Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RadhiAllahu Anhu)

Early life

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu was born in Makkah, a Quraishi of the Banu Taim clan. According to early Muslim historians, he was a merchant, and highly esteemed as a judge, as an interpreter of dreams, and as one learned in Makkan traditions. He was one of the last people anyone would have expected to convert to the faith preached by Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Yet he was one of the first converts to Islam and instrumental in converting many of the Quraish and the residents of Makkah.

Originally called Abd-ul-Ka'ba ("servant of the Kaaba"), on his conversion he assumed the name of Abd-Allah (servant of God). However, he is usually styled Abu Bakr (from the Arabic word bakr, meaning a young camel) due to his interest in raising camels. Muslims honor him as Al-Siddiq ("the truthful"). His full name was Abd-Allah ibn Abi Quhaafah.

During the lifetime of Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu was one of Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) companions. When Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) fled from Makkah in the migration to Madina of 622, Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu alone accompanied him. Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu was also linked to Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) by marriage: Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu's daughter Aisha RadhiAllahu Anha married Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) soon after the migration to Madina. He was a trusted lieutenant, high in Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) councils.

Rise to the Caliphate

During the prophet's last illness, Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) allowed Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu to lead prayers in his absence, and that many took this as an indication that Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu would succeed Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Soon after the Prophet’s passing away (on 8 June 632), a gathering of prominent Ansar and some of the Muhajirun, in Madina, acclaimed Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu as the new Muslim leader or caliph.

The Ridda Wars

Troubles emerged soon after Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu's succession, threatening the unity and stability of the new community and state. Various Arab tribes of Hijaz and Najd rebelled against the caliph and the new system. Some withheld the zakat, the alms tax, though they did not challenge the prophecy of Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Others apostatized outright and returned to their pre-Islamic religion and traditions, classified by Muslims as idolatry. The tribes claimed that they had submitted to Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and that with Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) death, their allegiance was ended. Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu insisted that they had not just submitted to a leader but joined the Muslim religious community, of which he was the new head. Apostasy is a capital offense under traditional interpretations of Islamic law, and Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu declared war on the rebels. This was the start of the Ridda wars, Arabic for the Wars of Apostasy. The severest struggle was the war with Ibn Habib al-Hanefi, known as "Musailimah the Liar", who claimed to be a prophet and Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) true successor. The Muslim general Khalid bin Walid RadhiAllahu Anhu finally defeated al-Hanefi at the Battle of Akraba.

Expeditions to the north

After suppressing internal dissension and completely subduing Arabia, Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu directed his generals towards the Byzantine and Sassanid empires. Khalid bin Walid RadhiAllahu Anhu conquered Iraq in a single campaign, and a successful expedition into Syria also took place.

The Qur'an

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu was instrumental in preserving Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) revelations in written form. It is said that after the hard-won victory over Musailimah, Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllahu Anhu saw that many of the Muslims who had memorized the Qur'an from the lips of the prophet had died in battle. Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu asked Umar RadhiAllahu Anhu to oversee the collection of the revelations. The record, when completed, was deposited with Hafsa bint Umar RadhiAllahu Anha, daughter of Umar RadhiAllahu Anhu, and one of the wives of Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Later it became the basis of Uthman ibn Affan's RadhiAllahu Anhu definitive text of the Qur'an.

First man to adopt Islam

Muslim scholars agree that the first woman to adopt Islam was Khadijah RadhiAllahu Anha, Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) first wife. However, there is some disagreement over the identity of the first male to convert. Some Muslim historians have claimed that it was Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu, or perhaps Beloved Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace be upon him) adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah. Shi'a Muslims, as well as some other Muslim historians, believe that the first male convert (after Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) was Ali ibn Abi Talib RadhiAllahu Anhu. Anyhow most of the Islamic scholars believe it is Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu.

Death

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu died on August 23, 634 in Madina. Shortly before his death, likely of natural causes (one tradition ascribes it to poison), he urged the Muslim community to accept Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllahu Anhu as his successor. The community did so, without serious incident.

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu initially served without pay. His followers insisted that he take an official stipend. At his death, his will returned all these payments to the treasury (Age of Faith, Durant, p. 187).

Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu Anhu lies buried in the Masjid al Nabawi mosque in Madina, alongside Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllahu Anhu.