The righteousness and piety of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq

 

The Shaykh Ul Islam among the Companions after the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Imam of those who have abandoned this material, the emperor of those who have undertaken seclusion, absolutely free of the blemishes of this world, the Commander of the Faithful, our master, Hadhrat Abu Bakr bin ‘Uthman bin Abi Quhafa Siddiq Akbar (May Allah be well pleased with him).  His honor and excellence is famous.  Some of his conditions are mentioned in the canons of Tasawwuf.  The Shaykhs of Tasawwuf have placed him as the first among the people of vision (Arbaab-e-Mushahada).

 

        When Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) would recite the Holy Quran in Salaat in night, he would do so in a soft voice and Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) would do the same in a loud voice.  Once the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked as to why he recited the Holy Quran in a soft voice.  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  The one whom I am supplicating hears me.  As I know that He is not far from me and reciting in a loud or soft voice is the same for Him.  When Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) was asked the same question, he said:  I awaken those who are asleep and drive away Satan.  This is a sign of striving in the path of Allah (Mujahada) and that is a sign of the vision of Allah (Mushahada).  The status of Mujahada against Mushahada is like the status of a drop against an ocean.  That’s why the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O ‘Umar!  You are a single virtue among the virtues of Abu Bakr.  When Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), who himself is a pillar of Islam, because of whom Islam received grace and honor, is a single virtue from among the virtues of Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him), then one can think where the rest of the people will be.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) would supplicate:  Allahummabsut Lid Dunya Wa Zahhidnee ‘Anhaa i.e. O Lord Almighty!  Increase this world for me and protect me from getting embroiled in it.  There is a delicate subtlety in asking for this world and then asking for being safe from it in the very next breath.  What it means is grant me this world so that I thank You, then guide me to spend it in your path with my own hands and to turn myself to You, so that I gain the status of Thankfulness (Shukr) and spending in the path of Allah and so that I gain the status of Patience (Sabr) as well so that I am not worried in poverty and my poverty should be in my power. 

 

Hadhrat Zuhri (May Allah be well pleased with him) says that when Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) took the pledge of allegiance, he stood on the pulpit and said:

 

Translation: By Allah!  I didn’t desire kingship even or a day or a night and neither does it have any attraction for me nor did I seek it from Allah outwardly or inwardly and neither is there any relief for me in it.

 

When Allah Most High seats a slave on perfect truthfulness and on the seat of grace and honor, then a truthful slave waits for the order of Almighty Allah and whatever order is given, the slave stays steadfast on it.  If the order comes to become a pauper, he becomes a pauper.  If an order comes to become affluent, the slave becomes affluent.  The slave doesn’t use his own power or authority in it.  This was the state of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him).