Abu Bakr bin Abi Quafah A-iddiq was a senior companion (Sahabi)

andthrough his daughter Aishathe father-in-law of the Islamic

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). Abu Bakr became the first openly
declared Muslim outside Muhammad's (SAWS) family. Abu Bakr served
as a trusted advisor to Muhammad (SAWS). During Muhammad's
(SAWS) lifetime, he was involved in several campaigns and treaties.
His conversion brought many people to Islam. He persuaded his
intimate friends to convert to Islam and presented Islam to others in
such a way that many of his friends accepted Islam.
He was mentioned in the Quran as the "second of the two who lay in
the cave" in reference to the event of Hijra, where with Muhammad
(SAWS) he hid in the cave in Jabal Thawr from the Meccan search party
that was sent after them, thus being one of few who were given direct
mention in the Quran.
Abu Bakr (RA), being the closest of Companions to the Prophet (SAWS),
took part in all the battles that Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) had fought.
Tabuk was the last expedition of the Holy Prophet (SAWS). He was keen
to make it a great success, he therefore asked people to help the
expedition with whatever they could. This brought the best out of Abu
Bakr who beat all records as he took all his money and household
articles and kept in front of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS).
The Prophet (SAWS) led the prayers himself ever since he arrived to
Madinah. During his last illness, the Prophet (SAWS) could no longer
lead the prayers, Muhammad (SAWS) was too weak to go to the
mosque, he (SAWS) therefore had to choose someone to fill such high
position after him. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was also
the one who was honored to be chosen by the Prophet (SAWS) for such
a task.
When the news of the Prophets (SAWS) death came out, many
Muslims were confused and stunned. Abu Bakr arrived and gave his
famous address:
Whoever worships Muhammad (SAWS) should know that Muhammad
(SAWS) died. Whoever worships Allah should know that Allah is Hayy
(immortal).
Then, he recited the following verse:
Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed
on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on
your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never
harm Allah at all; but Allah will reward the grateful. (3:144)
Umar took hand of Abu Bakr ad took pledge of allegiance, thereafter
other prominent Sahabi also took pledge. Thus, Abu Bakr became the
new Khalifa.
Troubles emerged soon after Abu Bakr's succession, threatening the
unity and stability of the new community and state. Various Arab tribes
of Hejaz and Nejd rebelled against the caliph and the new system.
Some withheld the Zakat, the alms tax (2 percent of disposal
income), though they did not challenge the prophecy of Muhammad
(SAWS). Others apostatized outright and returned to their pre-Islamic
religion and traditions, classified by Muslims as idolatry. The tribes
claimed that they had submitted to Muhammad (SAWS) and that with
Muhammad's (SAWS) death, they were again free. Abu Bakr insisted
that they had not just submitted to a leader but joined the Muslim
religious community, of which he was the new head. Apostasy is a
capital offense under traditional interpretations of Islamic law, and Abu
Bakr declared war on the rebels. This was the start of the Ridda Wars,
or the Wars of Apostasy.
After suppressing internal dissension and completely subduing Arabia,
Abu Bakr directed his generals towards the Byzantine and Sassanid
empires (Iran). Khalid bin Walid conquered Iraq, and a successful
expedition into Syria also took place.
Abu Bakr was instrumental in preserving Muhammad's (SAWS)
revelations in written form. It is said that after the hard-won victory
over Musailimah, Umar ibn al-Khattab (the later Caliph Umar), saw that
many of the Muslims who had memorized the Qur'an from the lips of
the Prophet (SAWS) had died in battle. Umar asked Abu Bakr to
oversee the collection of the revelations. The record, when completed,
was deposited with Hafsa bint Umar, daughter of Umar, and one of the
wives of Muhammad (SAWS). Later it became the basis of Uthman ibn
Affan's definitive text of the Qur'an.
Abu Bakr was renowned for his simple life style. As caliph, he refused
to enrich himself from the money flowing into the treasury and lived
modestly. Abu Bakr initially served without pay, and then he saw it
impossible to manage business with khilafat. At his death, his will
returned all these payments to the treasury. He is said to have been
absolutely faithful to Muhammad's (SAWS) Sunnah. During the two
years of his caliphate, the whole of central Arabia was under Muslim
control. In Medina, Muhammad (SAWS) decided to construct a mosque.
A piece of land was chosen and the price of the land was paid for by
Abu Bakr. Muslims constructed a mosque named Al-Masjid al-Nabawi at
the site and Abu Bakr also took part in construction.