Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) - At the forefront of all that is good

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him)

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At the forefront of all that is good

 

The Ahle Sunnah unreservedly agrees that after the Prophets (May peace be upon them), the most superior of all is Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He is the very pinnacle of excellence.  As per his Kuniyah, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) is forever at the forefront of every good deed.  The name Abu Bakr itself means one who is at the forefront.  Thus, he is the first one among men to embrace Islam.  He was also one of the earliest ones to invite people to Islam.  Hadhrat ‘Uthman (May Allah be well pleased with him) embraced Islam on his preaching.

 

The first caliph of Muslims was also Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  The most superior in this Ummah are Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him). 

 

He had such love for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that once the people of Makkah assaulted him so savagely that he fainted.  Some people thought that he had passed away.  When he regained consciousness, the first words he said were:  How is the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  Take me to Him.  His family wanted him to eat something.  He said:  I will not eat anything unless I see the blessed face of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He had to be helped by 2 people to go to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  When he saw Him, he said:  O Master!  If you are safe and sound, that is enough for me.

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center, in the weekly lecture at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, which is held under the aegis of AHIRC.

 

The revered Mufti said that Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would remain with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) on every occasion.  He also had the privilege of being the companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the Emigration.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) achieved such eternal felicity that not only in the cave, but also after death, his grave is near the grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would freely spend his wealth for the sake of Muslims and Islam.  Those Muslims who were still slaves and were the target of tortures because of their Islam, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would buy them and set them free for the sake of Allah Most High.  When Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) embraced Islam, he spent 35,000 Dirham on freeing slaves and promoting Islam.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) remained with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the Cave of Thaur for 3 days.  As a result of this special company, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) himself became the manifestation of the radiance of Allah Most High and the blessings of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) had a special position with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would not refuse any request of his.  He was so beloved to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that He asked Hadhrat Hassaan bin Thabit to recite poetry in praise of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  When Hadhrat Hassan did so, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) smiled so much that His blessed teeth were visible.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) not only appreciated these verses of Hadhrat Hassaan (May Allah be well pleased with him), but also gave them His stamp of approval by saying:  O Hassaan!  Indeed Siddiq is like you have described him.

 

The session ended with Salaam and Dua.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri Naqshbandi, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.