Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq - Life and accomplishments

And whoever has brought the Truth and he who has confirmed it, it is they who are Godfearing. Surah Zumar (39:33)

 

Allah Ta'ala has made the Prophets the most superior of all creation.  After them, the most superior are the Sahabah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  This is because they have benefited from the blessed company of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and they have seen with their physical eyes in a state of Iman.

 

Hadhrat Shaykh Ul Islam Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqui, the founder of Jamia Nizamia has mentioned a Hadith on the authority of Musnad Firdaus:

 

Translation of Hadith: Indeed!  Allah Ta'ala looked at the hearts of all people and did not find anyone with hearts purer than that of my Sahabah.  He selected them and made them my companions.  Now, whom they consider good is good with Allah Ta'ala as well and whomever they consider bad is bad with Allah Ta'ala.

 

It is the agreed-upon tenet of faith of the Ahle Sunnah that after the Prophets, the most superior among all the Sahabah is Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him).

 

Imam Fakhruddin Razi (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy on him) says in the Tafseer of the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran:

 

Translation: This verse points to only one person.  The One who brought the true word is Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the one who acknowledged him is Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him).  This Hadith is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Ali (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) and is narrated from a great number of exegetes of the Holy Quran.  (Tafseer Kabeer, Surah Zumar-33)

 

Birth

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) was born about 2 years and 4 months after the incident of the elephants (mentioned in Surah Feel).  (Al Kamil Fi Asmair Rijalil Khatib Altabrezi)

 

Hafidh Ibn Asaker narrates on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: When Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) was born, Allah Ta’ala addressed Jannah Ul Adan thus: By my Honor and Majesty! O Jannah! I will allow only those to enter who love this newborn.  (Mukhtasar Tarikh e Dimishq, Vol. 13, Pg No: 69)

 

His name and lineage

 

It is given in Sharh Mawahib Zurqani, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 445 that in the pre-Islamic days, Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s (May Allah be well pleased with him) name was Abdu Rabbil Ka’aba.   It is given inAl Istiy’aab Fi Ma'rifatil Ashab that it was Abdul Ka’aba.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) changed it and named him as Abdullah.  He is Abdullah bin Abi Quhafa Abu Bakr As Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with them), as given in Al Istiy’aab Fi Ma'rifatil Ashab of Imam Qurtubi, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 294.

 

His father Abu Quhafa’s name was Uthman, who was related to the clan of Banu Taim and his lineage is this:

 

Abu Quhafa Uthman bin Amir bin Umar bin Ka’ab bin Sa’ad Bin Marrah bin Ka’ab bin Lawi bin Ghalib bin Fahr Al Qarashi At Taimi.

 

His mother’s name was Ummul Khair Salma.

 

(Al Kamil Fit Tarikh, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 402.  )

 

Titles and honorifics

 

He is distinguished by the names of Ateeq and Siddiq.  His Kuniyah is Abu Bakr.  “Bakr” means moving forward or taking precedence and Abu means “the one” or father.  So, 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 tasks.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) as the first one to embrace among the men.  Among the children, it was Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) and among the ladies, it was Hadhrat Khatijatul Kubra (May Allah be well pleased with her). Hadhrat Siddiq Akbar (May Allah be well pleased with him) was the first one to spend his wealth and money in the service of Islam.  When he embraced Islam, he had 40000 gold coins, all of which he spent in the path of Allah Ta’ala.

 

Why is he called as Ateeq

 

There is more than 1 reason for this.

 

First reason:

 

His mother’s children would not live long, so when he was born, his mother took him to the Ka’aba and said: O Allah Ta’ala! Free him from death and give him life for my sake.  This Dua was accepted and he became known as Siddiq.  (Mukhtasar Tarikh e Dimishq, Vol. 13, Pg. No. 35, Sharh Mawahib Zurqani, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 445)

 

Second reason:

 

A Hadith has been recorded in Jamr Tirmidhi and Zujajatul Masabeeh on the authority of Syeda Ayesha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her):

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Ummul Momineen Hadhrat Ayesha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with her) that Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) came to the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: You are by the will of Allah Ta’ala free from hell (Ateequ lillahi min an naar).  From that day, he became famous as Ateeq.  (Jame Tirmidhi, Abwab Ul Manaqib, Hadith no: 3612, Zujajatul Masabeeh, Kitabul Manaqib, Vol.   5, Pg No: 248).   

 

There is another narration from Syeda Ayesha Siddiqa (May Allah be well pleased with him). She says: Once I was in my house.  Outside, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was seated along with the Sahabah.  There was a curtain between me and the Sahabah.  Suddenly, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) came.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: Whoever wants to see someone saved from the fire of hell should see Abu Bakr. (Tarikh Dimishq, Vol. 13, Pg. No. 35, Ar Riyaz Ul Nadharah, Vol.  , Pg. No. 78)

 

Third reason:

 

As there is no blemish in his lineage (i.e. his forefathers are all virtuous people) and that is why he is called Ateeq. (Al Istiy’aab Fi Ma'rifatil Ashab, Vol. 1, Pg. No. 294).   

 

Fourth reason:

 

Ateeq also means old.  As he is the earliest Muslim, he is called Ateeq.

 

Siddiq:

 

The most famous title of Hadhrat Abu Bakr is Siddiq.

 

In every matter, he was the first one to acknowledge the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), that is why he was named as Siddiq.

 

The title revealed by Allah Ta’ala is Siddiq.

 

In Sunan Dailami, there is a Hadith on the authority of Hadhrat Umme Hani (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: O Abu Bakr! I have named you as Siddiq.

 

It is narrated on the authority of the Gateway of Knowledge, Hadhrat Ali (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) that the title Siddiq was revealed by Allah Ta'ala.

 

Translation: Allah Ta’ala revealed the title of Siddiq for Abu Bakr.  (Mukhtaar Tarikh Dimishq, Vol. 13, Pg. No. 52)

 

Acknowledging the incident of Meraj:

 

It is given in Tarikh ul Khulafa on the authority of Hadhrat Hasan Basri and Hadhrat Qatadah (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with them):

 

Translation: This title of his became famous from the next morning of the incident of Meraj. (Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Pg No: 11)

 

There is a Hadith in Mustadrak Alas Sahihain and Tarikh ul Khulafa

 

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqa (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) that on the day after Meraj, the infidels of Makkah came to Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) and asked him: Will you still affirm your master?  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) claims that He has toured Baitul Muqaddis in one night.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) said: Verily! He has spoken the truth.  I acknowledge even more important things night and day.  With this incident, his name became famous as Siddiq.  (Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Pg. No. 11)

 

Kuniyyah

 

The Kuniyyah of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) is Abu Bakr.  It was the custom of the Arabs to take or give a Kuniyyah.  This would sometimes be on the name of the children like that of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Abul Qasim. Sometimes for some other reason like Abu Hurairah, Abu Turab, etc.

 

The name of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) in the heavens:

 

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) that once Hadhrat Jibraeel (Peace be upon him) was in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), when Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) passed by.  Jibraeel (Peace be upon him) asked: O Prophet of Allah Ta'ala! Is it the son Abi Quhafa? The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked: You dwellers of heaven also know him?

 

On this Jibraeel (Peace be upon him) said:

 

By Him who has sent you with the Truth and Prophethood! Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq is more famous in the heavens than on the earth.  There his name is Haleem.  (Ar Riyazun Nadhra, Vol. 1 Pg. No. 82)

 

There is a Hadith in Tafseer Qurtubi on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with them):

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) spent away all his money in the path of Allah Ta’ala and came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alahi wa sallam) in an ‘Aba with patches, in which there were thorns in place of buttons.  That very moment, Hadhrat Jibraeel (Peace be upon him) came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said: O Prophet of Allah! Ask Siddiq, whether he is happy with what his Lord has ordained for him?  When the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told this to Siddiq (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him).  He started crying and said: How can I be unhappy with my Lord has ordained for me?  I am happy.  He said this 3 times.  Jibraeel (Peace be upon him) said: O Prophet of Allah Ta'ala! Verily, Allah Ta’ala is pleased with him and has ordered all the angels who hold the Arsh (Hamileen-E-Arsh) to also wear the clothes which the Siddiq of my Beloved has worn.

 

The Islam of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him)

 

The incident of Hadhrat Abu Bakr’s (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) embracing Islam is very strange.  Before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared His Prophethood, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) had seen a dream, the interpretation of which was that the blessed time of the Final Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has come and he is going to have the honor of believing in Him.  As given in Subul Ul Huda War Rashad:

 

Translation of Hadith:  Before the declaration of Prophethood, he saw a strange dream.  He saw that the full moon was descending towards Makah and all of Makkah is illuminated by its Noor. Then this moon gathered itself up and fell into his lap.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) related this dream to a scholar from among the Ahle Kitab (the people of the book, the Jews and the Christians).  The interpretation was that the Last Prophet whose arrival everyone is awaiting is about to come and he (Hadhrat Abu Bakr) is to have the honor of being the most attached to Him.  Thus, when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) declared His Prophethood, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) did not hesitate and embraced Islam immediately.  (Subul Ul Huda War Rashad, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 303)

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq’s (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) steadfastness on Islam

 

After embracing Islam, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) was troubled to no end.  He was stopped from performing his prayers as well.  At last, he decided to migrate to Abyssinia.  He even started from Makkah.  On the way, he met Ibn Daghna who was the chief of a tribe Qarah.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) told him why he was leaving Makkah.

 

On this, Ibn Daghna told:

 

Translation: Indeed!  You earn for the needy, maintain relations, bear the burden of the weak, host guests and help when faced with difficulties in the path of truth. 

 

He took him back to Makkah and declared that he had given protection to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him).  However, later on there were such difficulties that Ibn Daghna broke his promise of protection.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 2297)

 

It should be noted that all the qualities mentioned by Ibn Daghna are the same that Hadhrat Khadija (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with her) mentioned about the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Through His blessed company, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) also developed the same characteristics.

 

All the Sahabah agreed upon the caliphate of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him)

 

Imam Yousuf Bin Ismail Nabhani (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy on him) writes on the authority of Hadhrat Ghous-e-Azam (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) that Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) narrates:

 

Translation: Who is there among you who wants to remove Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) from where the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had seated him?  All the Sahabah said:  May Allah Ta'ala forgive us, none among us can bear this.

 

Hadhrat Ghous-e-Azam (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) says:  Along the Muhajireen (those Sahabah who migrated from Makkah to Madina), the Ansar (The native Sahabah of Madina) also agreed on his caliphate.  All of them gave him their allegiance and Hadhrat Ali and Hadhrat Zubair (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with them) are also included in them.

 

It is also mentioned in reliable Traditions that after becoming the caliph, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) kept meeting people for 3 days and would tell them:  Have you given your allegiance?  If there is a problem in it, then don’t give it.  Then from among the Sahabah, Hadhrat Ali (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) was the first to say:

 

Translation:  Neither will we break our allegiance nor will we ever demand it.  Who can ignore you when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself made you prominent.

 

In a short period of 2 years and some months, Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) accomplished many great tasks for Islam and Muslims.  On the basis of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah, Hadhrat Siddiq Akbar (May Allah be well pleased with him) left his radiant footprints on the caliphate.  When he addressed the people for the first time after becoming the Caliph, he (May Allah be well pleased with him) told the people: O people! Obey me as long as I obey the commands of Allah Ta’ala among you.  If I end disobeying any command of Allah Ta’ala, then obedience to me is not binding on you.

 

The life of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq – An example for the rulers of the world

 

Kings and rulers are known for their life of luxury and lavish lifestyle.  The life of the first Caliph of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was different.  It is given in Tarikh Ul Khulafa:

 

Translation:  After the allegiance was given to Hadhrat Abu Bakr Sididiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him), the next morning he was going to the market with a bundle of clothes. Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) asked him:  Where are you going? He said:  To the market.  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) said:  You are the commander of the faithful!  What will you do in the market?  He said:  If this is so, how am I to feed my family?  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) said:  Let us go to Hadhrat Abu ‘Ubaidah.  He will decide an allowance for you.  They both went to Hadhrat Abu ‘Ubaidah (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him).  He said:  I will fix your allowance as 1 day’s worth of food of a Muhajir Sahabi, neither more than it nor less.  I will also give you clothes for summer and winter as well.  When these clothes become worn, you return it and take another in lieu of it.  Both of them fixed half a goat as his daily allowance.  (Tarikh Ul Khulafa, Pg. No. 78)

 

The Ridda Wars

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) is the most learned, most pious among all.  As related by Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 466.  In steadfastness upon Islam, he is like a mountain. With his foresight, he would understand the consequences of those things, which his contemporaries would not understand.

 

As soon as Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) became the caliph, there were a lot of unrests and rebellions.  Three among them were the most serious and critical:  Defection from Islam, refusal to pay Zakaat and the false prophets. 

 

If they were not dealt with summarily, the whole Islamic world would have been affected.  Most serious was to subdue the false prophets and eliminate their power.  It is the greatest favor of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) on this Ummah that he decided to use military force as and when necessary to subdue them.  He sent different commanders to different places.  He ordered them to invite the defectors and others to the path of truth.  If they realize the error of their ways and revert, fine.  If not, they should be subdued.

 

After the demise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), some tribes of Arabia refused to pay Zakaat.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) immediately decided to subdue them.  Some Sahabah were of the opinion that those who refuse to pay Zakaat should be left for now.  They also opined that they also recite the Kalima (declaration of faith) and thus, fighting with them is not permissible.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) said:

 

Translation of Hadith: By Allah!  If anyone differentiates between Salaat and Zakaat, I will surely fight them.  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) says:  By Allah!  I saw that Allah Ta'ala had enlightened (Sharh Sadr) Hadhrat Abu Bakr.  Then I realized that this is the truth.  (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 7285)

 

In that era, those who falsely claimed Prophethood were Musailmah, the liar, Sajjah and many others.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq subdued them in a well planned manner and forever freed the Islamic world of them.  In this way, he safeguarded the belief in the finality of Prophethood.

 

The courage of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him)

 

In the time of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), if any difficulty assailed them and the residents of Madina were worried and troubled, then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would deal with it.  In following this Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) would lessen the worries of the people and would himself face the difficulty assailing his people.  The Sahabah would not accept this that anything untoward should occur to Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him).  The Sahabah would tell him:

 

O Amir Ul Momineen (commander of the faithful), don’t deprive us of your personage.  If you are not there, then Islam will cease to exist.  Thus, there is a Tradition from Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Umar (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with them):

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) came out of his house and mounted his animal.  Hadhrat Ali (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) held the rein and said: O Caliph of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Where are you going?  I will repeat what the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told you at the Battle of Uhud.  Please sheathe your sword.  Don’t put in difficulties by depriving us of your personage. Please return to Madina.  By Allah!  If any difficulty comes in your absence, then Islam as a system will forever cease to exist.  (Dara Qutni, Tarikh ul Khulafa, Pg. No. 75)

 

His demise

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) remained a caliph for 2 years and 7 months.  (Tarikh Ul Khulafa)

 

He passed away in Madina between the time of Maghrib and ‘Isha on 22nd Jamadi Ul Ukhra in 13 Hijri.

 

He had willed that his body should be placed before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and permission should be sought from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

As given in Tafseer Kabir:

 

Translation: This was a miracle of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah Ta'ala be well pleased with him) that when his body was placed before the blessed Raudha of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and it was said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! Abu Bakr is here.  The door opened of its own accord and everybody heard the voice:  Bring the beloved to the beloved.  (Tafseer Kabir, Surah Kahf, verse no: 9)

 

Then he was carried inside the Raudha and buried there.

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Raji’oon