Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him)

حضرت ابوبکر صدیق رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ

His name was Abdullah; his lineage-title (laqab) was 'Atiq, his honorific 'al-Siddiq,' and his patronymic (kunya) 'Abu Bakr.' His father's name was Uthman, with the kunya Abu Quhafa. His lineage joins that of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) at Murra ibn Ka'b.

The age of Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Siddiq was less, by two years and a few months, than the age of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). In short, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away at the age of sixty-three, the passing of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq too came at that very age. His complexion was fair, his frame lean, his cheeks spare, his eyes sunken, his fingers slender, his back somewhat bent; he used to dye (his hair) with henna and katam.

In the beginning he was the owner of thousands in wealth, but he spent the whole of his fortune in the service of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), of Islam, and of the cause of God. He was the very first to bring faith — there, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) brought him the news (of his prophethood) without his having to be told, and here, Siddiq al-Akbar at once affirmed and believed him. He never parted from the Messenger on any journey of his.

Once Sayyiduna Ali al-Murtada (may Allah ennoble his face) was asked, 'Who is the bravest of men?' The people said, 'You are.' Sayyiduna Ali said, 'No — the bravest of men is Abu Bakr. On the day of Badr, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was beneath a canopy of branches (a thatched shelter), and (the enemy) were striving on every side to fall upon him, it was Abu Bakr who stood guard over the Messenger and held the foes off from all four sides. In my eyes, Siddiq al-Akbar was the truly courageous one, and I stood forward (in his service). An ordinary man's blunder undoes the gathering of the whole assembly.'

It is plain that throughout the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Abu Bakr remained engaged in his service. To gather information about the various peoples and to engage in trade, the Companions would sometimes differ; and when they differed, the verdict would be settled upon the opinion of Siddiq al-Akbar. He was the foremost in genealogy — that is, the most acquainted with the circumstances of all peoples. He was the best of interpreters — that is, the most expert in the right reading of affairs. As for the matter of the caliphate, this much is enough to say: that from the very moment of the passing of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), without any pause, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq led the prayers, and for ten days he led the congregations.

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah ennoble his face) used to say: 'For the affair of religion — that is, the leadership of prayer — the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) chose him; and we chose him for the affairs of this world — that is, the caliphate.' In any case, for a period of two and a half years and a few months, he discharged the work of the caliphate without discord, and at the last, amid the sorrows of separation (from the Prophet), he gave up his life freely. May Allah be pleased with him and may he be well pleased with Him.

Date of his departure (from this world): 22 Jumada al-Thani, 13 AH.