Abu Bakr As Siddiq Abu Bakr Abdallah ibn Abi Quhafa As- Siddiq (Arabic: ; Transliteration: Abū Bakr as-Siddīq or Abdallah bin Abī Quhāfah, c. 573 CE – 23 August 634/13 AH) was an early convert to Islam and a senior companion (Sahaba) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Throughouthis life, Abu Bakr remained a friend and confidante of Muhammad. Upon Muhammads death he became the first Muslim ruler (632–634), regarded in Sunni Islam as the first of the Rashidun (righteously guided Caliphs). His caliphate lasted two years and three months, during which time he consolidated the Muslim state.Upon the death of Muhammad, some tribes rebelled, and in return he fought the Ridda wars against these Arab tribes to establish Islamic rule over all of Arabia. He also conquered the lands of Syria and Iraq. Early life Abu Bakr was born at Mecca some time in the year 573 CE, in the Banu Taym branch of the Quraysh tribe. Abu Bakrs fathers name was Uthman Abu Qahafa nicknamed Abu Qahafa, and his mother was Salma Umm-ul-Khair nicknamed Umm-ul-Khair. The birth name of Abu Bakr was Abdul Kaaba (servant of Kaaba) and when he accepted Islam in 610 he was named Abdullah (servant of Allah) by Muhammad. Suyuti relates through Ibn Sad al-Baghdadis report from Aisha herdescription of Abu Bakr: He was a man with fair skin, thin, emaciated,with a sparse beard, a slightly hunched frame, sunken eyes and protruding forehead, and the bases of his fingers were hairless. By most reports he was very handsome, and for his beauty he earned the nickname of Atiq. He was born in a rich family. He spent his early childhood like other Arab children of the time among the Bedouins who called themselves Ahl-i-Baeer- the people of the camel, he developed a particular fondness for camels. In his early years he played with the camel foals and goats, and his love for camels earned him the nickname of Abu Bakr, the father of the foal of the camel. It is said that he didnt worship idols since his youth. When Abu Bakr was 10 years old he went to Syria along with his father with the merchants caravan. Muhammad who was 12 years old at the time, was also with the caravan. Like other children of the rich Meccan merchant families, he was literate and developed a fondness for poetry. He used to attend the annual fair at Ukaz, and participate in poetical symposia. He had a very good memory. In 591 at the age of 18, Abu Bakr went into trade and adopted the profession of a cloth merchant which was the familys business. In the coming years Abu Bakr traveled extensively with caravans. Business trips took him to Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere. These travels brought him wealthand added to his experience. His business flourished and he rose in the scale of social importance. Though his father Uthman Abu Qahafa was still alive, he came to be recognized as chief of his tribe. Abu Bakr was assigned the office of awarding blood money in cases of murder. His office was something like the office of an honorary magistrate. Abu Bakr was an expert in genealogical lore and he knew intimately who was who in Mecca, and what his ancestry was. During Muhammads times When Muhammad married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and moved to her house, he became a neighbor of Abu Bakr who lived inthe same locality. That was the quarter of Meccan aristocracy. Like the house of Khadija, the house of Abu Bakr was double storied and palatial in structure. As neighbors, Muhammad and Abu Bakr came in contact with each other. Both of them were of the same age, traders and good managers. Acceptance of Islam On his return from a business trip from [Yemen], he was informed by some of his friends that in his absence Muhammad had declared himself as the Messenger of God, and proclaimed a new religion. Abu Bakr converted to Islam becoming the second person to accept Muhammads Prophethoodacco rding. Also he was the first person outside the family of Muhammad to become a Muslim
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 12:02:06 +0000
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