Abu
Bakr As-Siddiq: Man for All Ages
By Abdul Wahid Hamid
`Abdullah ibn `Uthman ibn `Amir ibn `Amr from a branch of
the Quraysh tribe. His father, `Uthman, was known as Abu
Quhafa. His mother, Salma, was also known as Umm Al-Khayr.
From his early years, Abu Bakr was known for his good and
upright nature. He was honest and truthful and came from
a noble family. These things won him respect among the people.
His goodness also won him the friendship of young Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him). The two became fast friends
in early boyhood. The friendship was to prove lifelong and
history making.
When he grew up, Abu Bakr became a rich merchant, but he
remained very kindhearted. When he saw someone in trouble,
his heart melted and he did his best to help him. If his
money could remove suffering, he did not care how much he
had to spend. Once he gave away 35 thousand dirhams out
of his total fortune of 40 thousand. He was so honest in
his dealings that people kept their money with him. But
above all, Abu Bakr had a sincere heart and a firm will.
Nothing could stop him from doing what he thought was the
right thing to do.
When the Makkans were intent on putting out, once and for
all, the light of Islam, Allah commanded the Prophet to
move to Madinah. In the burning heat of the midday sun,
there was a knock at Abu Bakr's door. The Messenger of Allah
sought permission to enter, and after everyone else had
left the room, he told Abu Bakr, "I must leave for
Madinah tonight."
“Will I also have the honor of going with you?”
asked Abu Bakr eagerly. “Of course,” came the
reply. “Get things ready.”
Abu Bakr was beside himself with joy. “I have been
looking forward to this day for months,” he exclaimed.
"I have kept two camels specifically to carry us to
Madinah.”
It was Abu Bakr who made all the arrangements for the historic
journey. For three days he and the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) lay hidden in the cave of Thawr. Abu Bakr's
slave tended flocks of goats near the cave all day and supplied
them fresh milk for food. His son `Abdullah brought news
about what the Makkans were doing.
The Makkans were searching for the Prophet like mad hounds.
Once they came right to the mouth of the cave. Abu Bakr
grew pale, fearing not for himself, but for the Prophet.
However, the Prophet remained perfectly calm. "Do not
fear," he said to Abu Bakr. "Certainly Allah is
with us."
Of all the companions, Abu Bakr had the honor of being with
the Prophet during the most critical days of his life. Abu
Bakr knew full well what this honor meant and did full justice
to the trust put in him.
After the Prophet’s death, Abu Bakr was chosen as
the caliph. He served for only two years, three months,
and ten days before he, too, passed away. During this short
period, Abu Bakr was able to do great things for Islam that
made his name immortal and placed him among the greatest
men of all times.
Mus`ab
ibn `Umayr…. Matchless Ambassador
Mus`ab
ibn `Umayr was born and grew up in the lap of affluence and
luxury. His rich parents lavished a great deal of care and
attention on him. He wore the most expensive clothes and the
most stylish shoes of his time.
Mus`ab’s Journey to Islam
Mus`ab knew that Muhammad and those who believed in his message
were gathering in a house near the hill of As-Safa to evade
Quraysh harassment. Mus`ab went there and met the Prophet
who welcomed him.
In this first meeting with the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him), the young and decisive Mus`ab declared his acceptance
of Islam.
After embracing Islam, Mus`ab’s concern was his mother
who totally opposed his Islam, tied and confined him under
her watchful eyes so as to prevent him from contacting Muhammad
and his faith. Despite his ordeal, Mus`ab did not waver.
His Migration to Abyssinia:
Mus`ab heard that a group of Muslims were preparing secretly
to migrate to Abyssinia to seek refuge and relief. His immediate
thoughts were how to escape from his prison and join them.
At the first opportunity, when his mother and his warders
were off-guard, he managed to slip away quietly. Then with
utmost haste, he joined the other migrants, and before long
they sailed together across the Red Sea to Africa. For him,
as for many other Muslims, life in Makkah was becoming more
and more intolerable.
After about ten years of inviting people to Islam, most of
Makkah still remained hostile. The Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) then went to At-Ta’if seeking new adherents
to the faith. He was repulsed and chased out of the city.
At that time, the future of Islam looked bleak.
Mus`ab as an Ambassador to Yathrib:
It was just after this that the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) chose Mus`ab to be his "ambassador"
to Yathrib to teach a small group of believers who had come
to pledge allegiance to Islam and prepare Madinah for the
day of the great Hijrah.
No doubt that Mus`ab was chosen for this task because of his
noble character, his fine manners and his sharp intellect.
His knowledge of the Qur’an and his ability to recite
it beautifully and movingly was also an important consideration.
He entered Madinah as a guest of Sa`d ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj
tribe. Together they went to people, to their homes and their
gatherings, telling them about the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him), explaining Islam to them and reciting the Qur’an.
Less than a year after his arrival in Yathrib, Mus`ab returned
to Makkah in the season of pilgrimage with a group of seventy-five
Muslims from Madinah. Again at `Aqabah, near Mina, they met
the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). There they
solemnly undertook to defend the Prophet (peace and blessings
be upon him) at all cost.
Great Mujahid:
Mus`ab continued to play a major role in the building of the
new community. The next momentous situation in which we meet
him was during the great Battle of Badr.
Mus`ab also participated in the battle of Uhud, and he fell
a martyr in that battle. After that battle was over, the Prophet
(peace and blessings be upon him) then cast his tender eyes
over the battle field on which lay the dead Companions –
including Mus`ab - and said: “The Messenger of Allah
testifies that you are martyrs in the Sight of Allah on the
Day of Judgment.”
Then turning to the living Companions around him he said:
“O People! Visit them, send peace on them. By Him in
whose hand is my soul, any Muslim who sends peace on them
until the Day of Judgment, they would return the salutation
of peace.”
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