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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