Hazrat Abu Bakr al-Sideeq, Part 3

Assalam u alaikum,

Dear kids,

I hope you all are in the best of health and I hope you remember that we were
talking about the beloved companion of our Holy Prophet Abu-Bakr-As-Siddeeq. I
am sure you want to know more about him. Today we will continue going through
the life of the prophet s closest companion Abu-Bakr-As-Siddeeq.

Kids,

In our last session I told you that Abu Bakr loved The Holy Prophet immensely and
that Abu Bakr was always at the services of Islam and Muslims. I told you about
his migration to Medina along with the prophet. He was the one who went
through all the dangers of that journey with The Holy prophet.

We also came to know how he earned the title of Al-Siddeeq. His bond with the
prophet was further strengthened by the prophet marriage with Abu Bakr s
daughter Aisha R.A. He participated in all the battles along with the Prophet SAW
and fought bravely.

Today I will begin by telling you that Hazrat Abu-Bakr-As-Siddeeq earned yet
another honor!

He acted as the agent of the holy prophet at hajj.

We see that in the eighth year of Hijra, Muslims succeeded in capturing the Mecca
with the grace of Almighty Allah

Kaaba was, for the first time, in the hands of Muslims. It had to be cleaned of the
traces of idol-worship and the silly practices of pagan days. Mushrikuns Arabs had
done odd things at the time of Hajj. They went around the House of Allah naked.
They did many other foolish and unclean things. All this had to be stopped.
The first Hajj under Islam fell in the ninth year of Hijra. The Holy Prophet SAW had
then returned from Tabuk expedition but he was too busy at Medina to lead the
Hajj himself. So he sent Abu Bakr as his deputy. He was to lead the Hajj in place of
the Prophet. Ali was also sent with Abu Bakr. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) taught
the people the Hajj rites and rituals and read the Khutba (Sermon) of Hajj Then
Hazrat Ali stood up and read out to the people the commandments of Allah
concerning the idol worshippers. From that year onwards, they were forbidden to
enter the Kaaba.

The Prophet SAW himself led the next year Hajj pilgrimage. After returning from
the farewell pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet SAW fell sick. The Holy Prophet SAW felt
that having fulfilled his mission, his earthly life was to end, and he was to meet his
Master.

One night the Holy Prophet SAW went to the graveyard and there he prayed for
the soul of his companions who were martyred in the battle of Uhud. After the
visit to the graveyard the Holy Prophet SAW came home and visited the
apartment of his wife Maimuna. There his fever became violent. The Holy Prophet
SAW assembled all his wives, and told them that because of his sickness it would
not be possible for him to visit the apartment of each wife according to her turn.
He wanted their permission to stay in the apartment of Hazrat Ayesha till he
recovered. All the wives agreed to the proposal, and the Holy Prophet supported
by Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas moved to the apartment of Ayesha.

Ever since he came to Medina, the holy Prophet himself led prayers in the
Prophet's Mosque. It was an unusually high office which the Messenger of Allah
himself filled. During his last illness, the holy Prophet could no longer lead prayers.
He grew too weak to go to the mosque. He had to appoint someone to act in his
place. This honor also fell to the lot of Abu Bakr. Hazrat Aisha, who was Abu Bakr's
daughter and a wife of the holy Prophet, thought that the burden was too much
for her tender-hearted father. She pleaded with the holy Prophet to excuse her
father from this duty but the holy Prophet SAW did not change his mind.
 After shifting to the apartment of Ayesha the Holy Prophet felt some relief. A day
later he took a bath. Refreshed by the bath, he felt some relief and went to the
mosque to offer the noon day prayer. After the prayer the holy prophet told his
companions "There is a servant whose Lord has given him the option between this
life, and the life in the next world close to the Lord, and the servant has chosen the
latter."

Out of all the companions, Abu Bakr alone understood the meaning of the Prophet
s words. Tears trickled down from his eyes, and with a heavy heart he said, "Holy
Prophet, how can we live without you?"

The Holy Prophet paid a glowing tribute to Abu Bakr when he said: “There is no
one among the people who has been more generous to me with his lif e and his
property than Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhaafa and if I was to take a bosom friend, I
would take Abu Bakr as my bosom friend. But, the friendship of Islam is
better.” The Holy Prophet also directed: "Let every door that leads into the mosque
be closed, except the door of Abu Bakr." Then the Holy Prophet returned to the
apartment of Ayesha.

On the last day of his life, the condition of the holy Prophet became suddenly
better for a while. It was early morning. Abu Bakr was leading the prayer in the
mosque. The holy Prophet lifted the curtain of his door and fixed his gaze on the
worshippers. They were busy in prayer under Abu Bakr's leadership. A smile lit up
on the pale face of the holy Prophet. He let go of the curtain, as his weak hand
could no longer hold it. But he was happy at the thought that he had chosen the
best man to fill his place.

In few days The Holy Prophet passed away.

The passing away of the Holy Prophet was a great tragedy, and the grief of Abu
Bakr was too big to be told in words. Life without him seemed to be an empty
thing. Without the Holy Prophet, there appeared to be no charm of life for Abu
Bakr. Everything around him appeared to be dark.

The holy Prophet occupied a unique place among his people. He was everything to
them. From ignorant idol worshippers he had made them a nation of peaceful,
God-fearing people. Without Islam in their lives they were like dead according to
the Quran so the Prophet, in other words was a life giver to them. The news of the
Prophet's death came as a stunning shock to them. How could it be? He had been
ill for some days, they all knew. But death was unbelievable. That simply could not
be. A huge crowd gathered in the mosque. No one knew what to do. There was
utter confusion. Hazrat Omar was so overcome with emotion that he drew his
sword and declared, "If anyone says that the Messenger of Allah is dead. I will cut
off his head!"

Things were in this state when Abu Bakr entered the mosque. He stood in a corner
of the courtyard and called out to the people. All eyes were turned towards him.
Then he began his famous address:

"O people! If anyone among you worshipped Muhammad, let him know that
Muhammad SAW is dead. But those who worship Allah, let him know that He lives
and will never die. Let all of us recall the words of the Qur'an. It says, `Muhammad
SAW is only a Messenger of Allah. There have been Messengers before him. What
then, will you turn back from Islam, if he dies or is killed?"

These words of Abu Bakr worked magic. In no time the confusion was gone. The
words of the Qur'an swept of all doubts from people's minds. They got ready to
face facts.

After overcoming the shock of the Prophet's death, Muslims realized that they
need someone to fill the position of leadership amongst them. To choose a caliph
was a difficult decision which was made easy by the wisdom of Hazrat Omar R.A.
He said that Abu Bakr was the companion of the prophet in the cave of Saur. He
led the salah during the last days of prophet s life and that he was the most
prominent of the muhajireen. After his speech Abu Bakr as sideeq was selected as
the first caliph of Muslims.

On the following day, Abu Bakr went to the Prophet's mosque. Here, people took
the general oath of loyalty. Then Abu Bakr spoke to the gathering as follows:
"I have been elected as your Ameer, although I am not better than you. Help me, if
I am in the right, set me right if I go wrong, obey me as long as I obey Allah and his
Prophet SAW’

My dear kids,

Such was the speech by the first Caliph of Islam to his people, on the first day of
his rule. It reflects the fear of Allah they held in their hearts.

Hazrat Abu Bakr showed by his example that in Islam government means
government of the people by the people and for the people.

His great personality and service to Islam and Muslims earned him the love and
respect of all Muslims, so he was chosen as the first Caliph after the death of the
Prophet by all Muslims.

Now I will end here with the tribute of The Holy Prophet SAW for Abu Bakr, the
Prophet SAW said, “There is no one to whom I am obligated and have not repaid
my debt except Abu Bakr, for I owe him much for which Allah will compensate him
on the Day of Judgment.” And that “No wealth has ever benefited me as much as
the wealth of Abu Bakr (RA).”

Insha'Allah in the next meeting we will talk about his qualities as a leader and the
time of his caliphate.