The Supreme Personality after Ambiya Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ

At the time of Ghazwah Tabook, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ commanded the wealthy people of his Ummah to make financial donations generously in the way of Allah, so that arrangements could be made for Muslim warriors’ food and conveyance. Obeying this commandment of Rasoolullah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, the blessed personality who brought his entire wealth in the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ to give it in the way of Allah, was Sahabi [companion], son of a Sahabi, great devotee of Rasool, Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. He placed all his wealth and family possessions at the feet of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. Seeing this great sacrifice made by his closest companion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ inquired: ‘Have you left anything for your family as well?’ Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ humbly replied with utmost respect: ‘اَبْقَيْتُ لَهُمُ اللهَ وَرَسُوْلَهُ’ i.e. I have left Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ for them.’

(Subul-ul-Huda, vol. 5, pp. 435)

His statement can simply be interpreted as: Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ are sufficient for me and my family. Who was he? As we have just read that it was Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ who is the most highly ranked person after the Ambiya عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام and the first to embrace Islam. He spent his entire life in devotion to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. The love of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was his special attribute. Many Muslims converted to Islam by the virtue of his calling towards Islam. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was very rich, well-mannered, considerate and a highly honourable person. Let’s have some glimpses of his blessed life and excellences.

Name, Kunyah and Titles

The blessed name of the first caliph, leader of the believers, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ is ‘Abdullah and his father’s name is (Abu Qahaafah) ‘Usman.

(Sahih Ibn Habbaan, vol. 9, pp. 6, Hadees 6825)

His patronymic appellation (Kunyah) ‘Abu Bakr’ is so famous that people consider it his real name, though his blessed name is ‘Abdullah’.

(Seerat Halbiyyah, vol. 1, pp. 390)

Two titles are very famous for Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, ‘Ateeq’ and ‘Siddeeq’. The first title he obtained in Islam was the title of ‘Ateeq’.

(Riyad-un-Nadarah, vol. 1, pp. 77)

Blessed Birth

He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was born in Makka-tul-Mukarramah approximately two and half years after ‘Aam-ul-Feel (the year of the elephant) and 2 years and few months after the blessed birth of the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.

(Al-Isaabah, vol. 4, pp. 145; Tareekh-ul-Khulafa, pp. 24; Noor-ul-‘Irfan, part 26, Al-Ahqaaf, Ayah 15)

Companion of the Beloved Nabi in this World and the Hereafter

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ: ‘اَنْتَ صَاحِبِیْ عَلَی الْحَوْضِ وَ صَاحِبِی فِی الْغَارِ’, i.e. you are my companion by the pond of Kawsar and the cave of Saur.

Most Pious

Quran’s testimony to the piety of Siddeeq-e-Akbar: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ is that pious person whose piety is testified by the Blessed Quran itself:

وَ سَیُجَنَّبُهَا الْاَتْقَىۙ(۱۷)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: It will be far away from the most pious.

The ‘most pious’ mentioned in this blessed Ayah refers to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

(Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan, part 30, Surah Al-Layl, Taht-al-Ayah 17)

Recitation of Quran

In the early days of Islam, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ had constructed a Masjid in the courtyard of his house where he would recite the Holy Quran and would offer Salah. Seeing him deeply engrossed in the acts of worship, people would gather around him. His heartfelt recitation of the Holy Quran, his worship, and the act of shedding tears out of the fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, would have a profound impact on the hearts of people; and many people also entered the folds of Islam because of this very act of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

(Ar-Riyad-un-Nadarah, vol. 1, pp. 92)

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has said: When my respectable father, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ would recite the Holy Quran, he would not have any control over his tears, that is, he would weep bitterly.

(Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 1, pp. 493, Hadees 806)

Love of Beloved Rasool

On one occasion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said: ‘مَا نَفَعَنِیْ مَالٌ قَـطُّ مَا نَفَعَنِیْ مَالُ اَبِیْ بَکْرٍ’, i.e. No one’s wealth benefited me as much as the wealth of Abu Bakr. ‘فَبَـكىٰ اَبُو بَكْرٍ وَقَالَ هَلْ اَنَا وَمَالِي اِلَّا لَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ’ (upon hearing this), Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ started weeping and humbly said: You are the owner of my life and my wealth.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 1, pp. 72, Hadees 94)

The relatives of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ were so dear to him. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ says:

وَالَّذِى  نَفْسِى   بِيَدِہٖ ،  لَقَرَابَةُ  رَسُولِ  اللَّهِ   صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ اَحَبُّ  اِ لَىَّ  اَنْ  اَصِلَ  مِنْ   قَرَابَتِى

By Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Regarding having kind relationship with relatives, the relatives of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ are more favourite and beloved to me than my own relatives.

(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 538, Hadees 3712)

Who is the Most Highly Ranked?

It is the Ijma’ [consensus] of the Ahl-us-Sunnah that, leaving the Ambiya عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr is the most highly-ranked and supreme personality of the entire universe, followed by Sayyiduna ‘Umar, Sayyiduna ‘Usman, Sayyiduna ‘Ali and then the rest of the ‘Asharah Mubashsharah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم [the ten companions who were heralded for entry into Paradise].

Siddeeq-e-Akbar led the Salah [Prayer]

Bukhari and Muslim both report from Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash’ari رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ that the Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was ill and the illness was affecting him strongly. So he صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Order Abu Bakr to lead the Salah.’ Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا said, ‘Ya Rasoolallah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ! He is soft-hearted. He will not be able to stand in your place to lead the Salah.’ The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Order Abu Bakr to lead the Salah.’ She رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا again offered the same concern. The Holy Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ made the same order again with emphasis.

So Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ led the Salah during the [apparent] lifetime of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. This Hadees is Mutawaatir [mass transmitted] because it has been narrated by Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah, Ibn Mas’ood, Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar, ‘Abdullah Ibn Zam’ah, Abu Sa’eed, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, Hafsah and others رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُم. Scholars say that this Hadees is clear evidence that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ is conclusively more highly ranked than all of the companions, and the most worthy and capable of Khilafah [caliphate] and leadership.

(Tareekh-ul-Khulafa, pp. 47-48)

After the apparent demise of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, many problems arose but with the wisdom of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ saved Muslims from all these problems. He رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ fought against the apostate tribes, eradicated the false prophets and compiled the Quran in one book.

After a splendid reign of caliphate that lasted for two years and seven months, he رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ passed away on 22 Jumadal Ukhra, in the 13^th year after Hijrah (migration to Madinah Munawwarah). The leader of the believers, Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ led the funeral Salah and Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهُ was buried inside the blessed tomb beside the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.

(Tareekh-ul-Khulafa, pp. 29)