THE BEST GENERATION: ABU BAKR AS-SIDDEEQ (MAY ALLAH BE PLEASED WITH HIM)

Abu Bakr Al-Siddeeq (May Allah be pleased with him):

1.      The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Follow the example of those after me: Abu Bakr and Umar.’2 ^[1]

2.      He was the first adult male and the first free man to accept Islam; ^[2]

The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassallam) informed his Companions (radhiyAllahu ‘anhum) that, whenever he invited a person to Islam, that person would hesitate before making up his mind to embrace Islam – except for Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu), who neither hesitated nor wavered. ^[3]

3.      Immediately upon embracing Islam, Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) made it his primary mission in life to spread the message of Islam to others. ^[4] Many embraced Islam at his hands; here are some examples: ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, ‘Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Auf, Sa’d ibn Abee Waqqaas, Az-Zubair ibn Al-‘Awaam and Talhah ibn ‘Ubaidullah (radhiyAllahu ‘anhum). These particular five were the fruits of Abu Bakr’s Dawah. Once these five brave men entered the fold of Islam, others began to follow. ^[5]

4.      The Prophet (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said: “Abu-Bakr has favored me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil (an intimate friend) from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu1 Bakr.” ^[6]

5.      He was the one and only companion whom RasulAllah (salAllahu’alayhi wasallam) chose to accompany him in the Hijrah to Madinah. ^[7]

6.      If the eman of Abu Bakr was put on one side of the scale and the eman of this entire Ummah on the other, Abu Bakr’s eman would have outweighed. ^[8]

7.      Throughout his life, the Prophet (salAllahu’alayhi wasallam) appointed only one man to lead Muslims in prayer in his place, and that man was, ofcourse, Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu). ^[9]

8.      When the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) died, people fell into a state of shock and disbelief. It was Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) who then brought them back to their senses, saying to them his now-famous words: “Whoever used to worship Muhammed, Muhammed has indeed died. And whoever used to worship Allah, Allah is alive and never dies.” ^[10]

9.      He was the first khalifah after the death of Muhammed (sallAllahu’alayhi wasallam) ^[11]

10.   Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) was the first to begin the compilation of the Qur’an, under the advice of Umar (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu). ^[12]

11.  Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) said, “I do and apply (in terms of actions, policies, etc.) everything that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam) did and applied, for I fear that, if I abandon any part of his way (or system of rule), I will go astray.” ^[13]

12.  Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) lived in the moment, using every second of his time to better himself as a Muslim.

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said to his companions, “Who has observed fast among you today?” Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) replied, “Me.” He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said, “Who among you followed a funeral procession today?” Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) replied, “Me”. He (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassallam) said, “Who among you has fed a poor person (today)?” Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) replied, “Me”. He (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wassallam) said, “Who among you visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) said, “Me.” Upon this the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassallam) said, “Anyone in whom (these good deeds) are combined will certainly, enter paradise.” ^[14]

13.  Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) died at the age of 63, which was the exact age at which the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassallam) died. As per his instructions, ^[15] Abu Bakr (radhiyAllahu ‘anhu) was washed by Asmaa bint ‘Umais (radhiyAllahu ‘anha) and was buried alongside the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wassallam). ^[16]

 

References:

 

^[1]  Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3662

^[2] “The Noble life of The Prophet, Vol. 1” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2005, p. 158

^[3] “The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2007, p. 51

^[4] “The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2007, p. 742

^[5] “The Noble life of The Prophet, Vol. 1” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2005, p. 159

^[6] Sahih Bukhari, Book #8, Hadith #455

 ^[7] “The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2007, p. 743

^[8] AlBaihaqi, At-Tirmidhi and Ahmad

^{[9], [10]} “The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2007, p. 745

^[11] http://islamqa.info/en/13713

^[12]  Bukhari, Book #60, Hadith #201

^[13] “The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq” by Ali Muhammad al-Sallaabee, 2007, p. 750

^[14] Sahih Muslim, Book #5, Hadith #2242

^[15]  At-Tabaqaat, Ibn Sa’ad (3/203, 204), and the chain of this narration is authentic.

^[16]  Taareekh Al-Islam, by Adh-Dhahabee; and ‘Ahd Al-Khulafaa Ar-Raashidoon (pg. 120)

http://blog.islamiconlineuniversity.com/the-best-generation-abu-bakr-as-siddeeq-may-allah-be-pleased-with-him/

Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq in a snap shot

I will not leave anything Allah’s Messenger (صلى عليه و سلم) did…

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Abû Bakr al-Siddîq RA said:

I will not leave anything Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – did, except that I will also do it; for I fear that if I were to leave any of his commands and ways I would deviate.

[Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh 2:386 hadîth no. 3093; Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah article 77, and others.]

http://urwatulwuthqa.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/not-leaving-anything-out-of-fear/

أبو بكر رضي الله عنه -الرجال مواقف (6) محمد حسين يعقوب

أبو بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه | موت رسول الله

He was the first

“So He said, ‘May Allaah forgive you, O Abu Bakr!’”

 

عَنْ رَبِيْعَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَخْدُمُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهَ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -، فَأَعْطَانِي أَرْضاً، وَأَعْطَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَرْضاً، جَاءَتِ الْدُّنْيَا فَاخْتَلَفْنَا فِي عَذْقِ نَخْلَةٍ، فَقَالَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ: هِيَ فِي حَدِّ أَرْضِي! وَقُلْتُ أَنَا: هِيَ فِي حَدِّي! وِكَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ كَلَامٌ، فَقَالَ لِيَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ كَلِمَةً كَرِهْتُهَا وَنَدِمَ، فَقَاَل لِيَ: يَا رَبِيْعَةُ! رُدَّ عَلَيَّ مِثْلَهَا حَتَّى يَكُوْنَ قِصَاصاً. قُلْتُ: لَا أَفْعَلُ. فَقَالَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ: لَتَقُوْلَنَّ أَوْ لَأَسْتَعْدِيَنَّ عَلَيْكَ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -. قُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِفَاعِلٍ. قَالَ: وَرَفَضَ الْأَرْضَ. فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ- رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ- إِلَى الْنَّبِيِّ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -، فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَتْلُوْهُ، فَجَاءَ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَسْلَمَ فَقَالُوْا: رَحِمَ اللهُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ! فِيْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ يَسْتَعْدِيْ عَلَيْكَ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ، وَهُوَ الْذِيْ قَالَ لَكَ مَا قَالَ؟! فَقُلْتُ: أَتَدْرُوْنَ مَنْ هَذَا؟ هَذَا أَبُوْ بَكْرِ الْصِّدِّيقُ وَهُوَ (ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ) ، وَهُوَ ذُوْ شَيْبَةِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ، فَإِيَّاكُمْ يَلْتَفِتُ فَيَرَاكُمْ تَنْصرُوُنِيْ عَلَيْهِ فَيَغْضَبَ، فَيَأْتِيَ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلِيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فَيَغْضَبَ لِغَضَبِهِ، فَيَغْضَبَ اللهُ لِغَضَبِهِمَا، فَيَهْلَكَ رَبِيْعَةُ. قَالُوْا: فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا؟ قَالَ: اِرْجِعُوْا. فَانْطَلَقَ أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ- رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ- إِلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -، وَتَبَعْتُهُ وَحْدِيْ، وَجَعَلْتُ أَتْلُوْهُ، حَتَّى أَتَى النَّبِيَّ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فَحَدَّثَهَ الْحَدِيْثَ كَمَا كَانَ. فَرَفَعَ إِلَيَّ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ: “يَا رَبِيْعَةُ! مَا لَكَ وَلِلْصِّدِّيْقِ؟ “، قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُوْلَ اللهِ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَانَ كَذَا؛ فَقَالَ لِيْ كَلِمَةً كَرِهْتُهَا؛ فَقَالَ لِيْ: قُلْ كَمَا قُلْتُ لَكَ حَتَّى يَكُوْنَ قِصَاصاً. فَقَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ – صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَجَلْ، فَلَا تَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ، وَلَكِنْ قُلْ: غَفَرَ اللهُ لَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ! غَفَرَ اللهُ لَكَ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ! قَالَ: فَوَلَّى أَبُوْ بَكْرٍ – رَحِمَهُ اللهُ- وَهُوَ يَبْكِي.

From Rabee’ah al-Aslamee, who said, “I used to serve the Prophet of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, so he gave me some land and he also gave Abu Bakr some land.  So the worldly life came along and we differed concerning a cluster of date palm trees.  Abu Bakr said, “It is within the boundary of my land!”  And I said, “It is within my boundary.”  There were some words exchanged and so Abu Bakr said something to me which I hated and he [immediately] regretted it.  So he said to me, “O Rabee’ah!  Say the same to me so that it will be even [i.e., you would have taken your right of retaliation, qisaas).”  I said, “I will not do that.”  Abu Bakr said, “You will indeed say it or I will seek the assistance of the Messenger of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, against you!”  I said, “I am not going to do it.”  Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, left the land and then went to the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, and I went following him.  Some people from [my tribe of] Aslam came and said, “May Allaah have mercy on Abu Bakr!  Why is he going to seek the assistance of the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وسلم, against you, whilst he is the one who said what he said to you?”  I said, “Do you know who this is?  This is Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq!  The second of the two [in the cave], the elder of the Muslims.  So beware in case he looks in your direction and sees you trying to aid me and thus becomes angry, and as a result goes to the Prophet of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, who becomes angry because of his [Abu Bakr’s] anger, and then Allaah becomes angry because of their anger and as a result Rabee’ah will be destroyed!”  They said, “What do you order us to do?”  I replied, “Go back.”  So Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, went to the Prophet of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, and I followed him alone.  I did so until he came to the Messenger, صلى الله عليه وسلم, and narrated to him exactly what had happened.  So he, صلى الله عليه وسلم, raised his head towards me and then said, “O Rabee’ah!  What is [the issue] between yourself and Abu Bakr?” I said, “O Messenger of Allaah!  Such and such happened and then he said a word to me which I hated and so he said to me, “Say the same to me so that it will be even.””  So the Prophet of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم, said, “Indeed!  Do not say the same to him, rather say, ‘May Allaah forgive you, O Abu Bakr!  May Allaah forgive you, O Abu Bakr!’” So Abu Bakr, may Allaah have mercy on him, left while he was crying.”

Silsilah, no. 3258.

http://shaikhalbaani.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/silsilah-the-authentic-collection-nos-11/

….but because of something that firmly took root in his heart…

عن أبي بكر بن عياش رضي الله عنه

ما سبقهم أبوبكر بكثرة صلاة ولا صيام، ولكن بشيء وقر في صدره

Abu Bakr ibn ‘Iyaash (رضي الله عنه) said:

“Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) was not better than them because of his many prayers, or because of his fasting, but because of something that firmly took root in his heart.”

Fadaail As-Sahabah, Imam Ahmad

I believe this, and Abu Bakr and Umar too..

 

Once Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه) offered the morning prayer and then faced the people and said:

“While a man was driving a cow, he rode over it and beat it. The cow said: “We have not been created for this, but we have been created to plough.” On that the people said astonishingly: “Glorified be Allah! A cow speaks!” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه) said: “I believe this, and Abu Bakr and Umar too, believe it, although neither of them was present there.”

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) added: “While a person was amongst his sheep, a wolf, attacked and took one of the sheep. The man chased the wolf till he rescued it (sheep) from the wolf, whereupon the wolf said: “You have rescued it (the sheep) from me; but who will guard it on the day of the wild beasts when there will be no shepherd to guard them except me?” The people said surprisingly, “Glorified be Allah! A wolf speaks!” The Prophet (صلى الله عليه) said: “But I believe this, Abu Bakr and Umar too, believe this. Although neither of them was present there.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

“I will never out do you in anything.”

 
Umar (Ra) said: “One day (Prior to the Tabook expedition), the Messenger of Allah (SAW) ordered us to give charity; the timing of his request happily coincided with me having a (sufficient) quantity of wealth. I said (to myself), “If there is any day on which I will outdo Abu Bakr, it will be this day.” I then went with one-half of my wealth, and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) asked, “What did you leave for your family?” I said, “An amount that is similar to this.” Abu Bakr (RA) then came with all of his wealth, and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) asked him, “What did you leave for your family?” He said, “I left for them Allah and His Messenger (SAW).” And I said to him, “I will never outdo you in anything.”

At-Tirimidhi