Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) - Excellence and Greatness

[For the life and accomplishments of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him), please click here.  Here, we mention the excellence and greatness of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him), as described in the Hadith and Traditions]


Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) is the first and foremost Muslim.  Herein we present some details from his life.

 

Even before embracing Islam, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) used to lead a very pure life.  The chiefs of Quraish would acknowledge his greatness.  They would confer with him and take his opinion in their important affairs.  Imam Nawawi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) was counted among the chiefs of Quraish.  He was among those who advised them.  He was much loved among them and he would understand their affairs better.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) – The first Muslim

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) used to love the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) even before the declaration of Prophethood and was His friend.  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared His Prophethood, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the first one to believe in Him.  Among the children, the first one was Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) and among the women, the first one was Hadhrat Khadija (May Allah be well pleased with her).

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) was asked:  Who was the first person to embrace Islam?  He said:  Didn’t you hear these couplets of Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thabit (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation:

 

                When you remember the trials and sorrows of the truthful, remember the accomplishments of your brother, Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

                Who is best of all creation after the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and after all the Prophets, the most pious and the most just.  He accomplishes the most responsibilities.

 

                He is the Friend of the Cave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the one who always remained in His company and is praiseworthy among the creation and the first one to testify to the Prophets.  (Al Ist’iyaab, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 294; Haashiyatuz Zurqani ‘Alal Mawahib, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 445)

 

                He was the second of the distinguished personalities on the high mountain when the enemy was roaming around the cave after they had climbed it.

 

                Who is the beloved of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Everyone knows that after the Prophets, he is the best among all creation.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t declare any one to be equal to him.  (Al Ist’iyaab, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 295)

 

Listening to praise of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) – A Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 

Hafidh Ibn ‘Asaker relates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked Hadhrat Hassaan (May Allah be well pleased with him):  Did you say something about Abu Bakr as well?  He said:  Yes!  Then Hadhrat Hassaan (May Allah be well pleased with him) recited the aforementioned couplets. 

 

After listening to the couplets, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: O Hassaan!  How beautiful is this!  (Al Ist’iyaab, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 295)

 

It is mentioned in Kanz Ul ‘Ummal that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Praise Siddiq.  I want to hear it.  When Hadhrat Hassaan (May Allah be well pleased with him) recited the couplets, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was very happy and His blessed teeth were revealed in His smile.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O Hassaan!  You have said the truth.  Indeed!  Siddiq is as you have described him to be.  (Kanz Ul ‘Ummal, Hadith No. 35673)

 

This Hadith shows that listening to the praise of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) like listening to praise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself.  It also shows that praising Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) is a Sunnah of the Companions.  Also, expressing happiness of praising Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) is a Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Selection of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) for Islam – A divine selection

 

A major reason behind Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) embracing was a strange incident.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had not yet declared His Prophethood.  Hadhrat Abu Bar (May Allah be well pleased with him) saw a dream.  An ascetic gave the interpretation that the era of the Prophethood of the Last and Final Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has come and this privilege has been written in your fate that you will believe in Him.  As detailed in this narration of Subul Ul Huda War Rashad:

 

Translation: Before the declaration of Prophethood, he (i.e. Hadhrat Abu Bakr) saw a dream.  He saw that the full moon is descending towards Makkah.  Its radiance has spread to all parts of Makkah and to all its houses.  Then this radiant moon shrunk and came into his lap.

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) described this dream to a scholar from among the People of the Book (Ahle Kitab meaning either Jews or Christians).  He gave the interpretation that the time of the coming of the Last Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), for whom everyone was waiting, is going to dawn and that you are going to be the one who will have the honor of being the closest to Him.  Thus, when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared His Prophethood, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) didn’t hesitate at all (and embraced Islam).  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 303)

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr – First and foremost in committing good deeds

 

It was always the custom of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) that he would never lag behind in performing good deeds.  Instead, he would always be the first one to hasten to good deeds.  For this reason, he became famous as “Abu Bakr.”  “Bakr” means moving forward or taking precedence.  Abu Bakr means the one who moves forward or precedes others.  Accordingly, Hadhrat Siddiq Akbar (May Allah be well pleased with him) would always be the first in good deeds.  Thus, there is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Who is the one among you who is fasting today?  Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Me.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Who is the one among you who has shouldered a bier today?  Hadhrat Abu Bar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Me.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Who is the one among you who has fed a poor person today?  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Me.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Who is the one among you who has called upon a sick person today?  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Me.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The one in whom all these qualities are gathered will enter paradise.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 6333)