Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. Biography – Life style and contributions
Al-Siddiq “the righteous one”, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. the most beloved companion and best friend of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W was born in a highly respected family of Banu Tamim of the tribe of Quraish in Makkah in 573 A.D to Abu Quhafa and Umm Khayr.
His childhood and teenage years were unremarkable. Before Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. himself was the head of the sub-tribe family tribe, from which he and his belonged “Bunu Taym”. He was a reliable and trustworthy merchant and the most knowledgeable genealogy in Makkah.
Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s Title
Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s full name was Abdullah ibn Abi Quhafa ibn Amir ibn Amr ibn Ka’b ibn Sa’d ibn Taym ibn Murrah ibn Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib ibn Fihr.
The name Abd Allah carries the meaning “servant of Allah” when translated from Arabic. Before he became a Muslim, he was known by the title Ateeq, which means “rescued one.” This was one of his early titles. After some time, Muhammad S.A.W. reaffirmed this status by proclaiming that Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. is the “Ateeq.” Muhammad S.A.W. gave him the title of Al-Siddiq, which translates to “the honest.”
Before Islam
Like many other Arab children of the time, he spent his early years living with the Bedouin tribe known as Ahl-i-Ba’eer, or the “people of the camel.” Because of his early fascination with camels, he was given the nickname kunya, which means “father of the camel.” Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. grew up educated and creative like many of his wealthy Makkah merchant family friends. He used to go to the Ukaz fair every year and take part in poetry seminars. He was exceptionally well-remembered and knowledgeable about the history, politics, and historical records of several Arab clans.
He never claimed his belief in idols and the religious manner of the people of his tribe. There is a famous story about him that when he was younger, his father took him to worship Idols and asked him to pray while he went for other businesses. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. addressed an Idol. He said, O my God, I require fine clothing; bestow them on me,” Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. prayed to an idol. The god showed no emotion whatsoever. He then chanted to another statue, “Please, God, provide me with some tasty food. Just look at how hungry I am!”. The young Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A’s tolerance was worn thin by that. Here I am pointing a stone; if you are a god, defend yourself,” he said to an idol as he raised the rock. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. then threw the stone at the idol and fled the Kaaba. But it is documented that before he converted to Islam, he was a hanif and never worshipped idols.
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Acceptance of Islam
Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. was not in Makkah when the Messenger Of Allah issued the call to Islam. He was in Yemen on a work trip. Some of his associates reported to him that whilst he was away, Muhammad S.A.W. had announced himself as the Messenger of Allah and established a new faith in Makkah. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. immediately summoned the Holy Prophet upon hearing this. After Muhammad S.A.W. narrated the entire story of Hira to Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A., he felt inspired by the words of Muhammad S.A.W. and claim himself a believer of Allah and his last prophet, Muhammad S.A.W.
Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A.) knew Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W. well enough to know that He was incapable of lying. Unlike the others, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. didn’t hesitate to embrace the Revelation of the Almighty Allah as true, making him the first adult to convert to Islam.
Islam through Hazrat Abu Bakar R.A.
One of his wives Qutaylah bint Abd-al-Uzza refused to accept Islam, which made him divorce her while his other wife, Um Ruman and all of his children became Muslims except Abd al-Rahman. His influence made many people convert to Islam. Those who joined Islam at Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A’s insistence were:
- Uthman Ibn Affan (who became the 3rd Caliph)
- Al-Zubair (the Muslim conquest of Egypt)
- Talha ibn Ubayd-Allah, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s cousin.
- ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Awf (who would remain an important part of the Rashidun Caliphate)
- Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (who played a leading role in the Islamic conquest of Persia)
- Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah (who was a commander in chief of the Rashidun army in the Levant)
- Abu Salama, who was a foster brother of the prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
- Khalid ibn Sa’id, (who acted as a general under the Rashidun army in Syria)
Liberation Of slaves
Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s acceptance turned out to be a big step in Muhammad S.A.W.’s mission. Mecca was full of slaves, and many of them became Muslims. When an ordinary free man accepted Islam, even though others were against it, his tribe will indeed protect him. Slaves, on the other hand, did not have this kind of protection, and they were often mistreated. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. felt sorry for slaves, so he bought eight of them (four men and four women) for 40,000 dinars and then released them. It is said that because of Hazrat Abu Bakar R.A.’s soft-hearted nature, he protected women and fragile old aged people from the cruelty of their masters.
The men that were released:
- Bilal ibn Rabah
- Abu Fukayha
- Ammar ibn Yasir
- Abu Fuhayra
The women that were released were:
- Lubaynah
- Al-Nahdiah
- Umm Ubays
- Harithah bint al-Muammil
When Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s father asked him why he didn’t release strong and young slaves who may have been a source of strength for him, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. said that he was liberating the slaves for the sake of God, and not for his sake, since he believed that God wanted him to do so.
Life in Makkah
In 613, when Allah SWT asked Muhammad S.A.W. to announce their faith publically before this Islam was never announced properly for three years. Hazrat Abu Bakar R.A. was the first who renounced his faith in Islam. In an outburst of anger, the young men of the Quraysh tribe rushed at Hazrat Abu Bakr and beat him until he was found unconscious. After this, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s mother decided to become a Muslim. The Quraysh tried to hurt Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A many times. Even though Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A’s clan would have stood up for his beliefs, the rest of the Quraysh tribe would not have.
In the year 617, the Banu Hashim tribe, who supported Muhammad S.A.W., was abdicated by Quraish and thus Muhammad S.A.W. along with his supporters from Banu Hashim was cut off in a pass away from Makkah. Before then, a large number of Muslims fled to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. in a state of sorrow left for Yemen and ultimately Abyssinia. Just outside of Makkah, he ran across an old friend named Ad-Dughna, who was the chief of the Qarah tribe, but Ad- Dughna’s protection was soon withdrawn under pressure from the Quraish.
Migrating to Medina with the Prophet (PBUH)
In 622, Muhammad S.A.W. made an order for all Muslims to relocate to Medina. Allah SWT told His messenger to begin the migration to Madina when the situation in Makkah got increasingly severe and non-believers began to abuse Muslims to the extent. Since unbelievers were after him. So, the migration started in groups.
During this time, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. travelled with Muhammad S.A.W. to Medina. They avoided the highway, feeling danger from the Quraysh, and instead headed five miles south of Makkah, into a cave in Jabal Thawr. The son of Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A., Abd Allah ibn Abi Bakr, listened in on the Quraysh’s plotting and conspiring and brought the news to the cave dwellers at night. Asma bint Abi Bakr, Abu Bakr’s daughter, provided daily food delivery. Every night, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s servant Aamir would bring a herd of goats to the cave’s opening so that they could be milked. Quraysh sent out search parties in all directions. Some people were rather close to the cave’s mouth, but they were blind to their presence.
After three days and nights in the cave, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A and Muhammad S.A.W. set out for Medina, where they would eventually settle in the neighbourhood of Quba.
Life in Madina
In MedinaMuhammad S.A.W. decided to build a mosque for which Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. picked out a plot of land and paid the full asking price for it which was named after Muhammad S.A.W., “Al-Masjid al-Nabawi” Khaarijah bin Zaid Ansari, and Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. was matched as spiritual comrades. The marriage of Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. to Khaarijah’s daughter Habiba solidified the friendship between the two families.
Because of the moist climate of Medina as compared to Makkah, most of the pilgrims were sick when they arrived at Medina. Khaarijah and Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s other relatives took care of him while he was sick with a fever for several days. As a fabric wholesaler in Mecca, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. established a similar enterprise in Medina. He set up shop in the town of Sunh, and soon the Medina marketplace was receiving cloth from his new store. His company began to do well quickly. In the early months of 623, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. and Muhammad S.A.W.’s relationship was strengthened when Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. sent his daughter Hazrat Aisha R.A. to Muhammad S.A.W. for marriage.
Military Contributions
Some of the military contributions of Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.
- Battle of Badr
- Battle of Uhud
- Battle of the Trench
- Battle of Khaybar
- Battles of Hunayn and Ta’if
Reign (632–634)
After the death of Muhammad S.A.W., Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. became the successor Of Muhammad S.A.W. and the first Caliph in the history of Islam. Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A.’s reign lasted 27 months, during which he successfully subdued the insurrection of Arab tribes all through the Arabian Peninsula. Toward the end of his reign, he dispatched Khalid ibn al-Walid on conquests against the Sassanid Empire in Mesopotamia and the Byzantines in Syria. This would put into action a historical trajectory (completed later by Umar and Uthman ibn Affan) that would lead to one of history’s largest empires in just a few decades. He had little time to devote to state management, even though state matters remained stable during his Caliphate.
Death
on August 23, 634, Hazrat Abu Bakr R.A. fell ill, he did not recover. He developed a high temperature and was confined. His illness lasted for a long time, and as his health weakened, he realized the end was approaching. Realizing this, he summoned Ali and asked him to perform his ghusl, as Ali had done for Muhammad. And appointed Hazrat Umer R.A. as his successor.
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