‘Abu Bakr (RA)’s election as First Caliph and his Administration’

Background of Election

o The Prophet (pbuh) did not nominate a successor in his life.

o After his death the Ansars gathered in Saqifah-i-Bani Sa’ad to discuss the appointment
of a caliph where they were joined by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and other eminent muhajireen.
o ‘Ali (RA)was not present at this meeting as he was busy with the preparations of the final
rites of the Prophet (pbuh).
o whether the caliph was to be from the Ansar, or the Quraysh was discussed at the meeting.

Demand of Ansars

o The Ansars wanted a caliph from amongst them in view of their sacrifices for Islam, but
Abu Bakr argued that the Arabs would not agree on any Amir other than a person from
the Quraysh, at which point the ansars suggested the option of electing two Amirs, one
from the Quraysh and one from the ansars, to which ‘Umar objected saying it would cause
confusion in the umma.

Address of Ubayda bin Jarrah (RA)

o ‘Ubayda bin Jarrah (RA) addressed the ansars at this point and said, ‘O Ansar! You were
the first to uphold Islam do not be the first to sow the seeds of dissension in it.’ The ansars
immediately withdrew their claim.

Appointment of Abu Bakr (RA)

o Abu Bakr suggested the name of ‘Ubayda bin Jarrah and Umar ibn khattab (RA) but ‘Umar
held the hand of Abu Bakr and pledged his allegiance.
o On seeing this people from all sides rushed to pledge their loyalty to Abu Bakr and a
general pledge was taken the next day.

Abu Bakr's First Address as Khalifa

o After being appointed as a caliph, Abu Bakr addressed to the people,
o “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, ye owe me no obedience. Arise for
your prayer, God have mercy upon you.”
 Administration of Abu Bakr (RA)
Abu Bakr (RA) laid the foundation of a truly democratic state.

Majlis-e-Shura (Advisory Council)

o Following the Qur’an and sunna Abu Bakr conducted the affairs of the state by
discussing all matters with the Majlis-e-Shura. (Always took advice from the great
companions of the Prophet in all important matters.)
Division of State into Provinces
o He divided the state into provinces, each had a governor.
Important Appointments
o The appointed governors were responsible for both administrative and military affairs.
o Governor had an ‘amil’ to collect taxes and ‘Qazi’ to administer justice.
o All commanders and governors were selected on merit.

Responsibilities given Companions

o Umar acted as a Minister to the Caliph, and was in charge of judicial administration.
o Abu Ubaida Jarrah was in charge of the financial administration.

Crime Control in the Reign of Abu Bakr (RA)

o He offered himself and his officers for strict accountability.
o Even though there was no police force, all crimes and their perpetrators were dealt with
in the light of the teachings from the Qur’an and sunna and if they were silent ijma was
practiced.

Pillar of Islam Secured by Abu Bakr (RA)

o By his efficient administration he preserved the integrity of Islam by suppressing
rebellions and making sure that the Pillar of zakat was enforced.
o Abu Bakr (RA) was a true savior of Islam. He succeeded in suppressing the apostasy
movement by which he saved the young Muslim state. He preserved the integrity of
Islam and sanctity of the traditions of the Prophet (SAW). He subdued the rebellions
tribes and made them pay Zakat and fought the false prophets, thus he was able to
prevent the weakening of Islamic principles.

Military Campaigns During the Reign of Abu Bakr

o During the caliphate of Abu Bakr (RA) all the military campaigns undertaken by the
Muslims ended in their victory. The Muslims fought against forces superior to them in
strength and numbers, but victory always lay with the Muslims.

Conclusion
o The main causes of the victories of the Muslims during the caliphate of Abu Bakr were
the high morale of the Muslim soldiers, their religious enthusiasm, their endurance, their
mobility and the superb directions of Abu Bakr (RA)

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 ‘Abu Bakr (RA)’s dealing with four false prophets’

Introduction
In the last days of the Prophet’s life some misguided people arose to claim prophethood.
When Abu Bakr was elected as the Caliph, they started their preaching openly. Among these
false prophets were Aswad Ansi, Tulaiha, Sajjah and Musailamah.

ASWAD ANSI
Background
• He belonged to the Ansi tribe of Yemen and was an ugly man who used to cover his face
and this why he was also called the veiled prophet (the one who covers face).
• Badhan was the King of Yemen who embraced Islam at the call of Prophet (PBUH). With
Badha many came into the fold of Islam.
Claim of Prophethood
• After the death of Badhan when his son Shahr took the throne, Aswad Ansi who had already
laid the claim of being prophet gathered his army, attacked and killed Shahr.
• By this, Aswad captured Yemen and repudiated allegiance to Madinah.
• Prophet (PBUH) on knowing Aswad's false claim sent an army under Hazrat Maaz bin
Jabal (RA).
• Personal Life
• After that Aswad forcefully married the widow of Shahr named Azad.
• In order to empower himself Aswad Ansi dismissed Qais, commander in chief of the forces
of Shah and Feroz, minister under Shahr.
Death
• Azad who bitterly hated Aswad killed him in conspiracy spearheaded by her, Feroz and
Qais. He was killed a day or two before the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH) but the news
reached Madinah during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (RA).

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 TULAYHA
Background
• He laid a claim among Bani Asad of receiving revelations and prophet hood during Prophet
(PBUH)'s lifetime.
Claim of Prophethood
• When Prophet (PBUH) asked to take action against him a Muslim tried to kill him but the
attempt was miscarried. After this the followers of Tulayha proclaimed that no sword could
harm him.
Defeat of Tulyaha
• Abu Bakr (RZ) sent Khalid bin Walid (RA) wanted to crush his growing power. Khalid bin
Walid (RA) negotiated with the neighboring tribes which brought reinforcement for Muslims.
• The armies of Muslims and Tulayha met at Buzakha but this remained indecisive.
Thereafter, Tulyaha retired to a place of safety and pretended to await divine revelations.
• Uyaynah, his commander in chief, after inquiring Tulayha about revelations many times
found his cause doomed to failure and asked his army to retreat. This gave an advantage
to Muslims and many men of Tulayha were killed.
• He escaped to Syria with his wife and later when Muslims conquered Syria he embraced
Islam.

SAJJAH
Background
• She belonged to Bani Tamim tribe. Among the false prophets who arose in Arabia, she
was the lady who claimed to be a prophetess.
Claim of Prophethood
• She was beautiful, professed in predicting future, was a poetess and mostly talked in
verses. She had an influential personality and was famous in her people. Due to her fame
and appealing personality when many accepted her claim, she decided to attack Madina
but learning about Tulayha's defeat by Hazrat Khalid, she was reluctant to attack Madinah.
Revolt Against Muslims
• So, she collected an army of her followers and proceeded to Yamamah to fight against
Musaylima. Instead of attacking, Musaylima invited her and gave her a warm welcome. He
convinced her to join forces with him as their enemy was the same, the Muslims.
Personal Life
• Musaylima proposed Sajjah which she accepted and admitting each other as prophet they
got married. The followers of Sajjah went back to Iraq frustrated, considering the loss
without a battle.
Defeat of Sajjah
• It is said that she realized that she had degraded herself and lost the battle. She went back
to Iraq and later embraced Islam when Muslims conquered Iraq.

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 MUSAYLIMA, the Liar
Background
• He belonged to Hanifa tribe in Yamama and was the most dangerous one.
• He visited Madinah during the Prophet (PBUH)'s lifetime and met him.

Claim of Prophethood
• On his return to Yamama he laid claim to be a prophet. He also composed some verses
and called them the revelations.

Effect of False Claim

• He lessened the number of prayers from five to three, relived his followers from Zakat and
allowed adultery and drinking.
• When Prophet (PBUH) asked him to abandon he demanded to divide Arabia in two parts
one for Muslims and other for him and his followers.
• Prophet (PBUH) called him the liar and deputed Nahr ur Rijal to go back to his people and
propagate Islam but Nahr falsely declared to his people that Prophet (PBUH) admitted
Musaylima to be his co-partner in Divine mission.

Defeat of Musaylama
• After the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH) people preferred him as a living prophet. Abu Bakr
(RZ) then sent two armies under Ikrimah bin Abu Jahl and Shrubail bin Hasnal with
instructions to attack only when both forces joined. Both the delegations lost in battle with
because they did not follow the caliph's instructions. Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (RA) was then
sent by the caliph with an army of 15,000.
• Musaylima with his 40,000 men intercepted the outnumbered Muslims which brought
defeat for Muslims on the first day of the battle.
• Hazrat Khalid (RA) refused to admit defeat and prepared his reserved cavalry for the next
day battle.

• While both forces were engaged in hand-to-hand fighting Khalid bin Walid (RZ) attacked
on Musaylima's camp. Musaylima retreated to a neighboring garden which was surrounded
by a wall, Muslims jumped over the wall and after that, a huge slaughter took place and
due to this the battle is also known as the Battle of the garden of death'.

Death of Musaylama
• Eventually, Wahshi ibn Harb, the Negru slave killed Musaylima.3000 Muslims were
martyred including a large number of Huffaz (memorizers) and10,000 of Musaylima's army
men were killed.

Conclusion
• Abu Bakr (RA) faced various challenges in his reign but one of the most significant input
as a caliph was to crushed the false prophet and secure the Muslim Umma by preventing
them being misled.

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