Saturday, March 28, 2015

(‫فضائل ابي بكر الصديق )رضي اهلل عنه‬

Date of birth.
The exact date of birth of Abu Bakr is not known. According to traditions he was
younger than the Holy Prophet of Islam by two years and a few months. As the
Holy Prophet was born in 571 CE, we can safely hold that Abu Bakr was born at
Makkah some time in the year 573 C.E.

The family.
Abu Bakr's father was Othman surnamed Abu Qahafa, and his mother was Salma
surnamed Umm-ul-Khair. They belonged to the Bani Taim branch of the Quraish.
The genealogy of Abu Bakr joined with that of the Holy Prophet, eight generations
back in their common ancestor Murrah.
The Holy Prophet was the son of Abdullah, who was the son of Abdul Muttalib,
who was the son of Hashim, who was the son of Abd Manaf, who was the son of
Qussayi, who was the son of Kulab, who was the son of Murrah.
Abu Bakr was the son of Othman, who was the son of 'Amar, who was the son of
'Amr, who was the son of Ka'ab, who was the son of Sa'ad, who was the son of
Taim, who was the son of Murrah.

Name.
The original name of Abu Bakr was Abdul Ka'aba-the servant of Kaaba. Some
children were born to his parents before him, but they did not survive. When he
was born, he was taken to the Ka'aba, dedicated to the gods of Ka'aba, and named
Abdul Ka’aba which was soon changed to Abdullah

Childhood.
Abu Bakr's family enjoyed affluence, and he was born with the proverbial silver
spoon in his mouth. No detailed accounts are available about the life of Abu Bakr
during the period of childhood. Like other Arab children, he spent early years in
the open air of the desert. He grew as a typical son of the soil. The leanness and
barrenness of the land around him was reflected in his physique. He was lean and
thin with a slender constitution, but was otherwise very hardy and had a strong
mind. He had the tenacity and the strength of the rocks around him. Like the

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golden sand of the desert, his face glowed with a white and red complexion. By all
standards he was beautiful, and for his beauty he earned the surname of 'Atiq'.
Abu Bakr. Having been bred up in the early years in the midst of the Bedouins who
called themselves 'Ahl-i-Ba'eer'- the people of the camel, he developed particular
fondness for camels. In the early years he played with the young ones of the
camels, and his love for the camels earned him the surname of "Abu Bakr-the
father of the foal of the camel."

Abu Bakr's encounter with the idols of the Ka'aba.

A story is preserved that once when Abu Bakr was a child, his father took him to
the Ka'aba, and asked him to pray before the idols. His father went away to attend
to some other business, and Abu Bakr was left alone with the idols. Addressing an
idol, Abu Bakr said, "O my God, I am in need of beautiful clothes, bestow them on
me." The idol remained indifferent. Then Abu Bakr addressing another idol said,
"O God, give me some delicious food. I am so hungry." The idol remained cold to
the prayer. That exhausted the patience of young Abu Bakr. He lifted a stone, and
addressing an idol said, "Here I am aiming a stone; if you are a God protect
yourself." Abu Bakr hurled the stone at the idol, which broke into pieces. Abu Bakr
left the Ka'aba. Thereafter Abu Bakr never prayed to the idols in the Ka'aba. This
Abraham style of encounter with the idols made Abu Bakr a Muslim at heart long
before his formal profession of Islam.

The monk Bahira.

Jalal-ud-Din Syuti has preserved an account that when at the age of twelve, the
Holy Prophet accompanied his Uncle Abu Talib along with a trade caravan, Abu
Bakr was also with the caravan. The Holy Prophet reclined under a lote tree. The
monk Bahira asked Abu Bakr as to who was the person who was reclining under
the lote tree. Abu Bakr told the monk that he was Muhammad the son Abdullah.
Thereupon the monk said, "Then, by Allah he is the prophet for none has taken
shelter under this tree since the time of Jesus, the son of Mary.”

Disciplined life.
Though bred and brought up in an aristocratic family in the midst of an idolatrous
society, conspicuous for indulgence in wine, women, and gambling. Abu Bakr
resisted these temptations and led a disciplined life avoiding the frolics, frivolities,
and dissipations that characterized the life of the contemporary youth of Makkah.

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Once Abu Bakr was asked whether he ever drank wine during the days of
ignorance. He replied, "God forbid, I never touched wine even in the days of
ignorance." He was asked, "why", and he said, "I sought to preserve my reputation
and retain my decorum, and verily he who drinks wine destroys his reputation and
his decorum." This shows that Abu Bakr enjoyed a good reputation and was known
for his decorum.

Education.
As in the case of other Arab children, he did not receive any formal education. He
was, however, a keen observer and observed things around him with a keen sense
of perception. Even at an early age, he developed an eloquent way of expression.
He even composed verses. He used to attend the annual fair at 'Ukaz, and
participate in poetical symposia. He had a very good memory, and could recite
verses after he had heard them only once.

Occupation.
At the age of eighteen, Abu Bakr went into trade and adopted the profession of a
cloth merchant which was the family's business. Makkah was a commercial center
at the crossing of the caravan routes from Yemen to Syria and Iraq to Abyssinia,
and the Quraish of Makkah sponsored trade caravans to Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and
Abyssinia. Abu Bakr traveled extensively with such caravans. Business trips took
him to Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere. These travels brought him wealth, added to
his experience, and broadened his outlook. He was honest, hardworking, steadfast.
generous, hospitable, and diligent. These qualities paid rich dividends. His business
flourished and he rose in the scale of social importance. He came to be recognized
as one of the richest merchants of Mecca.

His marriages and children.

Abu Bakr's first wife was Qutaila. She belonged to the Bani Amar. She was the
mother of Asma and Abdullah. Some time later, Abu Bakr married another wife
Umm Ruman. She was a widow and belonged to the Bani Kinana section. She was
the mother of Abdur Rahman and Ayesha.

Character of Abu Bakr.

In spite of being a rich man, Abu Bakr was of a meditative cast of mind. As a
trader he did not indulge in trade tricks. He stood for fair deals, and above board

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‫‪transactions. He came to enjoy reputation for honesty, and integrity. He had a wide‬‬
‫‪circle of friends, and commanded considerable influence in the contemporary‬‬
‫‪society of Makkah. He had a flair for social work. He delighted in attending to the‬‬
‫‪sick, and looking after the poor. He gave rich bounties to the poor, and felt pleasure‬‬
‫‪in helping those in distress.‬‬

‫‪Virtues of Abu Bakr‬‬

‫نظرت إلى أقدام املشركني على رؤوسنا ونحن في الغار فقلت يا رسول اهلل لو أن أحدهم نظر إلى‬
‫قدميه أبصرنا تحت قدميه فقال يا أبا بكر ما ظنك باثنني اهلل ثالثهما‬

‫أن رسول اهلل صلى اهلل عليه وسلم جلس على املنبر فقال عبد خيره اهلل بني أن يؤتيه زهرة الدنيا‬
‫وبني ما عنده فاختار ما عنده فبكى أبو بكر وبكى فقال فديناك بآبائنا وأمهاتنا قال فكان رسول اهلل‬
‫صلى اهلل عليه وسلم هو املخير وكان أبو بكر أعلمنا به‬
‫‪  ‬‬
‫سمعت عبد اهلل بن مسعود يحدث عن النبي صلى اهلل عليه وسلم أنه قال لو كنت متخذا خليال‬
‫التخذت أبا بكر خليال ولكنه أخي وصاحبي وقد اتخذ اهلل صاحبكم خليال‬
‫‪  ‬‬
‫أن رسول اهلل صلى اهلل عليه وسلم بعثه على جيش ذات السالسل فأتيته فقلت أي الناس أحب إليك‬
‫قال عائشة قلت من الرجال قال أبوها قلت ثم من قال عمر فعد رجاال‬
‫‪     ‬‬
‫حدثني عباد بن موسى حدثنا إبراهيم بن سعد أخبرني أبي عن محمد بن جبير بن مطعم عن أبيه‬
‫أن امرأة سألت رسول اهلل صلى اهلل عليه وسلم شيئا فأمرها أن ترجع إليه فقالت يا رسول اهلل‬
‫أرأيت إن جئت فلم أجدك قال أبي كأنها تعني املوت قال فإن لم تجديني فأتي أبا بكر‬
‫‪ ‬‬
‫من أصبح منكم اليوم صائما قال أبو بكر أنا قال فمن تبع منكم اليوم جنازة قال أبو بكر أنا قال‬
‫فمن اطعم منكم اليوم مسكينا قال أبو بكر انا قال فمن عاد منكم اليوم مريضا قال أبو بكر أنا‬
‫فقال رسول اهلل صلى اهلل عليه وسلم ما اجتمعن في امرئ اال دخل الجنة‬
‫‪     ‬‬
‫في مسند أحمد ‪ ":‬ما نفعني مال ما نفعني مال أبي بكر فبكى أبو بكر وقال وهل أنا ومالي إال لك‬
‫يا رسول اهلل “‬

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‫أتاني جبريل فأخذ بيدي ‪ ،‬فأراني الباب الذي تدخل منه أمتي الجنة " فقال أبو بكر ‪ :‬وددت أني‬
‫كنت معك حتى أنظر إليه ‪ ،‬قال ‪ " :‬أما إنك أول من يدخل الجنة من أمتي‬

‫ال يبغض أبا بكر وعمر مؤمن ‪ ،‬وال يحبهما منافق “‬

‫ما ألحد عندنا يد إال وقد كافأناه ما خال أبا بكر ‪ ،‬فإن له عندنا يدا يكافئه اهلل بها يوم القيامة‬

‫أنت صاحبي على الحوض ‪ ،‬وصاحبي في الغار‬

‫ال ينبغي لقوم فيهم أبو بكر أن يؤمهم غيره‬

‫كان بني أبي بكر وعمر محاورة ‪ ،‬فأغضب أبو بكر عمر ‪ ،‬فانصرف عنه عمر مغضبا ‪ ،‬فاتبعه أبو‬
‫بكر يسأله أن يستغفر له ‪ ،‬فلم يفعل حتى أغلق بابه في وجهه ‪ ،‬فأقبل أبو بكر إلى رسول اهلل صلى‬
‫اهلل عليه وسلم فقال أبو الدرداء ‪ :‬ونحن عنده ‪ ،‬فقال رسول اهلل ‪ -‬صلى اهلل عليه وسلم غضب رسول‬
‫اهلل صلى اهلل عليه وسلم وجعل أبو بكر يقول ‪ :‬واهلل يا رسول اهلل ألنا كنت أظلم ‪ .‬فقال رسول اهلل ‪-‬‬
‫صلى اهلل عليه وسلم ‪ " : -‬هل أنتم تاركو لي صاحبي ؟ إني قلت ‪ :‬يا أيها الناس إني رسول اهلل‬
‫إليكم جميعا ‪ ،‬فقلتم ‪ :‬كذبت ‪ ،‬وقال أبو بكر ‪ :‬صدقت “‬

‫أتاني جبريل فأخذ بيدي ‪ ،‬فأراني الباب الذي تدخل منه أمتي الجنة " فقال أبو بكر ‪ :‬وددت أني‬
‫كنت معك حتى أنظر إليه ‪ ،‬قال ‪ " :‬أما إنك أول من يدخل الجنة من أمتي‬

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