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"If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr as a
friend." (Hadith)
Election to the Caliphate
The Prophet's closest Companion, Abu Bakr, was not present when the Holy Prophet
(peace be on him) breathed his last in the apartment of his beloved wife of
later years, 'Aaishah, Abu Bakr's daughter. When he came to know of the
Prophet's passing, Abu Bakr hurried to the house of sorrow.
"How blessed was your life and how beatific is your death," he whispered as he
kissed the cheek of his beloved friend and master who now was no more.
When Abu Bakr came out of the Prophet's apartment and broke the news, disbelief
and dismay gripped the community of Muslims in Medina. Muhammad (peace be on him)
had been the leader, the guide and the bearer of Divine revelation through whom
they had been brought from idolatry and barbarism into the way of God. How could
he die? Even Umar, one of the bravest and strongest of the Prophet's Companions,
lost his composure and drew his sword and threatened to kill anyone who said
that the Prophet was dead. Abu Bakr gently pushed him aside, ascended the steps
of the lectern in the mosque and addressed the people, saying
"O people, verily whoever worshipped Muhammad, behold! Muhammad is indeed dead.
But whoever worships God, behold! God is Alive and will never die."
And then he concluded with a verse from the Qur'an:
"And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Many Messengers have gone before him; if then
he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels?" (3:144)
On hearing these words, the people were consoled. Despondency gave place to
confidence and tranquility. This critical moment had passed. But the Muslim
community was now faced with an extremely serious problem: that of choosing a
leader. After some discussion among the Companions of the Prophet who had
assembled in order to select a leader, it became apparent that no one was better
suited for this responsibility than Abu Bakr. A portion of the speech the First
Caliph gave after his election has already been quoted in the introduction.
Abu Bakr's Life
Abu Bakr ('The Owner of Camels') was not his real name. He acquired this name
later in life because of his great interest in raising camels. His real name was
Abdul Ka'aba ('Slave of Ka'aba'), which Muhammad (peace be on him) later changed
to Abdullah ('Slave of God'). The Prophet also gave him the title of 'Siddiq' -
'The Testifier to the Truth.'
Abu Bakr was a fairly wealthy merchant, and before he embraced Islam, was a
respected citizen of Mecca. He was three years younger than Muhammad (peace be
on him) and some natural affinity drew them together from earliest child hood.
He remained the closest Companion of the Prophet all through the Prophet's life.
When Muhammad first invited his closest friends and relatives to Islam, Abu Bakr
was among the earliest to accept it. He also persuaded Uthmân and Bilal to
accept Islam. In the early days of the Prophet's mission, when the handful of
Muslims were subjected to relentless persecution and torture, Abu Bakr bore his
full share of hardship. Finally when God's permission came to emigrate from
Mecca, he was the one chosen by the Prophet to accompany him on the dangerous
journey to Medina. In the numerous battles which took place during the life of
the Prophet, Abu Bakr was always by his side. Once, he brought all his
belongings to the Prophet, who was raising money for the defense of Medina. The
Prophet asked "Abu Bakr, what did you leave for your family?" The reply came: "God
and His Prophet."
Even before Islam, Abu Bakr was known to be a man of upright character and
amiable and compassionate nature. All through his life he was sensitive to human
suffering and kind to the poor and helpless. Even though he was wealthy, he
lived very simply and spent his money for charity, for freeing slaves and for
the cause of Islam. He often spent part of the night in supplication and prayer.
He shared with his family a cheerful and affectionate home life.
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Abu-Bakr's Caliphate
Such, then, was the man upon whom the burden of leadership fell at the most
sensitive period in the history of the Muslims.
As the news of the Prophet's death spread, a number of tribes rebelled and
refused to pay Zakat (poor-due), saying that this was due only to the Prophet (peace
be on him). At the same time a number of impostors claimed that the prophethood
had passed to them after Muhammad and they raised the standard of revolt. To add
to all this, two powerful empires, the Eastern Roman and the Persian, also
threatened the new-born Islamic state at Medina.
Under these circumstances, many Companions of the Prophet, including Umar,
advised Abu Bakr to make concessions to the Zakat evaders, at least for a time.
The new Caliph disagreed. He insisted that the Divine Law cannot be divided,
that there is no distinction between the obligations of Zakat and Salat (prayer),
and that any compromise with the injunctions of God would eventually erode the
foundations of Islam. Umar and others were quick to realize their error of
judgment. The revolting tribes attacked Medina but the Muslims were prepared.
Abu Bakr himself led the charge, forcing them to retreat. He then made a
relentless war on the false claimants to prophethood, most of whom submitted and
again professed lslam.
The threat from the Roman Empire had actually arisen earlier, during the
Prophet's lifetime. The Prophet had organized an army under the command of Usama,
the son of a freed slave. The army had not gone far when the Prophet had fallen
ill so they stopped. After the death of the Prophet the question was raised
whether the army should be sent again or should remain for the defence of
Medina. Again Abu Bakr showed a firm determination. He said, "I shall send
Usama's army on its way as ordered by the Prophet, even if I am left alone."
The final instructions he gave to Usama prescribed a code of conduct in war
which remains unsurpassed to this day. Part of his instructions to the Muslim
army were:
"Do not be deserters, nor be guilty of disobedience. Do not kill an old man, a
woman or a child. Do not injure date palms and do not cut down fruit trees. Do
not slaughter any sheep or cows or camels except for food. You will encounter
persons who spend their lives in monasteries. Leave them alone and do not molest
them."
Khalid bin Waleed had been chosen by the Prophet (peace be on him) on several
occasions to lead Muslim armies. A man of supreme courage and a born leader, his
military genius came to full flower during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr. Throughout
Abu Bakr's reign Khalid led his troops from one victory to another against the
attacking Romans.
Another contribution of Abu Bakr to the cause of Islam was the collection and
compilation of the verses of the Qur'an.
Abu Bakr died on 21 Jamadi-al Akhir, 13 A.H. (23 August 634 A.C.), at the age of
sixty-three, and was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him).
His Caliphate had been of a mere twenty-seven months duration. In this brief
span, however, Abu Bakr had managed, by the Grace of God, to strengthen and
consolidate his community and the state, and to secure the Muslims against the
perils which had threatened their existence.