ABU BAKAR THE CALIPH OF ISLAM
29 August 2025
“ No one has been a better companion to me than Abu Bakar ” , said the Holy Prophet(S.A.W). A great rewarded indeed ! Abu Bakar has earned it. All his life he stood by the side of the master. He did not care for his riches. He did not care for what others said about him. His only ambition was to serve the master more than any one else. The cost did not matter. The ambition was fulfilled and Abu Bakar got his reward in full. The messenger of Allah was well pleased with him. He gave him the first place among his companion; Abu Bakar was to be the first man to follow his master. He was also to lie in eternal rest by the masters side.
Abu Bakar was two years younger than the master. His parents named him Abdul Kaaba which means servant of Kaaba. When he became a Muslim, the master changed pagan name to Abdullah. However in the early youth he had droped the surname of Abu Bakar. He had come to be known by this name among people. Even to this day, the world knows him as Abu Bakar. His goodness also won him the friendship of young Muhammd (S.A.W). This friendship was to prove lifelong and history making when he grew up, Abu Bakar became a rich merchant. But he used his riches to help the poor. He was very kind hearted when he saw someone in trouble, his heart melted. He did his best to help him. If his money could remove suffering, he did not care how much he spent. Once he gave away thirty five thousands “Dirhams’’ out of his total furtune of forty thousand. He was honest in the dealings that people kept their money with him. Above all Abu Bakar had a sincere heart and a firm will. Nothing could stop him from doing what he thought was the right thing to do these great qualities were soon to serve the noblest cause known to the world.
One day the Holy Prophet(S.A.W) was saying his prayers in the Kaaba, he was totally lost in the thoughts of Allah. Abujahal and some chiefs of Mecca were sitting in the courtyards of Kaaba, “ I must finish with Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) today “ said, Abujahal , so saying he took a long piece of cloth. He put it round the Holy Prophets neck, then he twisted hard. Hwas going to strangle the messanger of Allah to death. The other chief looked on and laughed.
Abu Bakar happened to see this from distance. He at once ran to the help of master. He pushed Abujahal aside and took the cloth around the Holy Prophets neck. There upon Abujahal and other enemies of Islam came down upon Abu Bakar, they beat him indeed, the beating was so severe that Abu Bakar felldown senseless. He was carried home. He could not regain his senses till after several hours, and when he did come to himself the first question he asked was, is the master un hurt.
Abu Bakar’s wealth came to the rescue of many a helpless Muslim slave. He bought them from their inhuman masters and set them free. Bilal, the negro, was one of such slaves of Abu Bakar, took part in all the battles that Holy Prophet had to fight, Al_Badar, one of Abu Bakar’s son, who had not yet embraced Islam, was fighting on the side of Mecca. Afterwards, when he became a Muslim, he one day said, “ Father, at Badar you were twice under my sword. But my love for you held back my hand. “ Son”! remarked Abu Bakar, if I had got that chance only once you must have been no more. The Holy Prophet occupied a unique place among his people, the news of the masters death came as stunning shock to every one. How could it be he had been ill for some days, they all knew but death was unbelieve able.
Abu Bakar had gone a few miles outside Madina, earlier in the day. But had come back on hearing the sad news. He ook his saud in a corner of the court yard and called out of the people.
Then the first problem before the people was election of a new leader. The two groups among Muslims were the Mahajirin (refuges of Mecca) and the Ansars helpless of the people of Madeena. Both the parties said, “ that the caliph be from our group. To this Obaidah Bin Jarrah said, “ O, you , are the people who made Islam strong, now do not do anything that may undo all that work”. Hearing this another man from the Khazraj tribe stood up and said, “ O, Ansar if we did everthing for Islam we did it to please Allah , and his apostle. We did not do it by obliging anybody. This should make a play to win office. Listen the Holy Prophet belonged to the Quraish tribe, the Quraish’s have a greater right to fill place by Allah. I do not think it right to quarrel with them over this matter. Fear Allah and do not oppose them”.
Career JK
