Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq

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 heaven! 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 in Al 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’Ahle Bait 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: 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 are 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.  1, 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.