The Story of Abu Bakr

Introduction
● defining the term, ‘Sahabī’
A Sahabī (i.e. companion) is the one who met the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be upon him) while believing in him and died as a Muslim.”
● The two important groups of Sahabah are: Muhajirūn and Ansᾱr
● The entire Sahabah are estimated to be roughly 200,000
Allah (SAW) talks about the entire Sahabah as follows:

‫وهم بِِإ ْح َسـٰ ۢ ٍن َّر‬ ِ َّ ِ ِ ِ َّ ‫ٱلسـٰبِ ُقو َن‬

ُ ُ‫ين ٱتََّبع‬َ ‫ٱَأْلنصار َوٱلذ‬
َ ‫ين َو‬ َ ‫ٱَأْلولُو َـن م َن ٱلْ ُم َهـٰج ِر‬ َّ ‫َو‬
ِِ ٍ ۢ ٰ‫َأع َّد هَلُ ْم َجنَّـ‬ ۟ ‫ِضى ٱللَّه عنهم ور‬
َ ‫ت جَتْ ِرى حَتَْت َها ٱَأْلْن َهـُٰر َخـٰلد‬
‫ين‬ َ ‫ضوا َعْنهُ َو‬ ُ َ َ ْ ُ َْ ُ َ
ِ ِ ِ
‫يم‬ َ ‫ف َيهٓا َأبَ ۭ ًدا ۚ َٰذل‬
ُ ‫ك ٱلْ َف ْو ُز ٱلْ َعظ‬
And the first to lead the way, of the Muhajirin and the Ansar, and
those who followed them in goodness - Allah is well pleased with
them and they are well pleased with Him, and He hath made ready
for them Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will
abide forever. That is the supreme triumph (Qur’an 9:100).

Every Muslim must believe that all Prophet’s companions (i.e. Sahabah) are
just and fair, and are the best example to be followed after the Prophet (SAW).

Who is Abu Bakr as-Siddīq?

His Name, Kunya and Lineage
● He is Abdullah by name
● His kunya (a title by which one is ascribed to one’s son or daughter) is Abu Bakr, while
his given name is Abdullah
● Abu Bakr’s father is known as Abu Quhaafah. However, his given name is Uthman ibn
‘Aamir ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka’ab ibn Sa’ad ibn Teem ibn Murrah ibn Ka’ab ibn Luaiy ibn
Ghaalib al Kurashee al Teemee.
● As for the mother, her full name was Salmah bint Sakhr ibn ‘Amr ibn Ka’ab ibn Sa’ad
ibn Teem, and her kunyah is Umm al Khair.

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● Abu Bakr’s lineage met up with that of the Prophet (SAW) at the level of their
forebear, Murrah ibn Ka’ab.
● Abu Bakr’s father accepted Islam on the day of Makkah conquest, while his mother
had embraced Islam during the early stages of the Prophet’s Da’awah.

Titles
Abu Bakr was given many titles throughout his life, and each one of them points to one
or more of his superior qualities; among those titles are the following:
1. Al-‘Ateeq
(old or ancient; noble; the one who has been freed from unpleasant circumstances)

When Abu Bakr’s mother had a child, he/she would die almost immediately. But
when Abu Bakr was born, the same was not the case, and so his mother said about
him: “O Allah, this child is Your free one from death, so favour me with him”.

The Mother of Believers, Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported the
Messenger Allah (SAW) as saying to Abu Bakr: “Rejoice for you are the ‘Ateeq
of Allah from the Hell Fire.”

Some historians view that he was named Al-‘Ateeq because of the nobleness of
his features

Other say that he was given this title because he …..

2. As-Siddeeq
(the one who constantly believes in the truthfulness of something or someone)

● Abu Bakr was named As-Siddeeq because of his constant and unwavering
belief in the Prophet (SAW).

● Aisha reported the reactions of people following the night of al Isrᾱ’ wa al

Mi’rᾱj

● Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: “The Prophet (SAW) climbed
Mount Uhud in the company of Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman. When Uhud began
to shake while they were on it, the Prophet (SAW) said (addressing the
mountain), “Remain firm, O Uhud, for upon you are a Prophet, a Siddeeq
(truthful one), and to martyrs (‘Umar and ‘Uthman).

3. As-Saahib

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 As-Saahib literally means the companion, a title that Allah gave Abu Bakr in the
Noble Qur’an because he was the Prophet’s companion in the cave during their
migration to Madinah.

Allah says:

ُ ‫ين َك َف ُرواْ ثَايِن َ ا ْثَننْي ِ ِإ ْذ مُهَا يِف الْغَــا ِـر ِإ ْذ َي ُقـ‬ ِ َّ

‫ـول‬ ْ ‫صَرهُ اللّهُ ِإ ْذ‬
َ ‫َأخَر َجهُ الذ‬ َ َ‫نص ُروهُ َف َق ْد ن‬ُ َ‫ِإالَّ ت‬
ٍ ‫ْه وَأيَّ َده جِب نـ‬
ُُ ُ َ ِ ‫َأنز َل اللّــهُ َس ـ ِكينَتَهُ َعلَي‬ ِ ِ ِ‫ل‬
‫ـود مَّلْ َتَر ْو َـهـا َو َج َعـ َـل‬ َ ‫ص ـاحبِه الَ حَت َْز ْن ِإ َّن اللّــهَ َم َعنَــا فَ ـ‬
َ
ِ ِِ ِ ِ َّ ِ
ٌ ‫الس ْفلَى َو َكل َمةُ اللّه ه َي الْعُ ْليَا َواللّهُ َع ِز ٌيز َحك‬
‫يم‬ ُّ ْ‫ين َك َف ُروا‬ َ ‫َكل َمةَ الذ‬
“It does not matter if you (believers) do not support him, for Allah did in fact support him
when the disbelievers drove him out (of Mecca) and he was only one of two. While they
both were in the cave, he reassured his companion, “Do not worry; Allah is certainly with
us.” So Allah sent down His serenity upon the Prophet, supported him with forces you
(believers) did not see, and made the word of the disbelievers lowest, while the Word of
Allah is supreme. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise” (Qur’an 9:40).

● Scholars unanimously agree that “his companion” in this verse is a reference to Abu
Bakr As-Siddeeq.

4. Al Atqaa
Al Atqaa means the pious and righteous. In the following Qur’an verses, Allah
refers primarily to Abu Bakr.

ۙ‫َو َسيُ َجنَُّب َها ا ۡلاَ ۡت َقى‬

(92:17) But the God-fearing shall be kept away from it,

‫الَّ ِذ ۡى ي ُۡؤتِ ۡى َمالَ ٗه يَتَ َز ٰ ّكى‬

(92:18) the God-fearing who spends his wealth to purify himself;

‫َو َما اِل َ َح ٍد ِع ۡن َد ٗه ِم ۡن نِّ ۡع َم ٍة تُ ۡج ٰ ٓز ۙى‬

(92:19) not as payment for any favors that he received,

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 ‫اِاَّل ۡابتِ َغٓا َء َو ۡج ِه َربِّ ِه ااۡل َ ۡع ٰلى‬
(92:20) but only to seek the good pleasure of his Lord Most High.

َ ‫َولَ َس ۡو‬
ٰ ‫ف يَ ۡر‬
‫ضى‬
(92:21) He will surely be well-pleased (with him).

5. Al Awwaah
There are at least two possible meanings of the word Al Awwaah. It can mean
someone who supplicates to Allah a great deal, and it can also mean someone
who is merciful and soft-hearted.

Ibrahim al Nakha’ee said: Abu Bakr was named Al Awwaah because of his
compassion and mercy towards other people.

His birth
Scholars agree that Abu Bakr was born after the Year of the Elephant – the year during
which Abraha Ashram (the Abyssinian Christian ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum)
marched towards Makkah with his army – meaning that he was younger than the Prophet
(SAW).

Scholars disagree with regards to the exact date; some maintain that it was 3 years after
the event mentioned, while some believe he was born 2 years and a half; and yet other
hold that he was born 2 years and some months after the incident.

He was born and raised in a house of noble lineage where he was blessed with a very
respectful upbringing; from a very young age he gained the honor and the respect of his
people.

Abu Bakr’s Life in the Pre-Islamic Days

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Abu Bakr was among the noble men of Quraysh. But within the ranks of Quraysh’s
nobility, Abu Bakr ranked very high. The following will elaborate Abu Bakr’s life prior
to the advent of Islam.
1. His noble position among the Quraysh
- Abu Bakr was in charge of matters pertaining to debts and blood money
- If Abu Bakr agreed to take responsibility of paying someone’s debts, or blood money,
other members of Quraysh would help him.
- If someone else agreed to do the same, he would receive no help or encouragement
from any member of Quraysh.
2. His Knowledge of Genealogy
- Abu Bakr was the most prominent Arab Genealogist of his time
- He possessed expert knowledge of not only the history of Quraysh, but also of the
history of other Arab tribes.
- He went on to become the teacher of many students who later became eminent
genealogists in their own right.
- His noble character and upright disposition served him well in the society.
- While other genealogists of his time were fond of mentioning shameful aspects of the
family trees of particular Arab tribes, Abu Bakr abstained from doing the same, but only
mentioned the good aspects.
-After the advent of Islam, he became the most knowledgeable companion regarding the
teachings of Islam along with his knowledge of genealogy.
3. His Businesses
- During the Pre-Islamic days of ignorance, Abu Bakr was a businessman.
- He would go on business trips to Sham, Syria and surroundings.
- His initial investment capital was 40, 000 dirhams
- He was most respected among others for his fairness and generosity in business dealings
- If people feared being cheated in a business transaction, they would take their business
to Abu Bakr
- As a wealthy man, he was very generous to the poor and needy
4. The Degree to which the Quraysh Loved Him
- Given his nobility of character, Abu Bakr was highly beloved by the different categories
of people in Quraysh.

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- The noblemen loved him because of his wonderful characteristics of a true Qurayshee
nobleman.
- Businessmen loved him because of his fairness in his business dealings.
- Scholars loved him because he was one of the pre-eminent Arab scholars of his time.
-The poor and needy loved him because of how generous he was with his money.
5. Abu Bakr’s Reaction to Alcohol
- Similar to the Prophet (SAW), Abu Bakr lived an honorable life in the Pre-Islamic Days
of Ignorance
- Wanting to preserve his dignity and honor at all times, Abu Bakr never drank alcohol.
- Abu Bakr detested being inebriated even though no revelation had come to prohibit it.
6. Abu Bakr’s Reaction to Idol Worship
- Abu Bakr was also similar to the Prophet (SAW) in that he never prostrate to an idol.
- When he reached the age of puberty, his father introduced him to idols but he put them
to test and so he never worshipped them.
- One interesting thing about Abu Bakr is that never had a teacher or a guide to teach him
right from wrong.
- Before Islam, almost everyone else from Quraysh followed one way of life, while the
Prophet (SAW) and Abu Bakr (R.A) followed a completely different way of life.
-Their similar values strengthened their friendship before Islam, and with the advent of
Islam their ties of friendship and brotherhood became stronger.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“No child is born but that he is upon natural instinct. His parents
make him a Jew, or a Christian, or Magian.
-The nature instinct endowed to Abu Bakr remained strong with him as a guide for his first 38
years or so of his life.

How Abu Bakr Accepted Islam

- For almost 38 years of searching, Abu Bakr had prepared his mind to accept the truth.
- In his business trips through the Arabian Peninsula, he met with adherents of various religions,
and he was particularly interested in his Christian acquaintances and those who spoke about
monotheism.

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-An incident occurred while he was once sitting in the courtyard of Ka’abah (a
conversation between Zaid ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufail and Ibn Abee as-Salt).
- During the Jahiliyyah era, He would memorize poetry of the poets who spoke about the
theme of monotheism (e.g. a poem by Qiss ibn Saa’idah presented at the Ukaadh market).
- The prophet informed his companions that, whenever he invited a person to Islam, that
person would hesitate before making up his mind to accept Islam, except for Abu Bakr
who never neither hesitated nor wavered, but instead immediately embraced Islam and
believed in the Messenger of Allah.

Abu Bakr Preaches the Message of Islam

-Abu Bakr used his position as a scholar to convey the teachings of Islam on other
intellectuals in the society.
- He was able to invite lots of eminent personalities like Zubair ibn Al-Awwaam,
‘Uthman ibn ‘Affaan, Talha ibn ‘Ubaidillah, Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqaas, ‘Uthman ibn
Madh’uun, Abu ‘Ubaidah ibn Al Jarraah, AbdulRahman ibn ‘Auf, Abu Salamah ibn
‘Abdul Asad, and Al-Arqam ibn Abi Al-Arqam.
- He was also successful in calling his family and relative to Islam.