The Rightly Guided Khulafaa
The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)
"If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I
would take Abu Bakr as a friend." (Hadeeth)
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, Aisha, 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 tranquillity.
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 Uthman 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.
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 organised 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.
The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)
"If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I
would take Abu Bakr as a friend." (Hadeeth)
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, Aisha, 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 tranquillity.
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 Uthman 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.
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 organised 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.
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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