The magificence and nobility of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him)

[The first part of this article ran here.  This is the second and concluding part]

With his efforts, many people embraced Islam.  He would spend freely in the path of Allah.  Once, he spent 40,000 pieces of gold in a single day and night, 10,000 in the day, 10,000 in the night, 10,000 secretly and to set an example before others 10,000.  This act of his so liked by Allah Most High that the Lord Almighty revealed a verse of the Holy Quran about Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).  That verse is:

 

Those who spend (in the cause of Allah) by night and day, privately or publicly, have their reward with their Lord. And (on the Day of Resurrection) they shall neither fear nor grieve.  Surah Baqarah (2:274)

 

When Ummayya bin Khalaf tortured Hadhrat Bilal (May Allah be well pleased with him) to no end, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) bought him off Ummayya in lieu of 1/2 ser of gold and set him free.  The father of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) who had not yet embraced Islam chided him:  Instead of spending so much money on setting free weak people, use that amount in freeing someone strong so that in times of difficulty, he helps us.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  I didn’t do this for any worldly gain but to gain the pleasure and approval of Almighty Allah. 

 

Almighty Allah Himself mentions his sincere intention and pure deeds in the Holy Quran:

 

Rather (he spends) seeking the pleasure of his Lord, Most High.  And soon shall he be well-pleased (with Allah for His bestowal and Allah with him for his fidelity).  Surah Lail (92: 20, 21)

 

The excellence of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) on the Day of Judgment

 

In paradise, there will be a different door for every good deed.  On the Day of Judgment, persons committing that good deed (predominantly) will be called from that door.  The greatness of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) will be such he will be called fro every door.  As mentioned in this Hadith of Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  For every person who performs a good deed, there is a door in paradise.  Those peoples will be called from that very door in paradise.  There is a door for those who fast.  Its name is “Rayyan.”  Those who fast will be called from this door.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Will anyone be called from all of these doors?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Yes and I am sure O Abu Bakr that you will be among those persons.  (Musnad Imam Ahmed bin Hambal, Hadith No. 10054)

 

This was the reason why the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: Whoever will be glad on seeing a person who is immune of hell, let him see Abu Bakr.  (Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No. 4378; Tarikh Dimashq, Vol. 13, Pg. No. 78)

 

Reward of all believers for Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

That Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the first to embrace Islam can also be deduced from the Hadith which Khateeb Baghdadi has related with his own chain of authority from Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him):

 

Translation: O Abu Bakr!  From Prophet Adam (May peace be upon him) to me, whoever believes in me, Allah Most High will send that reward will to me (also) and from my declaration of Prophethood to the Day of Judgment, the reward of all believers will be given to you.  (Tareekh Baghdad, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 252)

 

There is a Hadith in Imam Baihaqui’s Shua’bul Iman:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Huzail bin Shurahbeel (May Allah be well pleased with him) says that Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  If the faith of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) is weighed against the faith of the inhabitants of the whole world, surely his faith will outweigh the others.  (Shua’bul Iman, Hadith No. 35)

 

The sacrifice of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

The way Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the foremost in performing good deeds, in the same way, there is no parallel to him in other matters as well.  Forget about actually implementing what he did to express his love and devotion to Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), we can’t even imagine it.

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: I couldn’t overtake Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) in any matter.

 

Thus, there is a Hadith in the Sihah (the six most authoritative collections of Hadith), Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) ordered us to give charity.  By chance, I had money at that time.  I thought that surely I will overtake Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) this time.  With this intention, I presented half of my money to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) presented to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) all that he had.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O ‘Umar!  What did you leave for your household?  I said:  I have left half of my wealth. 

 

Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him):  What have you left for your family members?  He replied:  I have left Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for them.  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  I exclaimed:  By Allah!  I cannot overtake him in any thing.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 4038; sawwd, Hadith No. 1680; Mustadrak ‘Alas Sahihain, Hadith No. 1457)

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) not only expressed his devotion, but gave this message to the Ummah and declared that even if there isn’t any money in the house, we are the door-wardens of door of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Our needs and felicity is dependent on the grace of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Be it worldly wealth or food and grains, everything comes to us through the Master (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Thus, he told the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that all my wealth and money is at your feet and I have left Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in my house.  When Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) saw this devotion, he admitted that he couldn’t surpass Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).

 

 

May Allah guide us to follow in his footsteps and may He resurrect us with him on the Day of Judgment.  Aameen Bi Jaahil Sayyidil Mursaleen.