A Brief Biography of Sayyiduna Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ, whose real name was Abdullaah.  He was the son of Abu Qahafah, whose real name was Usman. His lineage was therefore Abdullaah  bin Usman  bin  Aamir  and  he  belonged  to  the  Quraysh  tribe  of Makkah.  He was amongst the vanguards of Islam, was one of the Khulafaa-e-Rashideen as well as amongst the Asharah Mubashara. He was the first man to accept Islam and gave everything he had for the sake of Islam. Allah عزوجل blessed him to Protect Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ, to propagate the Islam and also blessed him with an exceptional level of Imaan and love for Allah عزوجل. He  was  the sword  of  the  Muslims  in  the  struggle  against  the Munafiqen and enemies of Islam.

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was born two and a half years after the Year of the Elephants.  From his youth, he was far distanced from the oppression  and  filth  that  is  associated  with  the  period  of Ignorance, while being imbued with all the praiseworthy traits of the  Arabs  of  the  time.  His character and behaviour was always exemplary and even before Islam, he forbade liquor for himself. He was an authority on Arab lineages and knew all the Arab families and tribes.  He was always assisting the poor and the weak and earned the respect of the rich and powerful as well.

The Arabs referred their disputes to him and accepted all the judgments he passed. He  therefore  enjoyed  much  acclaim  and respect  and  occupied  a  high  position  in  society.  He  was  an experienced  and  astute  businessman  and  also  an  expert  in  the interpretation of  dreams.  His untainted reputation and honour together with his unquestionable intelligence and farsightedness all complemented his handsome appearance and fair complexion. His build was lean, his eyes deep and his face and beard thin. He was a bosom friend of Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ and one who accepted Islam without hesitation or question.

He spent his wealth to alleviate the suffering of the poor Muslims. He believed Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ about the incident of Mi’raaj without hesitation and it was because of this that Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ gave him the title of Siddiq. He privileged enough to accompany Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ on the historic journey of Hijrah. This earned him the title of “ثانی الثنین” (the second of the two), which has been immemorially recorded in the Qur’aan. After the Hijrah, he participated in all the expeditions that Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ was part of and endured the trials in the struggle of Islam by the side of Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.

He  spent  the  days  in  fasting  and  the  nights  in  worship  and  was detached from  the  luxuries  of  this  world.  He behaved humbly towards people and practiced thoroughly on the knowledge of Islam that he possessed. He left no stone unturned to engage in  good  and  was  renowned  for  the  softness  of  his  heart  which caused him to cry very easily. Rasulullaahصَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ assured him safety from Jahannam and admission into Jannah. When  he  was  appointed  Khalifah,  he  dispatched  the  army  of Hazrat Usaama bin Zaid  رضی اللہ عنھما, ordered the armies to march against those  who  refused  to pay  zakaah. He was responsible for the conquests of many territories, gave the instruction for the Qur’an to be compiled into a single volume and ensured that Islam spread too many parts of the world. 

He showed tremendous  respect  to  the  elders,  compassion  to  the youngsters  and  assisted  the  weak  to  secure  their  rights  from  the powerful.  He would walk while the commanders of his armies rode and he would even milk goats for the little children.  He had six children from four marriages. He was the companion of Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ in his lifetime as well as in his grave and at the pond of Kawsar. He passed away in the year 13 A.H. and was buried beside Rasulullaah صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ.