“Abu Bakr is our leader, esteemed among us, and holds a special place in the heart of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” – Umar bin Al-Khattab
Many prominent figures in the history of Islam have proven to be a pinnacle for the religion. Personalities that have taken Islam to new heights and have helped thousands of people turn to the right path. One of such personalities is Hazrat Abu Bakar RA. His contribution to spreading Islam to the people has remained unmatched, and his devotion to the right cause was one of a kind.
Keeping all this as the main focus, this blog will examine his legacy, his journey toward Allah, and the numerous obstacles he experienced along the way.
Ancestry & Early Life
Abdullah bin Abu Quhafah Uthman bin Aamer Al Qurashi Al Taymi, more commonly known as Abu Bakar Siddique RA, was born in 573 A.D. in Makkah two years and some months later after the birth of the Prophet PBUH. Born to parents Uthman Abu Quhafah and Salma bint Sakhar of the Quraysh tribe, he had a decent upbringing and earned a noble status. The ancestral lines of Abu Bakr and the Holy Prophet are connected by their shared ancestor, Murrah, who lived eight generations ago.
Abu Bakar RA spent his childhood among the Bedouins, playing with camel calves and goats. His love for camels earned him the nickname ‘Abu Bakar,’ which means the father of the camel’s calf.
Appearance & Personality
According to his daughter Aisha (R.A.), Abu Bakr (R.A.) had a slender build, a light complexion, slightly narrow shoulders, a thin face, deep-set eyes, a prominent forehead, and hairless bases on his fingers.
In 591 A.D., Abu Bakar RA adopted the profession of a cloth merchant and entered the trading business, which was his family’s business. He started his business with a capital of 40 thousand dirhams and traveled extensively with caravans. These caravans took him to many current cities in the Middle East, such as Yemen and Syria.
Due to his hard work and devotion, his business flourished, and he became recognized as the chief of his tribe, even though his father was still alive. His impeccable qualities and honest character earned him the respect of his people.
Before Converting To Islam
Even before he became a Muslim, he never indulged in the acts of the ignorant and distanced himself from the bad. He never drank intoxicants, nor did he ever worship idols. Once, in a gathering with the Prophet PBUH and the other Sahabas, Abu Bakar said:
“I have never worshipped an idol. When I was nearing adulthood, my father brought me to a place filled with idols (the Kaaba), where he referred to them as ‘your grand elevated gods’ before leaving for other matters. I approached one of the idols and asked, ‘I’m hungry; can you feed me?’ It remained silent. Then I asked, ‘I need beautiful clothes; can you provide them?’ Again, there was no response. I threw a rock at the idol, causing it to fall.”
From that moment on, Abu Bakr (R.A.) never returned to the chamber of idols at the Kaaba to offer them prayers.
Conversion To Islam
“Abu Bakr was the only individual who embraced Islam right away, without any doubts.” ~ The Prophet PBUH
Abu Bakar RA accepted Islam after an extensive search for the right religion. Due to his close friendship with the Prophet PBUH, he was the first man to accept and believe in the Prophet’s calling to the right path. He recognized that Muhammad (PBUH) was an honest and truthful man, which is why the Prophet (PBUH) felt immense joy when he accepted Islam. His conversion was a significant victory due to his close ties with the Quraysh and the exemplary character that Allah had bestowed upon him.
When the number of Muslims reached 39, Abu Bakar insisted on openly calling people towards Islam. When the Prophet PBUH approved his request, he went to Kaaba to deliver a sermon. When the Quraysh and the other disbelievers heard about it, they beat Abu Bakar so badly that he was unconscious and near death. But when he became conscious, the first thing he enquired about was the well-being of the Prophet PBUH, which showed his love and care for the Prophet PBUH.
“If I were to choose a close friend, I would have chosen Abu Bakr, yet he remains my brother and companion in Islam.” – The Prophet PBUH
His Title “The Truthful”
‘As-Siddique’ was one of the most common nicknames of Abu Bakar RA. As-Siddique refers to a person who constantly believes in the truthfulness of something or someone. Since Abu Bakar RA always believed in the truthfulness of the Prophet PBUH, Muhammad PBUH gave him the title of As-Siddique.
Migration To Madinah
When the Prophet PBUH and the Sahabas suffered immensely at the hands of the Quraysh, the Prophet PBUH commanded his companions to migrate to Madinah. The people of Makkah noticed the Prophet PBUH and his companions’ migration and planned to kill him. However, the disbelievers failed in their plan, and the migration was successful.
His Commitment To Islam
It is reported that until the day of Badr, the son of Abu Bakar RA was with the disbelievers, but after accepting Islam, he went to his father and said, You encountered me on the day of Badr, but I chose to turn away instead of taking your life. Hearing this, Abu Bakar RA replied, If I had been in your presence, I wouldn’t have turned my back on you. This one sentence was one of the many examples that reflected his devotion and commitment to the right path.
His Spending In The Way Of Allah
“We owe no one any debts of gratitude, except that we have compensated them, aside from Abu Bakr. Truly, he is owed a favor from us that Allah will repay on the Day of Judgment. No one’s wealth has been as helpful to me as Abu Bakr’s. If I were to choose a close friend (Khalil), it would be Abu Bakr; however, your companion is Allah’s Khalil.” – The Prophet PBUH
Abu Bakar RA spent his wealth in the way of Allah without any hesitation. He liberated slaves because he felt compassion for them. According to sources, he freed eight slaves. Four men and four women by paying forty thousand dinars. Bilal bin Ribah (R.A.), one of the most trusted and loyal companions of the Prophet PBUH, was one of the slaves that Abu Bakar RA freed.
The Death Of The Prophet PBUH And The First Caliph
After the Prophet PBUH died in 632 A.D., many people, including Umar RA, refused to believe his death. But Abu Bakar, with this steadfast character, went ahead and addressed the people and told them the Prophet PBUH had passed away, and there was no reason that they shouldn’t accept that. Seeing his strong characteristics and other qualities, he was elected as the first caliph. But that election came with its difficulties.
After the death of the Prophet, many people abandoned Islam and didn’t pay zakat. Hearing this, Abu Bakar RA decided to fight them. Even though Umar RA and the others advised him to refrain from fighting, he moved forward with his decision. He fought the disbelievers with courage and strength, drove away the Romans from the borders, and broke the spirits of the apostates. Many came back to Islam, and the others went far, far away. In just a few years, Islam was heard and seen far and wide while the other religions neared the brink of extinction.
Compilation Of The Holy Quran
One of Abu Bakar RA’s biggest achievements was compiling the Quran. Up until that time, many memorizers had memorized the whole Quran, but it wasn’t compiled in book form. As many of the memorizers were martyred in different battles, it occurred to Umar RA that the Quran should be preserved in its original form without any changes.
Therefore, he discussed the matter with Abu Bakar RA. Although he hesitated at first because this had not happened in the life of the Prophet PBUH, after some further discussion on the matter, he appointed Zaid ibn Thabit (R.A.) for this task. After the Quran had been compiled into a book form, Zaid RA gave the precious collection to Abu Bakar RA, who kept it in his possession until the end of his life.
The Death Of Abu Bakar RA
Hazrat Abu Bakar RA died on Monday, 22nd of Jumada Al-Akhirah, 13th AH (August 23rd, 634 AD), after suffering from 15 days of fever, during which he appointed Umar RA to lead the prayers. When he died, he was 63 years old, and his rule lasted for 2 years and 3 months. During his last days, he discussed the matter with the companions of the Prophet PBUH and decided to make Umar RA the caliph after him.
Before he died, Abu Bakar RA gave back everything he took from the public treasury during his rule. He left only a servant, a camel, and a garment, which was to be given to his successor. Abu Bakar RA was buried with the Prophet PBUH in Aisha RA’s room. Umar RA led his funeral prayer, and Ali bin Abi Talib RA made a long speech.