HADEES - ~ Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (as) (571-634)

A fine representative of Islamic moral values throughout his life and
a close friend of our Prophet(saas), Hazrat Abu Bakr was born in Mecca
in 571.
He was the first Caliph of the era in Islamic history known as the
"Period of the Four Caliphs." With theQur'anic moral values he
exhibited under all circumstances, he was an exemplary Muslim on whom
great successes were bestowed.
Hazrat Abu Bakr embracedIslam at a time when it was not yet being
preached openly.
From the moment he became a Muslim, he lived by Islamic moral values
in the most scrupulous manner.
He provided great material assistance and personal support to our
Prophet (saas) in his preaching work. With his devotion to, and deep
loveof Allah, he was instrumental in many people becoming acquainted
with the moralvalues of Islam.
HAZRAT ABU BAKR'S CHARACTER
Hazrat Abu Bakr was known for his honesty even before embracing Islam.
He was a leading member of the Quraysh and took part in meetings on
important matters.
Hazrat Abu Bakr looked after blood money and debts, which were under
the control of people with elevated virtues chosen bythe tribes, who
in turn determined the sums to be paid.
The Quraysh abided by his decisions on blood money and gladly paid the
sums determined by him.
Hazrat Abu Bakr spent his youth exhibiting highly superior moral
values, andwas a close friend of the Prophet Muhammad (saas)even
before he received the prophethood. Since he was one of the first
peopleto heed the Prophet Muhammad's (saas) call after he received the
prophethood, the Prophet (saas) said to him:
"Abu Bakr heeded my call without any hesitation." (A Great History of
Islam from Its Birth to Present, Vol: 2 p: 31)
After embracing Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr obeyed everything the Prophet
(saas) said and always maintained the bounds setby Allah. Because of
his honesty, loyalty and chastity our Prophet (saas)referred to him as
'Al-Siddiq', meaning the Truthful One. With his broad learning,
profound knowledge of religious matters, sure opinions andnoble
behavior, Hazrat Abu Bakr was an exemplary Companion.
When his son Abdurrahman joined the pagans at the battle of Badr, he
fought against hisson, and thus showed howhe held earning Allah's
approval above all else.
HAZRAT ABU BAKR'S EXEMPLARY SPENDING OF HIS FORTUNE
Hazrat Abu Bakr spent his whole fortune in the causeof Allah. By
paying large sums of money to slave owners, he was instrumental in the
freeingof many Muslims taken captive by the Quraysh who wanted to
force themto return to pagan beliefs.
Hazrat Abu Bakr was active in commerce and Allah bestowed great wealth
and assets upon him. Since he spent his entire fortune on spreading
Islamic moral values, causing our Prophet (saas) to say this about
him;
"Abu Bakr is the leading figure when it comes to sacrificing all his
possessions. What an excellent friend Abu Bakris. There is Islamic
love and brotherhood between us." (Bukhari, 8/Salat, 80)
Another account referring to how Hazrat Abu Bakr spent all he had on
Allah's path goes:
Urwa says:
"Aisha (as) told me: When he died, he left behind neither a dirhem nor
a dinar." (Nawawi, Tahdhib al-Asma wal Lugat, II,189 Ibn Hajar
al-Asqalani, al-Isaba fi tamyiz al-Sahaba IV, 279)
THE JOURNEY OF OUR PROPHET (SAAS) AND HAZRAT ABU BAKR (AS)
Our Prophet(saas) left his home on the night of the 27th Safar in the
14th yearof his prophethood and went to the home of Hazrat Abu Bakr.
He and Hazrat Abu Bakr then left Mecca. Traveling south they came to
Mount Thawr and hid in a cave there. That cave in Mount Thawr was
known as"Athal." At that point, the pagans came right up to the cave
mouth. But our Prophet (saas) was in complete submission to the
destiny appointed for them by Allah.
If you do not help him, Allah did help him when the disbelievers drove
him out and there were two of them in the Cave.* He said to his
companion, 'Do not be despondent, Allah is with us.' (Surat at-Tawba,
40)
When the pagans saw thata spider has spun a web over the mouth of the
cave, and that pigeons hadbuilt a nest and laid eggs there, they
assumed nobody was inside and left.
Hazrat Abu Bakr was the devoted friend who sheltered in that cave
alongside our Prophet (saas). He thus enjoyed thehonor of witnessing
that miraculous event.
THE CALIPHATE OF HAZRAT ABU BAKR
Hazrat Abu Bakr never abandoned the Prophet Muhammad (saas) after the
migration, and carried the standard at the battle of Tabuk.
In the ninth year of the migration the Prophet (saas) charged him with
leading the Hajj caravan.


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