HAZRAT ABU BAKR (R.A.

)
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was born in a highly respected family of Banu Tamim of the tribe of Quraish in
Makah in 573 A.D. Abu Bakr's full name was Abū Bakr aṣ-Ṣiddīq Abd Allah ibn 'Uthman. Abu Bakr's
father's name was Uthman Abu Quhafa (nicknamed Abu Quhafa) and his mother was Salma bint
Sakhar (nicknamed Umm-ul-Khair).
As the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H) announced his prophetic mission, Hazrat
Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) was the first person outside the family of Holy Prophet Hazrat
Muhammad (P.B.U.H) to accept Islam. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) was a rich merchant and he
commanded great influence in the social circles of Makkah. Through his influence many
distinguished persons among the Quraish were converted to Islam. Most of his wealth was
used in the liberation of Muslim slaves. He was the first person to build a mosque. After
conversion to Islam, he was a constant companion of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad
(P.B.U.H). The Holy Prophet conferred him on the title of sadeeq, the Veracious for his
power to discern the truth.
Like other children of the rich Meccan merchant families, Abu Bakr was literate and developed a
fondness for poetry. He used to attend the annual fair at Ukaz, and participate in poetical symposia.
He had a very good memory and had a good knowledge of the genealogy of the Arab tribes, their
stories and their politics.[29]
Abu Bakr's acceptance proved to be a milestone in Muhammad's mission. Slavery was common in
Mecca, and many slaves accepted Islam. When an ordinary free man accepted Islam, despite
opposition, he would enjoy the protection of his tribe. For slaves however, there was no such
protection and they commonly experienced persecution.

Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was almost two years younger than Prophet (SAW). He (RA) was quite
different from the rest, and was more or less similar in his behavior with that of the Prophet (PBUH)
of Allah, having qualities of truthfulness and honesty. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was kind-hearted and
used to help in resolving problems of others. Regarding his compassionate behavior towards others,
the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is narrated by Anas ibn Malik (RA) to have said: “The most merciful
of my Ummah towards my Ummah is Abu Bakr.” (Tirmidhi)
In 617, the Quraysh enforced a boycott against the Banu Hashim. Muhammad along with his
supporters from Banu Hashim, were cut off in a pass away from Mecca. All social relations with the
Banu Hashim were cut off and their state was that of imprisonment. Before it many Muslims
migrated to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Abu Bakr, feeling distressed, set out for Yemen and then to
Abyssinia from there. He met a friend of his named Ad-Dughna (chief of the Qarah tribe) outside
Mecca, who invited Abu Bakr to seek his protection against the Quraysh. Abu Bakr went back to
Mecca, it was a relief for him, but soon due to the pressure of Quraysh, Ad-Dughna was forced to
renounce his protection. Once again the Quraysh were free to persecute Abu Bakr.
o In 622, Abu Bakr accompanied Muhammad in his migration for Medina. On the occasion of
the Hijrat, he was the companion of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), and was reffered to in
the Holy Quran as “the Second of the Two”. Due to the danger of the Quraysh, they did not
take the road to Medina. They moved in the opposite direction, and took refuge in a cave
in Jabal Thawr some five miles south of Mecca. `Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr, the son of Abu Bakr,
would listen to the plans and talks of the Quraysh, and at night he would carry the news to the
fugitives in the cave. Asma bint Abi Bakr, the daughter of Abu Bakr, brought them meals every
day.[48] Aamir, a servant of Abu Bakr, would bring a flock of goats to the mouth of the cave every
night where they were milked. The Quraysh sent search parties in all directions. One party
came close to the entrance to the cave, but was unable to sight them. Due to
this, Qur'an verse 9:40 was revealed. Aisha, Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri and Abdullah ibn
 Abbas in interpreting this verse said that Abu Bakr was the companion who stayed with
Muhammad in the cave.
Earn the Title of As Siddiq: The incidents of Journey of Prophet (SAW) of Isra (Moving from
Kaaba in Makah to Bait-al Maqdas in Jerusalem) and Miraj (Visiting the seven Heavens and
Paradise) no one believed him. But Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) did believe on our beloved Prophet
(SAW), He (RA) also mentioned to those who came to him asking about these incidents that he
truly believed on what Messenger (SAW) said about these events. Another incident was one He
(RA) submitted to Islam with such determination that once the Holy Prophet (SAW) himself
remarked, “I called people to Islam, everybody thought over it, at least for a while, but this was not
the case with Abu Bakr, the moment I put Islam before him, he accepted it without any
hesitation.” He was titled As-Siddiq by the Prophet because his faith was too strong to be
shaken by anything.

Election of Abu Bakr as Caliph

After Muhammad's death, previously dormant tensions between the Meccan immigrants,
the Muhajirun, and the Medinan converts, the Ansar, threatened to break out and split the Ummah.
Other Arabic tribes also wished to revert to local leadership and split from Medina's control. In some
places, people claiming prophethood started to establish leaderships to oppose Medina, e.g. Al-
Aswad Al-Ansi and Musaylimah. All of which are events that led to splitting the Muslim community.
[74]
 The Ansar, the leaders of the tribes of Medina, met in a hall or house called saqifah, to discuss
whom they would support as their new leader. When Abu Bakr was informed of the meeting,
he, Umar, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah and a few others rushed to prevent the Ansar from making a
premature decision. Accounts of this meeting vary greatly. All agree that during the meeting Umar
declared that Abu Bakr should be the new leader, and declared his allegiance to Abu Bakr, followed
by Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, and thus Abu Bakr became the first Muslim caliph, and the first
Muslim given the title Khalifa-tul-Rasul (Successor of messenger of Allah), a title accepted by Sunni
Muslims.
Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr is the rightful Caliph. The Twelver Shia and the Ismaili Shia believe
that Ali should have been the first Caliph. Their main argument is based on their interpretation
of Hadith of the pond of Khumm.[citation needed]

Caliph Abu Bakr's empire at its peak in August 634.

Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) becomes the caliph on 6th June 632 C.E., and he died on
23rd August C.E., his period of caliphate extended over two years and two months. Judged
by the usual standards this was certainty too short a period to make an impact on history.
Surprisingly enough, the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) not only made the
impact on history; it changed the very course of history.
Hazrat Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) came to power in the midest of crises-loaded situation. The
crises which he was called upon to encounter were multidimensional, being physiological,
political, religious and international in charter.

o Caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A):

After the death of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H), Hazrat Abu Bakr
(R.A) was elected as the Caliph. On assuming office, in his inaugural address, Hazrat
Abu Bakr (R.A) said that he was not the best among them, and needed their advice and
help. He held that to tell the truth to a person commissioned to the rule was faithful
allegiance, and to conceal it was treason. He declared that in the sight the strong and a
 weak were to be alike, and he would render justice to all without a fear or favour. He
laid down the following criterion for the obedience of the people:
“As I obey Allah and His Prophet obey me: if I neglect the laws of Allah and the
prophet, I have no more right to your obedience.”
First Caliph in the History of Islam: Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) was ever the closest friend of the
Holy Prophet (SAW) throughout His Islamic caravan. After the death of Hazrat Muhammad
(SAW), all the companions of Prophet (PBUH) were in a state of great grief. Nobody knew that
who would lead them. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) was rated so highly among the believers that He
was given authority to lead the Muslims after passing of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Although at
first, there was some confusion over whether Chief should be from Ansaar or Muhajireen, but
eventually Abu Bakr (RA) was given the power to have this great honor as no one was as close
to the Messenger (PBUH) of Allah as he was.

Reign as a Caliph[edit]
After assuming the office of Caliphate Abu Bakr's first address was as follows:
I have been given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me; and if I
do wrong, set me right. Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery. The
weak amongst you shall be strong with me until I have secured his rights, if God wills; and the strong
amongst you shall be weak with me until I have wrested from him the rights of others, if God wills.
Obey me so long as I obey God and His Messenger. But if I disobey God and His Messenger, you
owe me no obedience. Arise for your prayer, God have mercy upon you. (Al-Bidaayah wan-
Nihaayah 6:305,306)

Abu Bakr's Caliphate lasted for 27 months, during which he crushed the rebellion of the Arab tribes
throughout the Arabian Peninsula in the successful Ridda Wars. In the last months of his rule, he
sent general Khalid ibn al-Walid on conquests against the Sassanid
Empire in Mesopotamia and against the Byzantine Empire in Syria. This would set in motion a
historical trajectory[74] (continued later on by Umar and Uthman ibn Affan) that in just a few short
decades would lead to one of the largest empires in history. He had little time to pay attention to the
administration of state, though state affairs remained stable during his Caliphate. On the advice of
Umar and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah he agreed to have a salary from state treasury and abolish his
cloth trade.

o Confrontation with the tribes:

After Hazrat Usamah (R.A)’s army had left for the Syrian front, the tribes around
Madina sent a deputation to wait on Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A). The tribes said that they
were prepared to owe allegiance to Islam, but they were not prepared to pay Zakat.
Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) was advised that in view of the circumstances on the ground,
the terms of the tribes should be accepted. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) held that as the
payment of Zakat was a compulsory obligation under Islam, he had no authority to
allow any relaxation. Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) remained firm and told the tribes that if
they withheld with regard to Zakat, even as much as string to tie a camel, he would
fight against them for the vindication of the injunctions of Islam. Thus rebuffed
recalcitrant tribes marched to Madina one night and launched the attack and these
tribes met some initial success but the Muslims under the command of Hazrat Abu Bakr
(R.A) rallied and in a counter attack repulsed the tribes
o Battle of the Trench
 o Battle of Khaybar
o Battle of Hunayn and Ta'if
o Expedition of Tabuk
o Battles of Dhu Qissa and Abraq
o The Battle of Buzakha
o The Battle of Zafar:

o The Battle of Naqra

Abu Bakr as Amir-ul-Hajj

In 631 AD, Muhammad sent from Medina a delegation of three hundred Muslims to perform
the Hajj according to the new Islamic way. Abu Bakr was appointed as the leader of the delegates.
Abu Bakr had thus the honour of being the first Amir-ul-Hajj in the history of Islam.
Some time after Abu Bakr and his party had left for Hajj, Muhammad received a revelation about the
regulation of the Hajj, and the ordering of relationships with the infidels. It is related that when this
revelation came, someone suggested to Muhammad that he should send news of it to Abu Bakr.
Muhammad said that only a man of his house could proclaim the revelation.

Military campaigns as commander[edit]

Main article: Expedition of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
Abu Bakr also led one military campaign as commander, known as Expedition of Abu Bakr As-
Siddiq,[61] which took place in Nejd, in July 628 AD (3rd Month 7AH in the Islamic calendar).[61] Abu
Bakr led a large platoon in Nejd on the order of Muhammad. Many were killed and taken as prisoner.
[62]
 The Sunni Hadith collection Sunan Abu Dawud mentions the event[63]

Preservation of the Qur'an[edit]

Abu Bakr was instrumental in preserving the Qur'an in written form.[75][76] It is said that after the hard-
won victory over Musaylimah in the Battle of Yamama fought in 632, Umar (the later Caliph Umar),
saw that many of the Muslims who had memorized the Qur'an (about 300 to 700) had died in battle.
Fearing that the Qur'an may be lost or corrupted, Umar requested the Caliph Abu Bakr to authorize
the compilation and preservation of the scriptures in written format. After initial hesitation, Abu Bakr
made a committee headed by Zayd ibn Thabit which included the memorizers of the Qur'an and
Umar and to collect all verses of the book. After collecting all Qur'anic verses from texts in the
possession of various sahaba, Zayd ibn Thabit and members of his committee verified the reading
by comparing with those who had memorized the Qur'an. After they were satisfied that they had not
missed out any verse or made any mistakes in reading or writing it down, the text was written down
as one single manuscript and presented in codex form to the Caliph Abu Bakr. It is believed that this
process happened within one year of the death of Muhammad when most of his sahaba
(companions) were still alive.
o He (RA) started compilation of Quran for the first time: Due to increased number of Muslims,
and passing away of those who remembered the Holy Quran During his Khilaafat (reign),
Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), by the advice of Hazrat Umar (RA) accumulated Holy Quran in one
single form to preserve it for the future generations. So that the future generation of Muslims
could read Holy Quran in the right way.
Twelver Shi'ites reject the idea that Abu Bakr or Umar were instrumental in the collection or
preservation of the Qur'an.[77]
o Being Imam of Mosque in Absence of Prophet (SAW): The Prophet (SAW) led the prayers
himself ever since he arrived in Madinah. During his last illness, the Prophet (SAW) could no
longer lead the prayers, he was too weak to go to the mosque, and he, therefore, had to choose
someone to fill such high position after him. Abu Bakr (RA) was also the one who was honored
to be chosen by the Prophet (SAW) for such a task. In Hadith, it is mentioned that: “Tell Abu
Bakr from my side to offer Salat to people (Muslims). [In absence of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH)]” (Bukhari and Muslim). Hadith clearly indicates the great position of Hazrat Abu Bakr
(RA) in the eyes of Prophet (SAW) that He made him the Imam of Muslims to lead the Salah.

Death[edit]
On 23 August 634, Abu Bakr fell sick and did not recover. He developed high fever and was
confined to bed. His illness was prolonged, and when his condition worsened, he felt that his end
was near. Realizing his death was near, he sent for Ali and requested him to perform his ghusl since
Ali had also done it for Muhammad.
Abu Bakr felt that he should nominate his successor so that the issue should not be a cause of
dissension among the Muslims after his death, though there was already controversy over Ali not
having been appointed.[78]
He appointed Umar as his successor after discussing with some companions. Some of them favored
the nomination and others disliked it, due to the tough nature of Umar.
Abu Bakr thus dictated his last testament to Uthman ibn Affan as follows:
In the name of Most Merciful God. This is the last will and testament of Abu Bakr bin Abu Quhafa,
when he is in the last hour of the world, and the first of the next; an hour in which the infidel must
believe, the wicked be convinced of their evil ways, I nominate Umar bin al Khattab as my
successor. Therefore, hear to him and obey him. If he acts right, confirm his actions. My intentions
are good, but I cannot see the future results. However, those who do ill shall render themselves
liable to severe account hereafter. Fare you well. May you be ever attended by the Divine favor of
blessing.[79]

o Abu Bakr next asked Aisha as to how many pieces of cloth were used for Muhammad's
shroud.[citation needed] Aisha said that three pieces had been used.[citation needed] Abu Bakr thereupon
desired the same number for his own shroud. [citation needed] On Monday, 23 August 634 (hijri: 7th of
Jamadi-ui- Akhir of the 13th AH), Abu Bakr died. The funeral prayer was led by Umar. [citation
needed]
 He was buried the same night by the side of Muhammad's grave in Aisha's house near Al-
Masjid al-Nabavi

Abu Bakr became the Caliph on 8 June 632[80][citation needed] and he died on 23 August 634. He is
considered by sunnis as the greatest of all the companions of Muhammad. Jubayr ibn Mut'im
reported that a woman came and spoke to Muhammad about a matter. He asked her to come back
sometime later. She said, "Tell me if I come later and do not find you?" Jubayr ibn Mut'im said that it
seemed that she meant he may not be alive when she came back. He said, "If you do not find me
then go to Abu Bakr."[81]
This particular hadith is used by Sunnis and scholars of hadith to demonstrate the superiority of Abu
Bakr over all other companions of Muhammad and his rightful succession to Muhammad.
Though the period of his caliphate covers only two years, two months and fifteen days, it included
successful invasions of the two most powerful empires of the time: the Sassanid
Empire and Byzantine Empire.
Abu Bakr had the distinction of being the first Caliph in the history of Islam and also the first Caliph to
nominate a successor. He was the only Caliph in the history of Islam who refunded to the state
treasury at the time of his death the entire amount of the allowance that he had drawn during the
period of his caliphate.[37]