner of hearts! Make my heart constantly firm in your religion” and he would say “By Allah, I would not rest assured and feel safe from Allah’s punishment even if one of my feet was in Paradise”. He lived humbly and in humility to Allah.

The end of Abu Bakr's (RA) life:

Abu Bakr (RA) bathed in a day that was very cold and he became sick and his situation was getting worse day by day. He felt that this is the end of his life! The illness of Abu Bakr (RA) carried until it was the fifteenth day! He asked his daughter Aisha (RA): "What day did Muhammad peace be upon him die?" she said: "He died on a Monday" Abu Bakr (RA) said: "And this is Monday, so I think that this would be my last day". He died on a Monday and Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him died on a Monday. The Prophet at the age of 63 and Abu Bakr died at age 63, He was following Muhammad peace be upon him in his life and in his death.

His last words in Dunyahwere "My Lord take me as a Muslim and join me with the righteous. His Khilafa was 2 years, 3 months, and 10 days. His grave is in the room of his daughter Aisha (RA) right next to the grave of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and out of respect for the Prophet the head of Abu Bakr was placed at the same level of the shoulders of Muhammad peace be upon him.

In the final phases of the Prophet's life, he said: “There is no one among the people who has been more generous to me with his life and his property than Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhaafa, and if I was to take an intimate friend, I would take Abu Bakr as my intimate friend. But, the friendship of Islam is better. Block off every door in this Masjid except the door of Abu Bakr.” [Bukhari]