THE LIFE OF ABU BAKR. R.A

Abu Bakr is known by all Muslims as the first Caliph, or successor, to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). His
Caliphate was marked by subjugating a massive revolt (The Wars of Apostasy) within the Arabian
Peninsula, and incursion into the Roman (Byzantine) and Persian (Sassanid) Empires.
His real name was Abdullah Abi Qahafa. Abu Bakr (Father of the Lively Camel) was actually his nickname.
He was about the same age as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and they were best friends, before and after
the message of Islam came.
This friendship was strengthened and exemplified when the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Abu
Bakr’s daughter Aisha.
Once, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked who he loved most of all people. The Prophet (pbuh)
replied that he loved his wife Aisha the most. Then he was asked, who amongst the men and he replied:
“Her father.”
Abu Bakr was a merchant by trade and the chief of the Bani Tamim clan. He was also a renowned
genealogist and an interpreter of dreams.
Abu Bakr was the first free, adult male to accept Islam. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that
everyone who was presented with Islam took some time to think it over before finally converting.
However, Abu Bakr was the only person who accepted Islam immediately without hesitation.
After accepting Islam, life became difficult for Abu Bakr. Like many of the other early Muslims, he was
subjected to persecution. Unlike some of the other companions, Abu Bakr’s clan was rather small and
weak. Although his family protected him as much as they could, they were not powerful enough to stop
all of the abuse.
The persecution eventually led Abu Bakr to decide to make Hijrah (migration) to the Abyssinian Empire
(Ethiopia) which several other early Muslims had also done. As he was preparing to leave Mecca, he met
one of the chiefs of Mecca name Abu Daghinah.
Abu Daghinah was shocked to hear the Abu Bakr was being forced to leave his home. So he offered him
his protection if he decided to stay in Mecca. Abu Bakr accepted his offer and it became known that he
had the chief’s protection.
This situation didn’t last long. Abu Bakr used to pray out in the open in his courtyard where everyone
could see him. And when he prayed, he usually cried. This spectacle irritated the Quraish as it caused
their women and children to stop and stare at him.
Eventually, Abu Daghinah asked Abu Bakr to pray in his home instead of outside. Abu Bakr refused and
gave back his offer of protection.
Perhaps the most outstanding trait of Abu Bakr was his desire to spread the message of Islam. He was
responsible for buying the freedom of many slaves who had accepted Islam. The most famous of these
was Bilal Ibn Rabah who was being tortured for becoming Muslim.
Abu Bakr also spread the message of Islam amongst the merchant class in Mecca. Several important
companions of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) became Muslim through Abu Bakr’s propagation. These
include:
• Uthman Ibn Affan
• Sa’ad Ibn Abi Waqqas
• Abdur Rahman Ibn Auf
• Zubair Ibn Al-Awwam
• Talha Ibn Ubaidullah
When the time came to make the Hijrah to Medina, Abu Bakr was one of the last to leave. He wanted to
wait until the Prophet made the Hijrah and was happy to join him in the trip.
Soon after Abu Bakr and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fled Mecca, a party of the Quraish came after
them. Along the way, Abu Bakr and the prophet hid in a cave while the Quraish were looking for them.
At one point, the Quraish came so close to the cave, that Abu Bakr later commented that if they had
only looked down, they would have found them.
In Medina, Abu Bakr proved his loyalty many times. He took part in all of the battles that Prophet
Muhammad took part in. Abu Bakr was a key figure in just about every major event during this period.
• He partook in the Battle of Badr.
• He partook in the Battle of Uhud.
• He witnessed the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
• He partook in the Battle of Mecca and Tabook.
When the Muslims conquered Mecca, the Prophet (pbuh) forgave all of the Quraish who at one point
used to fight and persecute the Muslims. The Prophet (pbuh) took the pledge of allegiance from the
men of Mecca, while Abu Bakr to the pledge from the women of Mecca.
When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) took ill just before his death, he appointed Abu Bakr to lead the
prayer. Abu Bakr’s daughter Aisha tried to get Umar Ibn Khattab to lead instead as she thought her
father was too emotional.
But when Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) found out, he became upset and insisted that Abu Bakr lead
instead.
After Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) returned to Allah, Abu Bakr was chosen as the Caliph (successor). The
story of his appointment as Caliph and the events that happened during his reign will be covered in the
next article, Inshallah.