MUSJIDUL HAQ

Download PDF: [S] Persecution of Hadrat Abu Bakr (Islamic story)

The full name of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – is Abdullah bin ‘Uthman Al Qarashi At Taymi. He is the first leader of the Muslims after Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – departed from this mundane world and was unanimously accepted by every Muslim in that blessed generation. Even before the announcement of Prophethood, he used to be in the blessed company of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

He is considered as the first man to accept Islam. The historian, Ibn Ishaaq, records that once Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – stated, “Besides Abu Bakr, to whomever I conveyed the message of Islam, they hesitated a little. However, Abu Bakr is someone who did not hesitate for one moment in accepting my message.”

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – remained with Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in Mecca Shareef, during the migration where he is described as the “other companion” in the Qur’an and in various other important moments. He also accompanied Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in every battle. Even when Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was in this mundane world, he was appointed as a leader for one Hajj pilgrimage.

Through him, many eminent Ashaab accepted Islam. Among them were such giants in Islam as Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Uthman Ghani, Hadrat Sayyiduna Talha, Hadrat Sayyiduna Zubair, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with them.

When Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – started to preach Islam, at that time, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – was involved in his business. In fact, his business ventures were at its peak and he had saved nearly forty thousand Dirhams. Yet, such was his dedication to Islam that by the time he was ready to migrate, he had only five thousand Dirhams in his possession. The rest of his money was spent on the path of Islam. He also purchased seven slaves who were being persecuted by the Meccans and it was Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – who gave him the title of “Siddiq”. (Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah. Al Usaabah)

When the Muslim population reached about eighty eight, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – asked Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – permission to publicly announce the message of Islam. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – mentioned that their numbers were still little. However, he continued to insist and finally, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – have him permission.

The Muslims then spread out in the Haram Shareef and sat with their own tribe members. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – then arose in this crowd and delivered the message of Islam to everyone present. This proves that the first person to speak on behalf of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – in public and is considered as Islam’s first Khateeb is Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him.

As soon as Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – started to deliver his message, the Mushirks that were gathered in the Haram Shareef rushed forward to attack him. He was beaten so badly by so many of them that he fell to the ground bleeding quite badly. The behaviour of Utbah bin Rabee’ah is also mentioned in the following words, “The faasiq, Utbah, approached Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – and tied him and began to beat him with his shoes. He also hit him on his face with these shoes. He also jumped on the back of the great Muslim and hit him so badly that his face became unrecognizable because of the injuries and the blood which appeared on his face and nose.”

However, when the tribe of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – saw this, in other words the Bani Taim, they rushed to his aid. They removed him from these group of Mushriks who had surrounded him and placing him on a shawl they carried him home. In fact, when his tribe members saw the extent of his injuries they were certain that he would pass away very soon. They were so angry that they returned to the Haram Shareef and made a public announcement that if Abu Bakr passed away from these injuries they would kill Utbah bin Rabee’ah. After they made this public announcement, they returned to the house of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him. The blessed father of this great Muslim and other members of his tribe tried many times to make him speak but they did not succeed.

In the final stages of the day, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – regained a little consciousness and the first words which appeared from his blessed mouth was, “What has happened to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him? How is he?”

When they heard this, some members of his tribe also became angry because they were there to avenge his attack and he was more concerned about Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. They then angrily left his house asking his mother to give him some food herself.

When all the members of his tribe had left, the only person who remained at home was his blessed mother. She continued to plead to her beloved son to eat, but again he kept on asking about the condition and state of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. However, she swore that she had no idea what was the state and condition of his beloved friend and where he was at that moment.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – then said to his mother, “Please go to Umme Jameel Faatimah binte Khattab (this was the sister of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him) and ask her about the state and condition of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and where he was at that moment.

To satisfy the wishes of her beloved son, she then approached the house of Umme Jameel – may Allah be pleased with her. However, merely taking precaution, Umme Jameel – may Allah be pleased with her – replied that she did not know about Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and was unaware of who Abu Bakr was. But, she did mention that if she wanted, she was ready to visit Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him.

When she reached the house of the great Muslim leader and noticing his grave injuries and what the Mushriks had done to him, she declared loudly, “They are immersed in sin and crime, look at what your nation has done to you. I have certainty that indeed Allah Almighty will punish them for this action.”

However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – opened his eyes and asked, “What has happened to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and how is he?”

Sayyidah Umme Jameel – may Allah be pleased with her – said that his mother was present (who was not a Muslim at that time) and perhaps she will listen to their secret. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – replied that she should not worry about this and reveal the secret of where Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was at that moment. Sayyidah Umme Jameel – may Allah be pleased with her – replied that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was well.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – then insisted that he be taken to Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. He was told that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was at Daar ibn Arqam.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – said that he had made a promise that as long as he does not see Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – he would not eat or drink anything. When both blessed females saw his insistence, they waited for darkness and then helped him to walk to where Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was.

It is mentioned that when they met, Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – warmly welcomed his beloved companion and also kissed him. In fact, the other Muslims were completely overwhelmed when they saw the beloved companion of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. The blessed eyes of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – also filled with tears.

As Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – was looking at the blessed face of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, he stated, “O Prophet of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you. (When you are safe and sound), I have no concern for myself. I only regret that these Faasiqs had hit me on my face with their shoes. (O Prophet of Allah) This is my mother who is always serving the rights of her son and very trustworthy. Please convey the message of Islam to her and make Du’a that she accepts Islam. Perhaps, through your Du’a, my mother will also accept Islam and protect herself from the Fire of Hell.”

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – then raised his blessed hands to make Du’a and such was the Divine Acceptance of this Du’a, that the blessed mother of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him – accepted Islam. (Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, Taarikh Al Khulafah, Imam Suyuti)