Biography of a Caliph: Abū Bakr As-Siddeeq

Alhuda Bolton · Biography of a Caliph: Abu Bakr

📖 Biography Series: The Rightly Guided Caliphs

With Ustādh Abu Muādh Taqweem

Who was Abū Bakr As-Siddeeq (may Allah be pleased with him)?
What did he look like?
How was his character?
His virtues & accomplishments

Gatherings of Knowledge:

Etiquettes of the Student of Knowledge
One of the Salaf was asked, “for how long will you seek knowledge”, what was his answer?

What follows is a Bioprghay of Abu Bakr As-Sideeq from the Book Albidayah Wannihaya (The Beginning and the End) by

Abū Bakr: His Name

Some brief background of the life of this great companion:

His name and Lineage:
- His actual name was Abdullah
- Why is he called Abu Bakr?
- His Lineage: Abdullaah Ibn Uthman Ibn ‘Aamir ‘Amr Ka’b Sa’d Taym Murrah Ka’b
- For comparison, the full Lineage of The Prophet (ﷺ) was Muhammad Abdullaah Abdulmutallib Hashim Abd’Manaf Usay Kilab Murrah. This means that Murrah was the 6th Great grandfather of both Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Abu Bakr
His mother and father
- His mother was known as Ummul Khayr, her name was Salmah. What was her lineage?
- His father was known as Abu Quhafah, he accepted Islam upon the conquest of Makkah, two years prior to the death of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Prior to Islam he was known as Abu ‘Ateeq

Physical appearance

What were his physical traits?

He was slim and not well muscled
He was of a fair complexion
Aisha (his daughter, may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned that he was fair with a thin beard
His facial features were lean and angular
His eyes were deeply set into his face, hollow in a way
His forehead was prominent, bossed
His hands were likewise lean, light boned
He would die his beard with orange dye

His Character

How has his character been described? How was he?

A generous, noble man
He was courageous and brave
He had a keen intellect and mind
He would give sound opinions, with wisdom, especially with regards to battle
He was a very forgiving person, very patient
He was very knowledgeable, especially with regards to lineage
He had a great deal of trust in Allah, the Most High
He was very iopus and would stay away from doubtful affairs
He was an ascetic in the world (did not seek material gain), but had a great desire for the reward that lies with Allah

He exemplified the character and qualities that the Prophet (ﷺ) thought us and instilled into the companions

When did he become Muslim?

Abu Bakr was the first man to accept Islam.

Who were the other people to accept Islam (may Allah be pleased with them all)?

Khadejah, the first woman to accept Islam
- Note: She proceeded Abu Bakr
Ali the first child to accept Islam
Zaid Ibnu Haritha the first slave to accept Islam

Abu Bakr’s acceptance of Islam held the greatest of benefit to Islam and the Muslims due not only to his high station and rank as an individual, but also due to the amount of effort he put into calling to Islam.

Many notable examples of major companions who accepted Islam did so due to the calling of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him); these include Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqaas & Zubair Ibn ‘Awwaam as well as many others.

The day he became Muslim, it is said he had forty thousand Dirham which he spent on calling to the path of Allah.

He would buy and then free slaves who were being tormented for accepting Islam.

He accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) during the emigration from Makkah to Madinah and hid in the cave with him from the polytheists.

He was present in a number of decisive battles in Islamic history.

Therefore, it can be said from the above, that Abu Bakr was with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) right from the very beginning of his prophethood and throughout the remainder of his (ﷺ) lifetime.

Marriage & Children

Below are the wives and children of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, may Allah be pleased with all of them. The children are listed beneath their respective mothers.

He married 4 times in total
- Qutailah the daughter of Abdul’Uzza (Prior to Islam)
  - Abdullah
  - Asmaa
- Umm Rummaan the daughter of ‘Amur
  - Abdurrahmaan
  - Aisha
- Asmaa the daughter of ‘Umais
  - Muhammad
  - Note: he was born during the final Hajj of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)
- Habiba the daughter of Khaarijah
  - Umm Kulthuum
  - Note: Umm Kulthuum she was born after Abū Bakr passed away

His Rank amongst the companions

What are some of his virtues?

He is directly mentioned in the Quran,
- This is the story of the Spider
  - “If you help him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not (it does not matter), for Allâh did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of the two; when they (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) were in the cave, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his companion (Abu Bakrرضي الله عنه): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us.” Then Allâh sent down His Sakînah (calmness, tranquillity, peace) upon him, and strengthened him with forces (angels) which you saw not, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowermost, while the Word of Allâh that became the uppermost; and Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise” [Chapter 9 At-verse 40 (The Repentance)]
He had the greatest status with regards to Knowledge
He was held in very high regard by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as well as the other companions
Ali Ibn Abi Taalib was asked by his son Muhammad, who the best person was in his opinion? What was his reply?
The narration of the woman who came to the Prophet (ﷺ). What was her question and what was his (ﷺ) reply??
The narration of ‘Ammaar Ibn Yasir who, with regards to the very early days of Islam, noted that “I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) with none with him except five. ”#

Key Events

Many important events occurred during the life’s time of Abū Bakr As-Sideeq; the conquest of Makkah, his becoming the first Caliph after the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), the wave of apostasy, his uniting of the caliphate, #

During the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), the Quran was written down, however these were on parchments and kept as separate parts.

The first Mushaf (manuscript of the full Quran) was compiled under the under of Abū Bakr As-Sideeq during his Caliphate due to the advise of ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both). Why did he do this? Who did he commission for this task?

This order resulted in the creation of 6 Mushafs (manuscripts) each of which was sent to a different region of the Calpihate. One copy was kept in Abū Bakr’s own home.

He united the people in two key occasions:

After the death of the Messenger of Allah (during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), the Quran was written down, however this was in different parts.
The Recitation of the Quran

Question: Does the Quran have different “versions”?

His Death

Abū Bakr passed away on a Monday night during the year 13 AH. He was buried the very same night.

He died of an illness that lasted around 15 days. What was the cause?

During his period of illness, the prayer was led by ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab who then went on to become his successor as the next Caliph. Interestingly, The Prophet (ﷺ) also died after an illness and

He ruled for 2 years. He was approximately 63 years old upon his death. This was the same age the Prophet(ﷺ) died.

Abū Bakr was buried next to the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (ﷺ)