ABU BAKR AS-SIDDEEQ (MAY ALLAH BE PLEASED WITH HIM)Abu Bakr(R) was the Prophet’s (May Allah Honour him and Grant him Peace) best friend, and the first rightly-guided Caliph. He was the only person, other than the Prophet’s wife (Khadijah), who accepted Islam immediately and believed in Muhammad(May Allah Honour him and Grant him Peace) from Islam’s earliest beginnings. Abu Bakr(R) always remained at the Prophet’s side, and he had no reservations about spending his wealth for the sake of Islam and the Muslims. He belonged to a wealthy, well-established family in Makkah, but when he died he had only six hundred dirhams. He used his status in Makkah to protect new reverts to Islam when the Quraish were oppressing Muslims. The Companions recognized his superiority, yet he always remained humble and sincere towards all. He is an example of dedication and sacrifice.
Brief BiographyHis old Name was Abdul Kaaba. He was an early revert to Islam and a senior companion (Sahaba) of the Prophet Muhammad(May Allah Honour him and Grant him Peace). Throughout his life, Abu Bakr(r) remained a friend and confidante of Muhammad(S). Upon Muhammad's death he became the first Muslim ruler, regarded as the first of the Rashidun (righteously guided Caliphs). His caliphate lasted two years and three months, during which time he consolidated the Muslim state. Upon the death of Muhammad, some tribes rebelled, and in return he fought the Ridda wars against these Arab tribes to establish Islamic rule over all of Arabia. He also conquered the lands of Syria and Iraq. [1]
Incident of caveAbu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) emigrated from Makkah to Medina with the Messenger of Allah(May Allah Honour him and Grant him Peace). The Mushrikeen earnestly pursued them: Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) emigrated from Mecca to Medina with the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him. The Mushrikeen earnestly pursued the two of them so when they came to (the mouth of) a cave on Mount Thowr Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) said to the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him: "Stay here O Messenger of Allah until I make sure that the cave is safe." So Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) entered the cave and checked it to make sure that it was safe. Then he remembered that he did not check a hole or an animal den inside the cave so he said again: "Stay here until I make sure everything is safe." Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) re-entered the cave, checked again, and then said: "Come inside the cave O Messenger of Allah." So the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him entered the cave.
The Quaraish went out searching in every direction hoping to catch the Prophet peace be upon him. During their search they came to Mount Thowr and the cave that the Prophet peace be upon him had entered. The search party came so close that they were actually standing on the mountain just above the mouth of the cave and Allah's Messenger peace be upon him and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) heard their voices. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) became very anxious, afraid and sad. He said: "O Messenger of Allah if any one of them looked at his feet surely he would see us! " The Prophet replied: "O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two people with Allah as their third!" A ayath in the Qur'an was revealed describing this incident. Allah the Most High says: If you do not aid the Prophet - Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." Qur’an surah Tawbah 9:40
So Allah protected His Prophet from all harm while he peace be upon him was in the cave. After three days, the Mushrikeen called off the search and the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him and Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) left the cave heading for Medina. Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him) fought in the Battle of Badr, and the Battle of Uhud, and the Battle of The Ditch, and the Battle of Al-Hudaybiyah. Abu Bakr fought all of these battles with the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him and he defended the Prophet (u) in the Battle of Tabuk against terrible odds. In addition, he was amongst those who stood firm in the Battle of Uhud and in the Battle of Hunayn when many of the others retreated.
Virtues of Abu BakrIn an authentic hadith narrated upon the authority of Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: "I heard the messenger of Allah say five days before he died: 'I stand acquitted before Allah that I took anyone of you as a friend, for Allah has taken me as His friend, as he took Ibraheem as His friend. Had I taken any one of my Ummah as a friend, I would have taken Abu Bakr as a friend. Beware of those who preceded you and used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as mosques; I forbid you to do that.'"
And in another hadith narrated upon the authority of Abd-ur-Rahman ibn 'Awf (May Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said: "Abu Bakr is in Paradise, and Umar is in Paradise, and Uthman is in Paradise, and Ali is in Paradise, and Talha is in Paradise, and Az-Zubair is in Paradise, and Abd-ur-Rahman ibn 'Awf is in Paradise, and Sa'd ibn Abee Waqqaas is in Paradise, and Sa'eed ibn Zaid is in Paradise, and Abu Ubaidah ibn Al-Jarraah is in Paradise."
Az-Zubair embraced Islam on the hands of Abu Bakr and so did Uthman, and Abd-ur-Rahman ibn 'Awf, and Talha (May Allah be please with them all). In addition, Abu Bakr freed seven slaves who were tortured (by the mushrikeen) because they had embraced Islam. From these seven were Bilal and 'Aamir ibn Fuhairah. The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him loved Abu Bakr very much and he peace be upon him was very certain of Abu Bakr's belief in Allah and His Messenger and the religion of Islam. [2]
Full NameAbdullah/'Atique bin Abi Qahafah('Uthman) b. 'Amir b. 'Amr b. Ka'b b. Sa'd b. Taym b. Murra
ParentsAbu Quhafa Uthman bin 'Amir/ Salma Umm-ul-Khair
SiblingsQuafah ibn Uthman, Mu'taq, Utaiq
Birth Date/Place51 BH/573 CE (Makkah)
Death Date/Place13 AH/634 CE (Medina)[ Natural ]
Places of StayMakkah/Medina
Spouse(s)Qutaylah bint Abdul-'Uzza, Umm Ruman, Asma bint 'Umays, Habiba bint Kharijah ibn Zayd
ChildrenAsma' bint Abi Bakr, 'Abdullah bin Abi Bakr, 'Aisha bint Abi Bakr, 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, Umm Khultum bint Abi Bakr
His TeachersMuhammad (May Allah Honour him and Grant him Peace)
Students'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 'Uthman ibn 'Affaan, Ali ibn Abi Talib, 'Abdur Rahman Ibn 'Awf, Zayd ibn Thabit, 'Aisha bint Abi Bakr, 'Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, ibn Abbas, 'Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, ibn Umar, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-'Aas, Anas bin Malik, Jabir ibn 'Abdullah, al-Bara' bin Azib bin al-Harith, Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Abu Hurairah, Tariq bin Shahab, 'Uqba binal-Harith bin 'Amir, Abu al-Tufayl, 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Asayla al-Sanabahi, Aslam Client Of 'Umar, Qays bin Abi Hazim, Awsat al-Bajli, others
NarrationsSahih Bukhari: 8 Sahih Muslim: 4 [3]
References[1] [3] http://www.muslimscholars.info/ [2] http://www.pbuh.us/prophetMuhammad.php?f=Re_10_AbuBakrAsSiddeeq
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