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SAYYIDINA ABU BAKR AS-SIDDIQ (Rady Allahu Anhu)
By: Naseem Ahmed
Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) is a blessed Companion of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam), the first one among men to accept Islam, and the first rightly-guided Khalifa or successor. He participated in the Battle of Badr. He is the father of Sayyidatina Aisha (Rady Allahu Anha).
Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) is two years younger than the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam). His real name is Abdul Ka‘ba, the servant of the Ka‘ba, but when he became a Muslim, his name was changed to Abdullah. He adopted the name Abu Bakr which is the name everyone calls him by.
Ever since he was young, he was a good and an upright person. He had the respect of many people, especially of the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam). He was a rich and generous person. Everyone trusted him for he had a good heart and no one could stop him from doing the right thing.
“Abu Bakr did not hesitate to accept Islam”, the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) said. He spread Islam in every way he could, and wherever the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) went, he went. He protected the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) from anything, even a snake, as he didn’t care even if he himself got hurt.
He helped many people and had the title of Siddiq. Siddiq is a person who is truthful. He earned this title because his Faith was too strong to be shaken by anything.He’s ranked next in greatness after all the Prophet’s (Alayhimussalam).
Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) took part in all the battles. In Tabuk, he even took all his things to help an expedition. When the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) asked him: what have you kept for yourself? He replied: “Nothing. Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala) and His Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) are enough for me.”
When the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi was Sallam) could not lead the Muslims in Prayer in his final illness, he asked Sayyidina Abu Bakr (Rady Allahu Anhu) to lead the Muslims in Prayer.
When Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) became Khalifa of Islam after the Prophet (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) passed away, he told the people: “O people, I have been elected your leader even though I am not better than anyone from among you. If I do any good, give me your support. If I go wrong, set me right. Listen, truth is honesty, and untruth is dishonesty. The weak among you shall be strong in my eyes as long as I do not get them their due, Allah willing.
The powerful among you shall be weak in my eyes as long as I do not take away from them what is due to others, Allah willing. Listen, if people give up striving for the cause of Allah, Allah sends down disgrace on them. If people become evil doers, Allah sends down calamities on them. Listen, you must obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I disobey Allah and His Messenger, you are free to disobey me.”
When he was Khalifa he sent the Muslim army to defeat Musaylama al-Kadhdhab who claimed to be a prophet. In this way he preserved the purity of the teaching of Islam that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) is the Final Prophet.
Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) passed away at the age of sixty-three. I believe he is one of the most amazing persons in Islam, really in the whole humanity of the world.
Rabi‘ Awwal 1425, May 2004