Sayyiduna Abu Bark Siddique radi allahu anhu - The First Caliph of Islam
EARLY LIFE
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu's) real name was
Abdullah, and he was given the title of "As Siddique" or
"Testifier to the Truth." His father, 'Uthman, was known as
Abu Quhafah and his mother, Salma, was known as Ummul Khair.
He was two and a half years younger than Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).He was the first
among the Sahaba to accept Islam. He accompanied Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) during the Hijrah
to Madinatul Munawwarah. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu
anhu) was a merchant. He freed many slaves, including
Sayyiduna Bilal (radi Allahu anhu) and Sayyiduna Umayyah bin
Qahaf (radi Allahu anhu). He participated in all the battles
in which Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) had to fight the Kuffar.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) loved his faith more
than anything else. At the Battle of Badr, his son,
Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu), was fighting on
the side of the Kuffar. After accepting Islam, Sayyiduna
Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu) said to his father, "O
Father, at Badr, you were twice under my sword, but my love
for you held my hand back." To this, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr
(radi Allahu anhu) replied, "Son, if I had you only once
under my sword, you would have been no more." He was so
uncompromising in his faith.
At the time of the Battle of Tabuk, he donated all his
wealth to the war effort, and when Sayyiduna Rasoolullah
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) asked him, "What have you
left for your family,?" he replied, "Allah and His Rasool
(sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)."
AS CALIPH
After his election as the Caliph, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi
Allahu anhu) addressed the Muslims with these words: "O
People! I have been chosen by you as your leader, although I
am no better than any of you. If I do any wrong, set me
right. Listen, truth is honesty and untruth is dishonesty.
The weak among you are the powerful in my eyes, as long as I
do not give them their dues. The powerful among you are weak
in my eyes, as long as I do not take away from them what is
due to others.
"Listen carefully, if people give up striving for the Cause
of Almighty Allah, He will send down disgrace upon them. If
people become evil-doers, Almighty Allah will send down
calamities upon them.
"Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Rasul (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam). If I disobey Allah and His Rasul (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam), you are free to disobey me."
Such was the first Caliph of Islam. Indeed, the world would
be a better place to live in, if we had leaders like
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu).Sayyiduna Abu Bakr
(radi Allahu anhu) now sent Sayyiduna Usamah (radi Allahu
anhu) on the expedition to Syria to fight the Romans, even
though he had to attend to all the internal problems of the
Islamic State.
The news that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) had passed away, made some new Muslims think that
the Islamic State would crumble and they refused to pay the
Zakaah. These new Muslims could not yet get used to their
faith and its requirements until then. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr
(radi Allahu anhu) declared, "By Allah! Even if a single
thread is due from a man, he must give it. If he refuses, I
will declare war against him."
RENEGADES AND IMPOSTERS
Some others became imposters and renegades. Tulaiha,
Musailimah, Maalik bin Nuwairah, Aswad Ansi and a woman
named Sajah claimed that they were prophets and caused a
great deal of confusion. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu
anhu) was quick to take action against these imposters.
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) was sent to
deal with Tulaiha who fled to Syria and later became a
Muslim. Maalik bin Nuwarah was killed. Sayyiduna Ikramah (radi
Allahu anhu) and Sayyiduna Surahbil (radi Allahu anhu) were
sent to take action against Musailimah, but they were
defeated. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) sent
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) to tackle the
notorious Musailamah who married Sajah. In the fight that
followed, Sayyiduna Wahshi (radi Allahu anhu) killed
Musailamah. Musailamah and Aswad Ansi also claimed to be
prophets while Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) was alive. Aswad was killed by the Muslims of
Yemen.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu's) swift and bold steps
saved the Islamic State from the serious danger of chaos and
confusion. He could now attend to other urgent problems.
ERA OF CONQUESTS
During his Khilaafat, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)
had to take action against the Iranian Empire. The Emperor
of Iran, Khusrou Parvez, was killed by his son, Shirooya,
and the whole empire fell into chaos and disorder. Hurmuz,
the Persian governor of Iraq, was very hostile to the Arabs
and he was also cruel to the Muslims living in that area.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) sent Sayyiduna
Muthamia (radi Allahu anhu) to take action against the
Iranians in Iraq. His forces were not enough and Sayyiduna
Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) was then sent with
reinforcements. The Muslim army captured vast areas of the
Iranian Empire in several battles.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) then turned his
attention to the Romans who were causing trouble in the
North-West frontier. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu)
sent 4 separate armies under Sayyiduna Ubaidah bin Jarrah,
Sayyiduna Amr Ibnul As, Sayyiduna Yazid bin Abu Sufyaan and
Sayyiduna Surahbil bin Hasnal (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in)
to deal with the Roman power.
The four armies joined into one unit to face the Romans more
effectively. The Romans had amassed 150 000 soldiers, but
the total Muslim army was only 24 000. Reinforcements were
requested. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) asked
Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (radi Allahu anhu) to take charge
of the Iraqi front and Sayyiduna Muthanna (radi Allahu anhu)
to rush to the Syrian front to help fight the huge Roman
army. The armies met in Yarmuk after Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi
Allahu anhu) passed away. In this battle, the Romans were
totally defeated.
PASSES AWAY
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) fell ill at this time
and passed away on the 21st of Jamadi-ul-Aakhir 13 A.H. (22
August 634). His rule lasted 2 years and 3 months. He was 63
years old.
One of the many contributions of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi
Allahu anhu) was the collection and compilation of the Holy
Quran.
PERSONAL LIFE
He lived a very simple, pious and upright life. He was a
true servant of Almighty Allah and a meticulous follower of
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). He
wore ordinary clothes and his meals were very simple. He
attended to house-hold work and would go out at night and
seek the poor and destitute. Humility and modesty were the
keynotes of his character. He felt embarrassed when people
showered praises on him or showed him immense respect. He
often fasted during the day and spent the whole night in
Salaah and meditation. He was a great orator and a master of
genealogy (one who can trace a person's family line). In
personal life, he was a Saint. He used all his powers to
promote the interest of Islam and the good of people.